OV9

duncs500 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 4:37 pm Difficult one, could you see 100% that he grounded it? Very marginal, I think it was a try but I also don't think you can say that the officials blatantly fucked it up. In fact, I thought the officiating in the game was excellent.

Unless the ball had suddenly changed shape, or one of the French players had sneaked a sheet of A4 under it, that can’t be anywhere other than on the ground….

Officials have to make the calls though.

I know it's on the ground, but does he ground it is what I'm questioning. Or is it just sitting behind his arm? I couldn't say for sure.

I think it was a try, but it's about how the referee frames the question. The TMO needs to be certain after that.

Would have been harsh whichever way it went, if I was French and it went the other way I'd have also felt hard done by.

Biggar talking shite, how was that 'approaching the kick'?

Not that it matters, England haven't been good enough.

duncs500 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 5:46 pm Biggar talking shite, how was that 'approaching the kick'?

Not that it matters, England haven't been good enough.

Yeah, complete bollocks by Biggar.

I didn’t think we were good enough.. and then we won!.. huh?

ETA: heart rate coming back to normal now!

Agreed, not great, but had a good enough spell in the second half to drag themselves over the line. There was a defensive set at about 75mins where Wales were past the England 10m and the line speed just keep pushing them back until they were back at their 10m, that was impressive. In general it's a really aggressive defence, but there are opportunities for teams willing to be expansive and take a risk going wide.

England are starting to be a bit Wales like in managing to not play that well but grinding it out. Not a bad trait to have, but it would be nice to see more quality. Is it me or do England give away eleventy more penalties then any other team (for at least the last decade)? Quite a few handling errors too. Compare that to Scotland earlier who were so disciplined and made very few mistakes.

I really think England have some great athletes, but they really just need to be smarter and calmer.

Itoje looked like that kid at school who forgot his boots and has to do PE in his school shoes

Both games great spectacles

Scotland must be gutted. It's a shame the ref called it no try and asked for clear evidence it was grounded on line. If he asked is there any reason not to award the try it would stand. Big game decided by semantics!

Welsh youngsters did well against a pretty grizzly and experienced Team. It's going to be a tough year but you can see the potential.

There are also a few very good young players injured. We needed a couple of old heads to see the win through.

Gatland is clearly going down a path of development rather than picking a team to win 1 game at a time. He's left a number of arguably better older players out of the squad I assume on the basis they'll be past their best at the next world cup!

I'm predicting a narrow Welsh and Scotland win today

Out on the lash with my wife's mates and their partners so expect to be home, hammered and wrong by 8pm

Carlos wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 12:34 pm expect to be home, hammered and wrong by 8pm

Let's hope so. Watching the first game in the pub with an Irishman, then going home for the second game, mainly because last round my daughter showed and interest in it and has been asking about it since. Inevitably she's not going to be interested this time, but gotta try!

Done!

Well deserved win for Scotland. The Scotland vs Ireland game probably should have been the grandslam game, unfortunately it's Ireland's championship at a canter.

I enjoyed time spent shouting at the telly box today.

A game full of errors, with some moments of genius.

Was jealous of my eldest who’d booked a table at a pub in the centre of town with his mates - the atmosphere was apparently delerious.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeDFuVtW/

Ah Jesus poor Italy.

You couldn’t make it up

Question for those that follow the game more closely than I - the commentators said something in passing regarding De Merwe's second try that of course it wouldn't have been allowed 4 years ago. What was that in relation to?

Only thing I could think is was it because his foot was over the line but in the air, and not on the ground, and therefore not in touch now but would have been then?

I didn't catch that in commentary, but you've been able be in the air over the line for as long as I can remember. Usually hitting the flag means you're in touch, did he hit the flag first before grounding or something?

Either way, sounds like they cheated... I demand an immediate rematch.