Northern Hemisphere/6N Rugby

[molman]

Think I should watch this game definitely did not tip that result

Ireland needed to convert all that early pressure and territory into points. They looked good in that openning stanza and had every opportunity, but for all their efforts France's defence held. Doris really needed to ground that early ball. You could see by the 50-60min mark how many of the Irish players were starting to look fatigued, they'd expended all this effort and racked up so few points. They started to slow and France started to find a bit of space and some of their individual talent really took advantage.

I felt with the Irish attack that they really missed players like Lowe and even Hansen (at his best) acting as a second pivot to unlock something. They look a little too predictable with Prendagast running the show (who I'm still undersold on outside his goal kicking). You could see the French players being able to pick him out and they even got an intercept on one of his shovels. Players like Osborne out wide also just didn't offer enough. He got himself caught out too many times without much to show for it.

Anyway, congrats France, well played and well deserved. I was happy to see some pride from the Irish at the end in trying to close the gap on the scoreboard, but really not good enough.

 

[Wilson]

I rewatched it a few times. I think the judiciary would be hard pressed to say that was more than a rugby incident, but maybe they have some angles we don't that paint a clearer picture. Berne comes in, Porter I believe it is, is latched. right in over him and looks to roll Berne somewhat when he settles. Duponts leg is in the unfortuate place where they roll. It's not reckless, there is no obvious explicit targeting of Duponts leg, no movements that arn't part of the dynamic actions of the clearout to my eyes.

I don't think there's any intent from Beirne - he's not really looking anywhere near DuPont when (or before) he hits him, but it's very easy to see how it would be classed as reckless, given the way Beirne charges in head down. I don't think he should cop a ban (a yellow feels about right to me), but there's enough there for the judiciary to give him one and it's a roll of the dice if he ends up there. If it comes to that it probably depends on how much they put it down to the second Irish player instead of Beirne.

 

[Derpus]

Also its one thing for dickheads like us on meaningless forums to take a shot at the referee but it is, in my opinion, unacceptable for coaches to be doing so. Fuck Rassie.

 

[molman]

I'm still challenged to see how it's reckless. He doesn't go flying in out of control, he bends to come in below the French 5 (exactly as we're asking our players to) who is at the back of the ruck and with Porter driving in over him, which looks to be a pretty major factor in the outcome. Honestly looks like every other ruck but in this one Dupont's leg was in an unfortunate spot.

Anyway, I guess we'll see.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Beirne tucking his right arm against his chest rather than attempting to wrap with it will surely count against him: if he wraps he's much more likely to drive Dupont back than skim past then fall on him.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Kind of encapsulates the problem with rugby doesn't it.

He charges in without any attempt to bind on to another player.

He was making no real attempt to stay on his feet.

He dropped his weight onto an opposition player

But this happens probably at half the rucks in every pro game so we all just kind of ignore those silly laws, it's just this one incredibly unluckily caused a severe injury to a star player

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ totally agree. But the footage & esp the still of him going in with a tucked arm is damning & I just don't see how they can write it off as accidental.

 

[JRugby2]

This probably encapsulates it the best. A lot of very minor stuff that is ignored 99% of the time (for good reason) but this time it's ruined someone's season.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

How good were France last night. That was a real statement performance, both in the tough stuff (especially defensively) and out wide.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Dupont has confirmed ACL rupture & that he'll be out for several months.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

That's bloody terrible news. Looked bad at the time too.

 

[Dctarget]

Well done to France on their 6N title all without Dupont too, missed out on a clean-sweep by a point, must sting a little. Fabien will be happy to get a 2nd trophy, people were getting restless.

I’ll be happy if the Lions choose Finn Russell as their 10. He’s good for 2 amazing tries a game but also gives up 14+ points through absolute dumb shit. The two English fly halves are more precise, probable create as many opportunities just not as majestical and don’t give up silly stuff like Finn does.

 

[molman]

I feel a bit for the Scots, they put on a very spirited performance against the French. Truthfully, I think the French were lucky to not get more sanctions in the first half than their two yellows they did. The headbutt on the ground, even if not direct probably should have been a red, pretty clear intent and really stupid. The tip tackle at ~35mins also looked pretty bad and I'm not sure why that wasn't put up on the screen for the referee to look at. Really not a fan of Marius Jonker as TMO and the French broadcasters are the worst at always doing a great job of not replaying anything that paints their team in poor light. No close-up replays. The Scottish no-try before half time where Kinghorn just goes out was the turning point for me (again could they not show that on a replay?). Was such a shame. They get that and I feel that they would have been in with a good chance. All in all though, I'm just happy England didn't secure the title with some of their tepid performances.

As for my boys in green, I think they were lucky to benefit from some poor Italian discipline. That soft yellow was so stupid and the red was just reckless. The Italians were finding space, blew a opportunity or two and the Irish had to go to some of their set pieces to secure the win. That was definitely there to be won by the Italians. Ireland feel like they are waning a bit. The Scots and Italians were just some much more interesting and dynamic in attack. It will be interesting to see how they bring in the next generation leading into the next RWC. Unfortunately for them, their U20's haven't been necessarily dominating so I'm curious to see what depth is there.

 

[molman]

Well done to France on their 6N title all without Dupont too, missed out on a clean-sweep by a point, must sting a little. Fabien will be happy to get a 2nd trophy, people were getting restless.

I’ll be happy if the Lions choose Finn Russell as their 10. He’s good for 2 amazing tries a game but also gives up 14+ points through absolute dumb shit. The two English fly halves are more precise, probable create as many opportunities just not as majestical and don’t give up silly stuff like Finn does.

I don't know, I think Finn Russell adds a lot. Has a lovely pass, sees space. Does he get it right all the time, no, but he's so much more enjoyable to watch than a Sexton style 10.

 

[KOB1987]

My son is doing a gap year in England, I found some reasonably priced tickets on Ticombo about a month ago and he and a mate planned a trip to Paris for the France v Scotland game. 1.30am last night I was notified by Ticombo that these tickets wouldn’t be happening (there was a lot of dialogue for days prior reassuring me it was all good - they ended up blaming FFR). I wasn’t going to let them miss this, of course there were fuck all tickets going around and I ended up having to part with a small fortune to get them to the game.

 

[Derpus]

That's some fine dad-ing.

 

[KOB1987]

Then after the game ended this morning they sent me this. They will be getting one don’t worry, once I cool off.

 

[cyclopath]

Wales were abject against England. England looked well organised and took opportunities ruthlessly. Hard to judge if it was England being really good, Wales being really poor, or bits of both.

 

[Italophile]

Well done to France on their 6N title all without Dupont too, missed out on a clean-sweep by a point, must sting a little. Fabien will be happy to get a 2nd trophy, people were getting restless.

I’ll be happy if the Lions choose Finn Russell as their 10. He’s good for 2 amazing tries a game but also gives up 14+ points through absolute dumb shit. The two English fly halves are more precise, probable create as many opportunities just not as majestical and don’t give up silly stuff like Finn does.

I agree. Finn the coach killer.

 

[Dctarget]

Am I being unfair or is the outrage around Mauvaka's 'headbutt' on Ben White a little confected? I see head contact but it's not a headbutt.. I actually think White's recoil is mainly from the French prop's knee hitting him at the same time.