Ireland v South Africa - 22/11/2025

[munstermuffin]

FWIW, I don't think high ticket prices are a scourge like some. We've got a good thing going in Irish rugby and internationals are it's main source of income. Provincial rugby is very affordable to follow. Internationals are more of a day out, I won't be back until next autumn at the earliest while prioritising other things in life.

Just when you pay the premium to watch a match take 2hrs and 10mins from start to finish with very very little ball in play time was disappointing.

Ireland are partly at fault for allowing themselves be bullied but Carley is stealing a living at this level of the game, killed any chance of having any flow to that game early doors.

Sure 160 is just like lunch money up.that way

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Sasha didn't come from distance, had mitigation in player dropping and an additional tackler.

Mitigation doesn't apply when defender commits "always-illegal" acts. They've been pouring that cool aid non stop down our throats for the past two weeks.
Even without the drop that is a crystal clear no arms tackle, hence always illegal. And again, past weeks' reds had drops too. Didn't matter.

 

[BrokenWing]

Agreed. My wife wanted $500 last night for a quick tug. That was only $200 before COVID.

Could you not get a Black Friday deal?

 

[ChicagoKid]

Could you not get a Black Friday deal?

She’s like French luxury goods: No discounts or sales.

 

[Horacito]

God bless you Irish boys, what a match last night

almost feel sorry for your props tho, that was terrible

 

[OllyM97]

The scoreboard didn’t show it - and Ireland defended brilliantly for long periods, but really that was an absolute shellacking. In terms of dominance, that was as emphatic from the Springboks as the Wellington game against NZ. The difference was that they weren’t as clinical as they probably should have been. Ireland were just marmalised physically and even on the rare occasions they got some good possession they just kept getting smashed in the tackle. It’s mad because in the RWC, and in SA last year Ireland were more than a match for SA physically and dominated them in the first half of the Durban test. Why has such an obvious gulf in class opened up so quickly?. Ireland played like they knew they were going to lose and were just trying to limit the damage, which they did effectively. That could have easily been a 40 point pasting.

 

[dirty harry]

The scoreboard didn't show it - and Ireland defended brilliantly for long periods, but really that was an absolute shellacking. In terms of dominance, that was as emphatic from the Springboks as the Wellington game against NZ. The difference was that they weren't as clinical as they probably should have been. Ireland were just marmalised physically and even on the rare occasions they got some good possession they just kept getting smashed in the tackle. It's mad because in the RWC, and in SA last year Ireland were more than a match for SA physically and dominated them in the first half of the Durban test. Why has such an obvious gulf in class opened up so quickly?. Ireland played like they knew they were going to lose and were just trying to limit the damage, which they did effectively. That could have easily been a 40 point pasting.

Its a shame that THE game of the autumn would have been England SA...

I think both French and Irish stock have dropped a bit in the SA, both taken apart by SA power game, probably unfair on them, but hey ho.

Doesnt bode well for Wales though christ, the kost underpowered 6N team vs the most powerfucl 3 squads in the world lol

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Just learned something. Was watching whistle watch with Nigel Owens and Jamie Roberts. Apparently, when a ref claims that a play "meets the yellow-card threshold" and sends the play for review with the TMO, the verdict returned can only be yellow card or 20 min red. He cannot be a permanent red card (video below).
The referral has both a bottom and an upper threshold. This is mental.
I swear, whoever came up with this rule was taking the ****.

 

[BrokenWing]

As I understood it, the bunker review is for “technical” offenses and not serious foul play.

So your tackle technique is slightly off and the bunker will look at mitigating factors.

Stick your thumb in someone’s eye and there’s not much mitigation.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

As I understood it, the bunker review is for “technical” offenses and not serious foul play.

If you don't mind me asking, where does that understanding of yours come from?
I am asking because my understanding was exactly the opposite.

My understanding comes from the early trials.

"World Rugby continues to be open to innovations or technology that have the potential to assist officiating, enhance game flow and advance welfare in line with the key outcomes of the recent Shape of the Game conferences.

The Television Match Official (TMO) Bunker is a concept that reflects that mission, having the potential to reduce lengthy stoppages and promote accurate decision-making for foul play, as evidenced in the current Super Rugby Pacific trial."

World Rugby to further explore the Television Match Official Bunker concept | World Rugby

The official site of World Rugby the governing body of Rugby Union with news, tournaments, fixtures, results, world rugby rankings, statistics, video, the Laws of the game, governance and contacts.

www.world.rugby

I mean, have you ever seen a referral to the bunker for a scrum? Every one i can remember involved potential foul play. Every single one.

 

[BrokenWing]

I can’t find anything to back up the “bunker can’t give a straight red” thing you’ve heard from those individuals.

The main time wasting exercise was poring over replays of head contact tackles and determining mitigation so that decision was passed to the bunker so the referee could get on with the game.

Anything that meets the criteria for a straight red should be picked up by the referee or TMO.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If you don't mind me asking, where does that understanding of yours come from?
I am asking because my understanding was exactly the opposite.

My understanding comes from the early trials.

"World Rugby continues to be open to innovations or technology that have the potential to assist officiating, enhance game flow and advance welfare in line with the key outcomes of the recent Shape of the Game conferences.

The Television Match Official (TMO) Bunker is a concept that reflects that mission, having the potential to reduce lengthy stoppages and promote accurate decision-making for foul play, as evidenced in the current Super Rugby Pacific trial."

World Rugby to further explore the Television Match Official Bunker concept | World Rugby

The official site of World Rugby the governing body of Rugby Union with news, tournaments, fixtures, results, world rugby rankings, statistics, video, the Laws of the game, governance and contacts.

www.world.rugby

I mean, have you ever seen a referral to the bunker for a scrum? Every one i can remember involved potential foul play. Every single one.

I only realised that you can't get a full RC from the bunker after Ireland v NZ. It's an absolute mockery, puts refs under more pressure to make a real decision in time which is the exact opposite of the original intention.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I can’t find anything to back up the “bunker can’t give a straight red” thing you’ve heard from those individuals.

No, sorry, i cannot allow that. And here is why: One of "those individuals" happens to be, not only the most famous rugby referee who's ever lived, but he also happens to be the host of a show HOSTED BY WORLD RUGBY (i need bigger letters) whose PURPOSE is to clarify, rectify or correct other refs' calls and to educate the audience.

So you casually shedding a shadow on the veracity of those extremely curated statements, given in that context, from those individuals, in that channel... just because you couldn't find anything to back it up?
That is mental. Like i need professional help asap mental.

Anything that meets the criteria for a straight red should be picked up by the referee or TMO.

You cannot be serious.

 

[BrokenWing]

I can’t tell if you’re having a laugh but whatever.

I can’t be bothered engaging in an argument if that’s what you're looking for, I’m not that invested.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I would always double check anything Nige says tbh,
His career peaked with "This is not soccer" - once he started selling merch with that on he gave up on trying, the last few years of his refereeing career were terrible and every time he crops up as a pundit it's just as bad

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

https://www.therugbyforum.com/threads/italy-vs-south-africa-15-11-2025.50489/page-2#post-1262083

We had this discussion a couple weeks ago. No citation but @Which Tyler knew without any hesitation, Ive no reason to doubt him. He might be able to provide confirmation before this gets stupid!

 

[Which Tyler]

World Rugby Passport - Implementation of the 20minute red card replacement in elite rugby - August 2025

passport.world.rugby

It's been the case since the worldwide trial of the 20-minite red, but we only found out by commentators telling us, and "confirming" by noticing that no full red had ever been given after an off-field review.

Now it's beyond trial stage, we've got official confirmation above

The FPRO will then have up to eight minutes to review the incident using all available footage and technology. They will advise the referee at the appropriate time, that the card should;

remain a yellow card, or
be upgraded to a 20-minute red card. An FPRO cannot recommend a permanent red card.

 

[Saintjay]

The bunker has made three wrong calls on 20min reds this Autumn. It's pointless at this point. I'd be in favour of just binning the 20min red. It only came in because the All Blacks moaned so much about Sam Cane.

I'd also stop coaches going into referees meeting with countless clips of the opposition. I think Andrew Porter was saying every meeting the ref gets shown videos of what his hips do

Last point the duty rumour is they are thinking of changing the yellow cards for props. Simply because your getting smashed in the scrum, yellows don't change this. However World Rugby don't want to be seen to be spiking SA's guns so no possible change planned till after the RWC.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The bunker has made three wrong calls on 20min reds this Autumn. It's pointless at this point. I'd be in favour of just binning the 20min red. It only came in because the All Blacks moaned so much about Sam Cane.

I'd also stop coaches going into referees meeting with countless clips of the opposition. I think Andrew Porter was saying every meeting the ref gets shown videos of what his hips do

Last point the duty rumour is they are thinking of changing the yellow cards for props. Simply because your getting smashed in the scrum, yellows don't change this. However World Rugby don't want to be seen to be spiking SA's guns so no possible change planned till after the RWC.

Andrew Porter has become a scapegoat since Barnsey used him as a pawn to get his World Cup Final in 2023.

There was a pic doing the rounds of every international scrum from the weekend and absolutely every team has props coming in at an angle. Refer blow Porter off the park for it to get their kudos and ignore it with every other player and team.

 

[Ddanno]

Andrew Porter has become a scapegoat since Barnsey used him as a pawn to get his World Cup Final in 2023.

There was a pic doing the rounds of every international scrum from the weekend and absolutely every team has props coming in at an angle. Refer blow Porter off the park for it to get their kudos and ignore it with every other player and team.

At least someone got to their final.