Rugby

Rugby players don't cry

No just trying to type and watch the match at the same time!

Wibble understand the kicking for territory and earning field position in the cagey opening minutes of a world cup semi final. But they've got a man over, and they have a history of attacking rugby and the backs to split any defence, yet they choose not to, or the welsh defense has been better even with a man less to nullify that attack...

In the last world cup argentina earned that third place the way that Wales have played if France win I think it will be unfair

Are you being serious?

In the last world cup Argentina's standard gameplan was kick high, chase and put pressure on the opposition. Wales' gameplan is completely and utterly different.

Drop goal you know it makes sense wales...

Wibble understand the kicking for territory and earning field position in the cagey opening minutes of a world cup semi final. But they've got a man over, and they have a history of attacking rugby and the backs to split any defence, yet they choose not to, or the welsh defense has been better even with a man less to nullify that attack...

That's the beauty of rugby, it's not always as simple as throwing it around and getting results

France, spawn it again >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Shit unlucky Wales. Best of luck with your game and new position stevo.

Arrrrrrggggggghhhhh! So close, so brave, so committed. This is why I love and hate team sports in equal measure...

fuck :(

Gutted :(

Fantastic. Perfect result

Regardless of the way France (or the ref) played, Wales could have won that match. They certainly didn't play like they were a man down but poor kicking off the floor and a moment of ill discipline let them down.

Hard luck Wales, brave display (very frustrating 30 phases of play in the last minutes for nought)

Cmon Wobblies!

no way that was red. Warburton just didn't realise what good contact he had made, he didn't attempt to flip him, he didn't drive him down. he panicked when he realised it was becoming dangerous and let go.

stupid, yes. dangerous, yes. malicious, NO.

a yellow would have been harsh FFS.

Roland was not biased, he made howlers in Wales' favour too, he's just shit.

It was red. Intention is irrelevant - the refs have been told to ignore intention because it's too subjective to judge. The rules are dead clear - if a player lifts another so his feet are above his shoulders then either drops or pushes him onto the ground so that his head or upper body come into contact first, it's dangerous play, and a red card. Sucks for Wales, but it was the right call. Yes, there's plenty of examples of similar or worse tackles in this years RWC but that only means that the ref in those matches got it wrong - it doesn't mean this wasn't red.

Ah, I see, so every pundit, ex-world cup winner and current player is wrong then.

fair enough

Yes, they are. Their objections are either that he didn't intend it (irrelevant) or that it's such a big occasion that he should have let it go. Again irrelevant - player safety trumps "the occasion". Refs can and do let things go for the sake of the game and the occasion but player safety isn't, and shouldn't, be one of them. It sucked for the game, and sucked for the spectacle, but it was the right call.

http://www.rugbyrefs.com/content.php?224-Alain-Rolland-and-Sam-Warburton-s-Red-Card

no way that was red. Warburton just didn't realise what good contact he had made,** he didn't attempt to flip him**, he didn't drive him down. he panicked when he realised it was becoming dangerous and let go.

stupid, yes. dangerous, yes. malicious, NO.

a yellow would have been harsh FFS.

Roland was not biased, he made howlers in Wales' favour too, he's just shit.

You can see him flip him up and drop him, he didn't need to.

I agree with the second bit of bold but malicious intent isn't the only reason to give a red. If you do something reckless (meaning to or not) you get what you deserve.

My understanding is that dropping him is not a red card, in fact holding him is. Lifting and flipping, a penalty and probably a yellow yes, but dropping him rules out the red. It was clumsy and not intended.

But regardless of the red card they had several chances to win it, and not all were slim ones. They had about 3 phases under the bars and didn't go for the drop to take the lead with 20 mins to go.

With 14 men, you have to take any chance of points, particulaly easy drops like that if it means you'll get the lead.

My understanding is that dropping him is not a red card, in fact holding him is.

"The lifted player is dropped to the ground from a height with no regard to the player’s safety. A red card should be issued for this type of tackle."

http://www.rugbyrefs.com/content.php?224-Alain-Rolland-and-Sam-Warburton-s-Red-Card

+1 Hippy.. If you lift a player off the ground, it's your responsibility to make sure he lands safely.

If you flip him up and then drop him, you're clearly not making sure he lands safely.

Wake up straya.

fucken

Hey Balki - is there some law that says that Australian rugby teams MUST have a back with a dodgy blonde mullet?

Just curious.