England vs Wales

Lol Wales were lucky? We deserved the win.

Originally Posted by StitchSV

Lol Wales were lucky? We deserved the win.

I thought it was pretty even myself, Wales did edge it overall with good tactics for the win. Strettle's been blaming the ref but even if that try was awarded, it'd still be a very difficult conversion for Flood to draw the game. Nice to see a real competitive game.

If Wales supporters thought they thoroughly deserved the win they watched a different game.

It was a pretty even match and take out poor refereeing and it was closer than the score suggests.

Still, gotta let them win something occasionally, I mean they only have rugby and singing lol

The ref was consistently poor towards both teams. I'm not sure what game you saw but along with most, if not all, of the commentators from both sides of the bridge Wales deserved the win.

Originally Posted by specialone

If Wales supporters thought they thoroughly deserved the win they watched a different game.

It was a pretty even match and take out poor refereeing and it was closer than the score suggests.

Still, gotta let them win something occasionally, I mean they only have rugby and singing lol

Didn't say they didn't deserve the win, but it was closer than you seem to wanna accept, they edged it, that's all.

They had the run of some key decisions and that helped immensely IMO, England also had a really good spell where Wales couldnt cope at times, like I said Wales edged it overall.

England aren't brilliant tbh ATM, shadow of former teams.

At least England can console themselves that their women are still on for the grand slam after beating Wales Women 33-0.

England haven't had a truly great team since all their World Cup winners retired. Wales have a far more exciting young team and strength in depth with talent like Byrne and Hook not even getting to play. Farrell looked really good at no. 10 though.

[Luckypants]

Everyone has rose tinted specs.... Strettle's effort was never a try as he never had control or downward pressure on the ball in the in goal area. Looking at it from all sorts of angles you could never actually 'see' him score, so the TMO has no choice but to rule inconclusive and in those circumstances it is 5m scrum, attacking team ball (same would be given for George North's knock on), so that decision was correct.

But the game was very close, closer than you would expect on paper. If Wales had scored the try in the opening 3 minutes, it would have been different I think but we didn't and England fought back with their usual grind it out strategy. Almost worked too but for the 'luck of the bounce' when we scored our try...

(We won't mention the England forwards standing up when being pushed back over their own line and the ref giving the penalty instead of allowing advantage.... we would have scored )

[Drew Carey]

I had the displeasure of watching this in a pub in Wales with Mr Luckypants above.....

I must say I thought it was a very close game which Wales on the whole deserved to win. I also thought it was not a try - if it had been awarded it would have been the wrong decision.

The two decisions however that really have bugged me - if you watch the highlights is Flood late on chipped the ball through - which George North deliberately knocked into touch. To me, that is a blatant and deliberate foul. Which you cannot do. Plus, just before the final whistle, the referee was playing advantage to England. Rather than the ball being held up (and the subsequent scrum thus ending the game)......the correct call should have been to take back for the advantage and give a penalty to England. But whether it would have mattered or not is another argument.

As for this statement;

Originally Posted by specialone

England aren't brilliant tbh ATM, shadow of former teams.

Going to have to disagree with you there...... I am very excited about where this team is going and think they have the potential to be better than any of the England teams of the modern proffesional era. They are a young squad but with enough talent to beat the Scots and Italy team - whilst still not playing well.

They have then narrowly lost out to a Wales team which I honestly think is one of the best Wales teams on paper I have seen in a long time.....

Given the right coaching and support I think the young members of this team have shown real flair that will provide exciting times to come.....I am also a Leicester fan, but I feel that the partnership of Dickson and Farrell was brilliant. When Youngs and Flood came on I thought England became too slow at the breakdown.

Add to the mix the likes of Tuilagi, Ashton, Barritt, Dan Cole etc etc etc.....this is an England team being built for the future.

Originally Posted by Drew Carey

I had the displeasure of watching this in a pub in Wales with Mr Luckypants above.....

I must say I thought it was a very close game which Wales on the whole deserved to win. I also thought it was not a try - if it had been awarded it would have been the wrong decision.

The two decisions however that really has bugged me - if you watch the highlights is Flood late on chipped the ball through - which George North deliberately knocked into touch. To me, that is a blatant and deliberate foul. Which you cannot do. Plus, just before the final whistle, the referee was playing advantage to England. Rather than the ball being held up (and the subsequent scrum thus ending the game)......the correct call should have been to take back for the advantage and give a penalty to England. But whether it would have mattered or not is another argument.

I wasn't going to wade in on this, but, Mr. Carey, you have forced me to!

Leigh Halfpenny's slap down was legal, as long as it goes backwards it is fine (IIRC,) I have seen it done many times for no penalty.

As for the english advantage, you had crossed the try line, let alone the gain line, and may have scored a try, what more advantage do you want!?

IMO the referees choice was right, I found it odd there was not a scrum as I didn't think the game could end on an attacking penalty, which I thought a held-up attempt was, but apparently not.

[Drew Carey]

Originally Posted by Cymraeg_Atodeg

I wasn't going to wade in on this, but, Mr. Carey, you have forced me to!

Leigh Halfpenny's slap down was legal, as long as it goes backwards it is fine (IIRC,) I have seen it done many times for no penalty.

Lol......firstly, different incident - there is another kick towards the end which North (not Halfpenny) deliberately knocked the ball into touch instead of trying to play - that is not allowed.

Originally Posted by Cymraeg_Atodeg

As for the english advantage, you had crossed the try line, let alone the gain line, and may have scored a try, what more advantage do you want!?

Because 99% of all referees when you play at any standard above Club rugby will go back to the penalty. Yes it is the referees decision - however what advantage had England made? We marginally crossed the gainline?!?!? Thats all.

Originally Posted by Cymraeg_Atodeg

IMO the referees choice was right, I found it odd there was not a scrum as I didn't think the game could end on an attacking penalty, which I thought a held-up attempt was, but apparently not.

Nope, held up ball is and always has been (whilst I have played) an attacking team scrum. As the ball was taken over the line after the 80mins point - the scrum was conceded by Wales outside of the 80 mins and so usual ball dead rules apply - ie end of game.

I think the referee made mistakes for both teams and I still think the right team won on the day - I am just a little annoyed at how one of the most consistent referees in the modern game has made so many odd calls.

I think one of my most memorable points of the game though was the tackle of Farrell after his chip through - I thought the Welsh tackled very well.