Pool D - Fiji, Nambia, Samoa, South Africa, Wales

[Hurricane]

I think the fat lady has sung not enough time left now...

[Scaly piscine]

So how common are pathetic dives in rugby union these days - as in the one the Saffie did to get Williams sent off (after he'd punched the guy half a dozen times)?

Wondered whether the football theatrics are still frowned upon or tolerated.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Lucky, lucky Bokke. Outplayed in the 2nd half. Massively outplayed in fact.

Expect to see a couple of guys up in front of the beak after that.

[centurymaker]

let's hunt down the referee.

samoa > southafrica.

[Somerset]

Really enjoyed the match, one of the best in the tournament. SA's defense was so impressive and their discipline (bar Smit) was equally as good. For the number of tackles they made their infringements were minimal so when you can't score against them by breaking the line and creating tries, and you can't kick penalties (don't think Samoa had one kickable penalty) then it makes it awefully difficult to beat them. Thought Owens had an average night and might've blown his chances to referee a semi or final.

[Somerset]

Originally Posted by Scaly piscine

So how common are pathetic dives in rugby union these days - as in the one the Saffie did to get Williams sent off (after he'd punched the guy half a dozen times)?

Wondered whether the football theatrics are still frowned upon or tolerated.

Poor form from Brussouw, unfortunately it seems to be a trend at this World Cup for players to go down far too easily. I don't think Paul Williams can have any compaints about his red card - it was a dumb thing for him to slap Brussouw in the face - but Brussouw certainly milked it.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Owens had a poor game. He didn't control the game, too many inconsistencies and missed a couple of glaring infringements. It did kind of even out in the end, but that's by-the-by.

Lemmie (sic.) was superb.

[Somerset]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

Lemmie (sic.) was superb.

Think its spelt Lemi. Both he and Samoa's second-five were brilliant - shame they hadn't really featured for Samoa in the tournament up until now, Lemi in particular.

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by Somerset

Poor form from Brussouw, unfortunately it seems to be a trend at this World Cup for players to go down far too easily. I don't think Paul Williams can have any compaints about his red card - it was a dumb thing for him to slap Brussouw in the face - but Brussouw certainly milked it.

How was the strike to the face any different from the slap in the face administered to a Samoan player in the 1st half. The Williams shove to the face was harder a lot harder but the slap was still technically a strike as well. Neither of them were overly vicious.

Stupid call from the touch judge the ref had nothing to do with it.

Didn't alter the game though. Smit would not have gotten yellow carded in a make up call minutes later if not for the initial red card.

[TT Boy]

Originally Posted by centurymaker

let's hunt down the referee.

samoa > southafrica.

All Samoa brought to the table was niggle. Seemed more interested in off the ball hits then getting into the quarters. Disappointing effort as they came into this WC with some hype and it was a home WC for the most of their guys.

[TT Boy]

Originally Posted by Somerset

Poor form from Brussouw, unfortunately it seems to be a trend at this World Cup for players to go down far too easily. I don't think Paul Williams can have any compaints about his red card - it was a dumb thing for him to slap Brussouw in the face - but Brussouw certainly milked it.

Yeah it is nothing new, Habana likes a dive as well but this isn’t football and when a 100kg+ guy gives you a slap, I would expect it would hurt to some an extent. Looked bad though for Brussouw as he was giving the guy a few tasty hits before he took one to the face.

[TT Boy]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

Owens had a poor game. He didn't control the game, too many inconsistencies and missed a couple of glaring infringements. It did kind of even out in the end, but that's by-the-by.

Lemmie (sic.) was superb.

Assistant Barnes was awful as well. Owens gave the players too much rope, should have carded a few guys early on as the crap around the breakdown and scrum continued for the entire game.

[TT Boy]

Originally Posted by Scaly piscine

So how common are pathetic dives in rugby union these days - as in the one the Saffie did to get Williams sent off (after he'd punched the guy half a dozen times)?

Wondered whether the football theatrics are still frowned upon or tolerated.

From 2 years back - All Black Adam Thomson dive

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by TT Boy

All Samoa brought to the table was niggle. Seemed more interested in off the ball hits then getting into the quarters. Disappointing effort as they came into this WC with some hype and it was a home WC for the most of their guys.

DWTA

They played their little hearts out. It was a true world cup game. And SA were just as guilty of off the ball incidents including a slap to the face in the 1st half that the victim got a warning for.

[Quaggas]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

DWTA

They played their little hearts out. It was a true world cup game. And SA were just as guilty of off the ball incidents including a slap to the face in the 1st half that the victim got a warning for.