The rugby

[AndyRM]

Italy were far better second half (although their set pieces were still appalling), but only because of all Ireland's changes. Can't really see them losing momentum from here.

At least it was a good game (despite the one sided scoreline). Well, better than the other two.

 

[matticus]

At least it was a good game (despite the one sided scoreline). Well, better than the other two.

Yeah, I can't say Saturday games were a riot of entertainment, even though the results were as desired :P

 

[matticus]

Funny how SCO fans (well, some!) are moaning that Nic Berry bottled it. In fact he stuck with his initial gut reaction, and he's no stranger to criticism:

Berry found himself at the middle of a bizarre storm during the last British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus was left furious at Berry, accusing him of treating their captain Siya Kolisi differently to Lions skipper Alun Wyn Jones.

In an attempt to prove his point, Erasmus produced an a hour-long video documenting every decision he believed Berry to have got wrong. It was a stunt that would land the Springboks chief with a two-month ban for misconduct.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

He never bottled it, he put his ego first and refused to change his mind. He said the ball was held up and stuck with that despite seeing the ball on the ground in the tv replays.

The weaselly way he, the TMO and others are trying to interpret rules and who said what, when and the particular meaning of the words in that order cannot hide that most people watching what he watched said "try".

 

[figbat]

He never bottled it, he cheated. He said the ball was held up and stuck with that despite seeing the ball on the ground in the tv replays.

The weaselly way he, the TMO and others are trying to interpret rules and who said what, when and the particular meaning of the words in that order cannot hide that most people watching what he watched said "try".

The ref can’t be everywhere and see the ball at all times from all angles. He made a call based on what he saw in the moment. Once that call is made it is up to the TMO to provide incontrovertible evidence to overturn it.

I agree it was almost certainly a try, but it was not possible to see this with enough certainty to overturn the on-field call.

Perhaps it’s time for some kind of in-ball technology? If that’s even possible.

 

[Slick]

The ref can’t be everywhere and see the ball at all times from all angles. He made a call based on what he saw in the moment. Once that call is made it is up to the TMO to provide incontrovertible evidence to overturn it.

I agree it was almost certainly a try, but it was not possible to see this with enough certainty to overturn the on-field call.

Perhaps it’s time for some kind of in-ball technology? If that’s even possible.

He was right there, staring at it.

 

[Beebo]

Perhaps it’s time for some kind of in-ball technology? If that’s even possible.

I’m not sure what type of tech would even be possible.
There’s 1000kg of muscle piled on top of each other so it would be impossible to detect the ball or pressure.
And no way of showing who has in control of the ball at the precise moment.

 

[AndyRM]

They're using in ball technology, at least I'm sure that's what they said for the real time distances the ball is travelling when it's being hoofed.

 

[Beebo]

They're using in ball technology, at least I'm sure that's what they said for the real time distances the ball is travelling when it's being hoofed.

That’s quite easy to do.
Detecting a ball at the bottom of a collapsed maul is much harder.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

He saw the same pictures millions of viewers saw on a huge screen. Referees have changed their decisions before if the tv shows a better angle.

 

[geocycle]

Scotland were very unlucky with that last decision. When I saw it live I thought held up as did the ref. Inthe old days that would have been it. The slow motion shows the ball probably touched the grass and probably was put there by a Scottish hand. But that’s two times probably.

Scotland should beat England and will likely finish third, although I fancy England against France.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Perhaps it’s time for some kind of in-ball technology?

No. Just no.

I think that RU has the TMO stuff just about right. The ref is still in charge, and the sole judge of fact and all that, but can call on the TMO to double check things. If the ref didn't see something and the cameras can't see it, then tough.

An interesting thing to do is to watch the players' reactions at the time. They're not classically trained actors and tend not to hide their feelings. When that incident happened in the Scotland match players from both sides celebrated. "Och aye the yay! We've scored!" "Zut alors! we've saved it!" both at the same time. So pretty inconclusive.

 

[AndyRM]

That’s quite easy to do.
Detecting a ball at the bottom of a collapsed maul is much harder.

It can do that apparently.

Whatever, it's not going to change anything now.

 

[geocycle]

No. Just no.

I think that RU has the TMO stuff just about right. The ref is still in charge, and the sole judge of fact and all that, but can call on the TMO to double check things. If the ref didn't see something and the cameras can't see it, then tough.

An interesting thing to do is to watch the players' reactions at the time. They're not classically trained actors and tend not to hide their feelings. When that incident happened in the Scotland match players from both sides celebrated. "Och aye the yay! We've scored!" "Zut alors! we've saved it!" both at the same time. So pretty inconclusive.

On the whole I agree it’s about right. The laws need some simplification though to help make it more accessible to the crowds. The decision against George Ford was just daft. Why do we allow charge downs anyway? The scrum remains a mystery to the fans and the kick tennis needs reform. Some laws compound themselves, i thought wales got lucky with the penalty try and then the statutory yellow changed the game. I also thought the Welsh guy at the end was very unlucky to be yellow carded for instinctively sticking a hand out.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I also thought the Welsh guy at the end was very unlucky to be yellow carded for instinctively sticking a hand out.

He knew exactly what he was doing, David Campese style.