Rugby World Cup 2019

[UK Redsox]

Sounds like Ireland made hard work of beating Russia

[paul_e]

Sounds like Ireland made hard work of beating Russia

Like a few of the games the conditions were horrible, hot and humid so there were plenty of handling errors. The bigger problem was that Ireland ran in 2 early tries so Russia just tightened the game up and dragged Ireland down to their level. That Ireland let it happen and only really got going again in the last 10 (they did get a try just before half time and another on about the hour but they came from nowhere really) will be a worry for them because, whilst there were some excuses, a top tier side with ambition to win the tournament really should be pulled into a bun fight with a team like Russia. 1 try from 20 minutes against 14 men will worry them a touch as well. During the Ostrikov yellow I thought Russia were the better team (and they probably didn't deserve to get nothing).


As it will come up, the first yellow was the right decision, it was clearly a high tackle but a red card for it would've been really harsh.


Overall it was a fucking awful game (which is a shame because Georgia Fiji earlier had been decent).

[paul_e]

Italy have now taken the crown for the most stupid thing anyone has done at the world cup (from the American guy who shoulder charged Farrell) with their props lifting and spearing after the whistle, utterly pathetic and I hope Lovotti in particular gets a long ban for that one, everyone knows how dangerous it is. I think the other guy is lucky to get away with it as well, could easily have been 2 reds.

[UK Redsox]

Just seen the Italy incident. What a pair of absolute idiots.

From listening to Wayne's conversations with the TG and TMO, it seems like he was only able to punish the worst offender.

I haven't watched all the game yet, but it'll be interesting to see if Italy also get reprimanded for possibly faking a head injury in order to not immediately lose a player when the game went to uncontested scrums.

[Risso]

Italy have now taken the crown for the most stupid thing anyone has done at the world cup (from the American guy who shoulder charged Farrell) with their props lifting and spearing after the whistle, utterly pathetic and I hope Lovotti in particular gets a long ban for that one, everyone knows how dangerous it is. I think the other guy is lucky to get away with it as well, could easily have been 2 reds.

Should have been I reckon.  It looked to me that no. 17 was actually the worst offender, as he seemed to have a better grip on the SA player and was driving his head into the ground.  Could he be done after the event?

[Jon Crofts]

Italy have now taken the crown for the most stupid thing anyone has done at the world cup (from the American guy who shoulder charged Farrell) with their props lifting and spearing after the whistle, utterly pathetic and I hope Lovotti in particular gets a long ban for that one, everyone knows how dangerous it is. I think the other guy is lucky to get away with it as well, could easily have been 2 reds.

Should have been I reckon.  It looked to me that no. 17 was actually the worst offender, as he seemed to have a better grip on the SA player and was driving his head into the ground.  Could he be done after the event?

He could be cited post match, both as bad as each other, there's no rule that says you couldn't have sent both of them off.

[UK Redsox]

Let’s hope the injury to Cheslin Kolbe isn’t serious. He’s been my favourite player of the tournament so far

[PaulWinch again]

Argentina have come out of the blocks here.

[PaulWinch again]

Good try. Billy hasn’t had a good start.

[paul_e]

England opened them up there though,  was far too easy. Followed by a cheap hit and a bit of a fight.

[luke:lamf]

That is the first time I've seen a scrum lost on the strike, rather than a shove, in probably 15 years, if not more.

Just goes to show what can happen when the scrum-half doesn't feed it straight to the second row...

[PaulWinch again]

That’s a red card.

[Villan For Life]

That’s a red card.

Justifiably so too.

[taylorsworkrate]

I think if Nigel Owen had given a yellow for the blatant late hit before, it would have been enough of a warning for the Argentina players to calm down a bit. No choice with the red card though.

Its been a horrible scrappy game so far. Poor handling errors again and too many stoppages. The big issue for us now is to avoid injury. Late in the game with Argentina not having a lot to play for I can imagine there will be cheap shots a plenty.

[taylorsworkrate]

That is the first time I've seen a scrum lost on the strike, rather than a shove, in probably 15 years, if not more.

Just goes to show what can happen when the scrum-half doesn't feed it straight to the second row...

There's also been a lineout throw that was reasonably straight too.

Crazy times.