The Rugby Thread

[jd1981]

It also isn't clearly under control

If it wasn't under control the ball would have bobbled out, your clutching at straws.

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

Yes. I would absolutely agree. And the right decision was reached. But that doesn't change the fact it was poor officiating. England and Fiji had a poor referee for me tonight. The final result was correct, as was the margin, but the man in the middle was poor, for both sides.

I'll agree heartily to that.

 

[Parkins left foot]

One game into the world cup and people are falling out. This could be a long six weeks.

good fun though - just wait till the England - Wales game :boxing:

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

With due respect, that's horseshit and I think you know it.

Looking at the image that is being used as proof it is was over the line, so kindly shown by Vis, I would like you to point out the England hand in control of the ball in that frame.

Seriously. I need to concede. Watching it at the time I really didn't think he got to the line, but the evidence suggests he must have just made it. Fair enough. I will agree, a good England try, and a bonus point in the bag.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

good fun though - just wait till the England - Wales game :boxing:

I'm away for that. In France. Whichever bar I choose might be in favour of my lot!

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

Looking at the image that is being used as proof it is was over the line, so kindly shown by Vis, I would like you to point out the England hand in control of the ball in that frame.

Seriously. I need to concede. Watching it at the time I really didn't think he got to the line, but the evidence suggests he must have just made it. Fair enough. I will agree, a good England try, and a bonus point in the bag.

There isn't any need for hands to be in control of the ball...

Law 22 states that the ball ccan be grounded in two ways. The second of which is:

Player presses down on the ball. A player grounds the ball when it is on the ground in the in-goal and the player presses down on it with a hand or hands, arm or arms, or the front of the player’s body from waist to neck inclusive.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Yeah - I will concede. All the other shots seemed to indicate he was short, but that shot says try.

Anyway, England fans, what did you think?

I felt that Mike Brown was tremendous tonight. Seriously good player.

Aside from that, it was a meh performance, but the job was done.

 

[Parkins left foot]

If we are going to have a dodgy performance - and that was - then better it was that game rather than one of the next two

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Exactly. For me, Fiji was the perfect starting match for England. Wales are going to batter Uruguay, but that will prove nothing. Group A is a phoney war until next Saturday.

 

[visage]

Fairly standard opening game. England a bit rusty, not fully on their game, but got the job done. As mentioned before, Fiji was the best game to start with. Not an easy match like Uruguay, but not full omn like Wales/Australia.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Positives:

- Less lineout mishaps
- Brown was outstanding
- Good impact off the bench from Burgess and B Vunipola
- Some very good rugby in the first 25 minutes, full of intent

Negatives:

- Wingers very quiet
- Poor at the breakdown too often
- Cheap penalties against, not sustainable against teams with even average kickers, fortunately Fiji's pair were dreadful
- A bit one dimensional once Fiji had got back into the game; too often going for the drive

It's the opener, just like in the football World Cup you just want to get a win with minimal fuss - which this was ultimately , even allowing for the work we have to do - and get on with the tournament.

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

We were a bit 'meh' throughout the match but I'm not worried. Wales will be much tougher but we should up our game and were at home.

I wasn't at all convinced by Ford mind you. Farrell looked better (but Fiji were tired by the time he came on). Our midfield was , well, turgid and quite uninspiring.

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

One big positive is that no one was injured. Fiji up first did worry me on that point.

 

[Stan Hullis]

Good to get the first game out of the way with a bonus point win under the belt.

Glad that Burgess did well after his missed tackle when he came on. The Burgess man crush continues.

His off load to Brown at the end was sublime.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Mike Brown is absolute quality. England will be a lot better for the Wales game. It will go one of two ways. One: Wales dont turn up and it is an easy victory for England. Two: Wales turn up in full and it is a classic.

 

[Dinowolf]

England were sloppy at times but a good result against a giant and powerful side. Mike Brown was immense.

The match lasted over 100 minutes and that has to be put down to the number of times the ref. turned to the TMO for help. To me that suggests poor refereeing and boy was he poor.
That must be one of the poorest ref. displays in a major tournament I've ever seen. Fiji got away with so much, it was unreal. Lineouts not straight, put-ins at the scrum not straight, coming in from the side at rucks and mauls, off their feet at the breakdowns, knock-ons not given, plus both sides collapsing at the scrums etc., plus the poor decision-making others on here have already pointed out.

I hope we never have this ref again, in fact I hope he never gets another game in this World Cup as he isn't good enough.

No major injuries reported, first game out of the way with a win, so onto the Wales game next Saturday, the 26th.

 

[Jinky]

Paddy - genuine question, but why are you a Welsh rugby supporter? Were you born there? Or do you have Welsh in your family?

If you support Wales in rugby, why do you support England in football?'

It's a genuine question as I have a couple of mates who are the same. They support the Welsh rugby team and hate the English, yet a week later are cheering on the Three Lions. I don't get it.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Well that was an enjoyable enough game to start things off.

Paddy is right the final try should not have been given but not for the reason he said, Vunipola clearly put it on the line, however just before it May "jumped" into the tackle, he has to keep one foot off the ground when going into a tackle he had both feet at least a couple of feet in the air as if he has trying to hurdle the players (I have seen him do that before, he will eventually get pinged for it), surprised such a pedantic ref didnt pick up on it, between himself and the TMO the two of them were terrible, and equally bad for both teams, hopefully it is not an some sort of instruction from up top, for referees to follow on how to control games as it would ruin the tournament.

Fiji put up a good show but no surprise that indiscipline let them down, and again agree with Paddy Wales will beat them handily, they wont be up as much for it as today plus having to play Australia on Wednesday (another case of a minnow getting screwed by the fixtures) will mean morale will be low.

Despite the late drama I doubt the bonus point wont in the scheme of things amount to much in the final calculations, I think the winner of England/Australia will top the group after both beat a weakened Wales (sorry Paddy)

Tonight was always going to be nervy for England and against a pumped up physical side mistakes would happen and a win is a win with no injuries as a bonus. Brown is a special player, along with him the two wingers, a strong bench and the home support they will go a long way in the tournament.

But they have a few fundamental problems,
they have been the best team in the last 4 six nations under Lancaster but won none of them due to an inert sloppiness, which is still there, along with that they lack leadership when things got tough they drift along, Robshaw unfortunately despite being a fine player is not good enough to play his own game whilst still being a leader when the chip are down, he disappears (tonight another example in the second half), he is no Johnson or Delaglio which you need to win a WC. They have been problems that have been around for a few years but have had not been resolved.

Added to that the attacking game suffers when playing Barritt, as someone says it becomes turgid when he plays, in a way he nullifies the danger they have with the back 3, be interesting if he gives Slade a start, and now the scrum has become a problem and potentially could be serious one, Cole was out for 9 months last year and is not the same player, along with Youngs being small for a hooker and him and Marler splitting when under pressure it was a mess against a poor scrummaging side, Fiji with a prop who play in the Romanian League should not be causing problems, this is after it creaked in the warm up games, when they get to the serious stuff they will be in trouble if its not sorted.

Lancaster has a lot of work to do in order for England to win it, based on his record I cant see him doing it, although stranger things have happened in sport.

 

[ROVERT47]

I enjoy watching it even though I'm more of a League man but I haven't got clue what's going on most of the time with all the rules.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Paddy - genuine question, but why are you a Welsh rugby supporter? Were you born there? Or do you have Welsh in your family?

If you support Wales in rugby, why do you support England in football?'

It's a genuine question as I have a couple of mates who are the same. They support the Welsh rugby team and hate the English, yet a week later are cheering on the Three Lions. I don't get it.

English father. Welsh mother.