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The Rugby Thread

It was a great effort by England, shame the match was won by a team that cheated.

There were complaints about this ref last week, and it's obvious IMO that he was duped by the SA scrums who were not scrummaging straight and were taking a half-step to the left on contact in the scrums.

The competition as a whole IMO has been reffed by some inexperienced officials, and when you get to the final stages, then the best officials should be used.
 
O’Keefe is very experienced. Unfortunately at being shit. And he refs in the southern hemisphere style.
 
But what was it Sinckler was getting penalised for?
If you drive straight but the opposition drive in you look like you're pulling the scrum down/ not driving straight, when in reality it is the opposition.

It's really crap refereeing and something spidercam (the overhead camera) could sort out in an instant.
 
England still would have won if Farrell hadn't acted the cock in the 1st half, and bought a penalty forward 10yds into kicking range.
Kept South Africa hanging in there at the time when they were struggling for scraps.
 
May as well do away with scrums, scrum halfs just put it into the number 8s feet. It's pointless.
 
May as well do away with scrums, scrum halfs just put it into the number 8s feet. It's pointless.
The difference is that at least a scrum takes 9 players out of the defensive line, which creates more space for attacking teams. About 15 or so years ago, the southern hemisphere trialled Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) where you started having free kicks instead of scrums, and where you could pull down a maul. They thought it would speed the game up, but it just turned it into Rugby League - two massive lines of players smashing into each other, and no space to attack (with apologies to fans of League for the over simplification).
 
The difference is that at least a scrum takes 9 players out of the defensive line, which creates more space for attacking teams. About 15 or so years ago, the southern hemisphere trialled Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) where you started having free kicks instead of scrums, and where you could pull down a maul. They thought it would speed the game up, but it just turned it into Rugby League - two massive lines of players smashing into each other, and no space to attack (with apologies to fans of League for the over simplification).
Fair point, but its become an interminal bore fest with penalty bingo.
 
I think Mbonamhi would be out of the final if England decide to complain. He’s the only specialist hooker in the squad so would give SA a severe problem.
O’Keefe might find himself in trouble for shrugging his shoulders at Curry’s complaints.
I’ve seen a lot of people saying it’s a lost in translation comment in that he’s said “whit Kant” which translates to white flank.
 
If memory serves me right Ben O’Keefe was the ref for Scotland v England in 2022 and bottled Scotland blatantly infringing at scrum in the last minute.
 
He didn’t bottle it. He reffed it southern hemisphere where pretty much anything goes
 
He didn't bottle it, Genge's knee momentarily hits the ground when the scrum impacts, you can criticise O'Keefe there as it's harsh as he could have reset it but by letter of the law is a penalty.

Genge then kicks in due to the pressure which results then is the photo someone has put up, when the Springbok tight head is nearly at right angles, it's his job to put the tight head under pressure not the other way round plus collapsing & losing his body position.

Genge & Sincler are getting an easy ride with the fuss, when Marler & the much maligned Cole were playing English scrum had no issues.
 
He didn't bottle it, Genge's knee momentarily hits the ground when the scrum impacts, you can criticise O'Keefe there as it's harsh as he could have reset it but by letter of the law is a penalty.

Genge then kicks in due to the pressure which results then is the photo someone has put up, when the Springbok tight head is nearly at right angles, it's his job to put the tight head under pressure not the other way round plus collapsing & losing his body position.

Genge & Sincler are getting an easy ride with the fuss, when Marler & the much maligned Cole were playing English scrum had no issues.
Don't agree with this but you're entitled to your opinion.

SA started their shenanigans in the scrum towards the closing stages of the match because otherwise they were going to lose. O'Keefe, who is well known to SA, fell for it and gave them penalty after penalty.
They won't get away with it in the final, but unfortunately that's too late for England.
 
He didn't bottle it, Genge's knee momentarily hits the ground when the scrum impacts, you can criticise O'Keefe there as it's harsh as he could have reset it but by letter of the law is a penalty.

Genge then kicks in due to the pressure which results then is the photo someone has put up, when the Springbok tight head is nearly at right angles, it's his job to put the tight head under pressure not the other way round plus collapsing & losing his body position.

Genge & Sincler are getting an easy ride with the fuss, when Marler & the much maligned Cole were playing English scrum had no issues.
This is the analysis I've seen as well. It doesn't matter if SA were not driving straight as there was already a penalty due to SA before that because of Genge's knee hitting the ground.
 
Don't agree with this but you're entitled to your opinion.

SA started their shenanigans in the scrum towards the closing stages of the match because otherwise they were going to lose. O'Keefe, who is well known to SA, fell for it and gave them penalty after penalty.
They won't get away with it in the final, but unfortunately that's too late for England.
O’Keefe is well known to all the major rugby playing nations.
 
Courtney Laws to retire from international rugby after Friday's Bronze medal match.
He has 105 appearances under his belt over 15yrs.
 
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