Rugby Union World Cup 2019

[MillionMilesAway]

Ok, cheers, that kind of makes sense

Some of it can be called in both ways, and props learn how to try conning the ref as well. As the commentators said, refs can get an impression of who is on top in the scrum early on, which can colour their later decisions. It's why the players try to convince him it's the opponents by talking very loudly at their teammates.

There was one play where it looked like the SA player hung on and prevented a ball steal which should have been an England penalty, but much of it is perception. The ref sees things the camera doesn't and is close up, particularly at scrums.

 

[blueinsa]

Physically dominated up front it's that simple.

Well done SA, my wife is a happy bunny

 

[MillionMilesAway]

South Africa are too physically dominant to play the way England normally do, and Eddie didnt try to adapt.

The whole springbok game plan is to win the contact, force set pieces and win them, kick the penalties.

Gatland last week adapted to stop them doing that and got very close, the All Blacks adapted after their big loss to just avoid contact as much as possible, England today just tried to play their normal game and got battered.

Some poor individual performances but Eddie's to blame for this one.

I certainly think the media blowing smoke up his arse has been ridiculously one-eyed, not a lot of critique going on.

It may be just the way he is, but he never seems to answer a question straight without a dig in it at someone. England have blown the winning match in the Six Nations a couple of times, and weren't in it today.

 

[chesterbells]

Some of it can be called in both ways, and props learn how to try conning the ref as well. As the commentators said, refs can get an impression of who is on top in the scrum early on, which can colour their later decisions. It's why the players try to convince him it's the opponents by talking very loudly at their teammates.

There was one play where it looked like the SA player hung on and prevented a ball steal which should have been an England penalty, but much of it is perception. The ref sees things the camera doesn't and is close up, particularly at scrums.

Yeah, I don’t think this is just sour grapes from me, but the game today is one that’s reminded me of all my frustrations with the game of rugby union over the years, such as:
1. The murky world of decisions where almost everyone watching isn’t sure when/where/why that particular offence was penalised.
2. The imbalance between the number of points available for a penalty kick vs a try, which is not proportionate imho, and means teams can win matches just on kicking.
3. Inherent and rampant steroid use (allegedly) in a game where the players have all become abnormally huge.

As for today, if Eng weren’t to win, I’m kinda glad SA did rather than anyone else (outdid maybe Japan!).

Oh, and hats off to Eddie Jones, been a great coach for the team.

 

[Bigga]

Proper rainbow nations competed.

Loved it even though I was disappointed for England.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Yeah, I don’t think this is just sour grapes from me, but the game today is one that’s reminded me of all my frustrations with the game of rugby union over the years, such as:
1. The murky world of decisions where almost everyone watching isn’t sure when/where/why that particular offence was penalised.
2. The imbalance between the number of points available for a penalty kick vs a try, which is not proportionate imho, and means teams can win matches just on kicking.
3. Inherent and rampant steroid use (allegedly) in a game where the players have all become abnormally huge.

As for today, if Eng weren’t to win, I’m kinda glad SA did rather than anyone else (outdid maybe Japan!).

Oh, and hats off to Eddie Jones, been a great coach for the team.

Not sure I agree with much of that. The points ratio between pens and try is designed to encourage discipline at the breakdown and it works. Look at the Wales v South Africa semi final result for proof of that.
The decisions arent murky, there are just several laws that have to be adhered to dependant on whether it is a ruck or a maul.
As for steroids and the size of players, the weight and bulk is actually reducing. The new tackle laws will see that trend continue as well

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Yeah, I don’t think this is just sour grapes from me, but the game today is one that’s reminded me of all my frustrations with the game of rugby union over the years, such as:
1. The murky world of decisions where almost everyone watching isn’t sure when/where/why that particular offence was penalised.
2. The imbalance between the number of points available for a penalty kick vs a try, which is not proportionate imho, and means teams can win matches just on kicking.
3. Inherent and rampant steroid use (allegedly) in a game where the players have all become abnormally huge.

As for today, if Eng weren’t to win, I’m kinda glad SA did rather than anyone else (outdid maybe Japan!).

Oh, and hats off to Eddie Jones, been a great coach for the team.

The ref almost always explains what he has given. It doesn't help having idiots commentating. Kay was good, but Dallaglio is sometimes laughable, and lead commentators are sometimes too one-sided (Six Nations comms are often neutral or balanced across both sides).

pens vs tries is an ongoing argument. If you reduced the ratio, teams would give away more penalties! It always seems a bit odd that a mistimed tackle on the halfway line or further can result in half a try's scores.

Steroids? I don't know about that. I was thinking that Beaumont (giving out the medals) was an England second row in his day and is now towered over. Mostly, they have professional players and elite training teams that turn out the behemoths, and the laws of the game struggle to deal with the current levels of fitness.

 

[willipp]

Thought SA were brilliant. As much as I wanted an England win, from minute 1 they dominated us and England never got into the game. The fact they kept it going for 70 minutes till England gave up is very impressive. Yes England made far too many simple errors but you can’t take anything away from SA.

 

[domalino]

I certainly think the media blowing smoke up his arse has been ridiculously one-eyed, not a lot of critique going on.

It may be just the way he is, but he never seems to answer a question straight without a dig in it at someone. England have blown the winning match in the Six Nations a couple of times, and weren't in it today.

I think he has the ability to have the occasional incredible game, and that makes the english media overestimate them a lot and he has said he copies Mourinho in manufacturing conflict for his team to feed off.

 

[Postman Pep]

Rarely watch Union outside of Lions tours and World Cups and today's 'spectacle' did nothing for my enthusiasm it's too slow and technical for my liking. A game of League rarely disappoints and provides a much better balance between brute force and flair whereas too many games in Union turn in to,as Dallaglio described, an 'armwrestle'.