[2015 RWC] Pool A: England vs. Wales (26/09/2015)

[valley commando]

France will win this World Cup I'm absolutely certain but call me crazy

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Heart means nothing to you in a game obviously

I had Wales v france in the final at 100/1 but it will take a miracle now with all our injuries.
Some months ago I was slated by many England fans for stating I thought Warburton was superior both as a player and a captain when compared with Robshaw.

 

[itsonlyrugby]

Great bruising game. Total commitment from all involved. Fantastic to watch as a neutral. Well, as a Scot I was routing for Wales. 3 main points for me . If it was wasn't for Wales horrendous injury list they wouldn't have had a scum half playing out on the wing and that's were the kick for the try came; a halfbacks vision. 2nd: Robshaws desicion making under pressure is abysmal. 3rd: A rugby word cup finals is no place for a newbie league convert to learn his trade. One last parting shot, Lancaster doesn't have the courage of his convictions. In the run up the English have played some exciting open style stuff, even with Lancaster's constant tinkering and in-desicion with the midfield. First big game and he bricks himself and puts out a wall.,no subtelty, no nuance,just sheer power. We saw how that worked out

 

[valley commando]

Positives:

Scrum went well (though Marler was cheating his balls off - some refs will clock it, some won't)
Maul defence was decent (don't think it should have been a penalty first half)
Wood had a decent game
Binny was excellent, though considering he fielded quite a few kicks I would have liked to have seen him charge in to contact a bit more - then again, making sure we retain the ball/he can set it back properly is important
B. Youngs was good
Farrell had a very good game,
Wings went well enough with the little ball the had,
Burgess decent, want to see more,
Brown excellent - one of the best FBs in the world. I like how fiesty he is, but maybe he does take it a bit too far - didn't mind him getting involved after Lydiate's attempted leg breaker, but no need to continue it for as long as he did
Mako was very good as well - surely deserves a start now?

There was nothing wrong with Lydiates tackle, Brown is an idiot to react like that, its a pity its not 15 or so years ago because someone would have surely slapped him and shut him up by now, Farrell used to be like that but has grown up a lot in the last 18 months.

 

[Kiwi_]

When you're talking about players "growing up" etc you haven't usually got a winner.

 

[valley commando]

We may now hear less singing of Swing low at the non ENGLAND GAMES, disrepect and arrogance never helped anyone!!!!!!!!!!! great game, well played Wales and very good reffing from Garces, this should calm a few forumers for a couple of days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! France now looooooook goooooooood to goooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought Garces had an impeccable game and am annoyed at the sour grapes from posts suggesting the ref lost it for England, also I felt Burgess proved me wrong I thought he would be a disaster when infact it all went wrong for England when he was replaced, anyone looking for the player at fault for this defeat need look no further than Robshaw, the decision to kick for touch mirrored Dellagilo's decision in our famous Wembley win.

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What a load of utter tosh.

Garces was excellent in this game, and it was made very easy for him with both teams showing a complete lack of discipline.

I completely agree with you, I think there were a total of 23 penalties, 12 from England and 11 from us, unacceptable and I am surprised we didn't see at least a card per side.

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hello, couple of observations form last night.

1: it was an immense game, intensity was insane - I'm worried about the emotional toll on both teams ahead of Ausssies & Fiji.
2: I said against Ireland in the warm up games the Welsh fitness was incredible, and we saw it again last night.
3: Ford for Burgess was a bad call, it changed the game in a negative way for England - it should have been Ford for Farrell, or not at all. Burgess was good, bar a crappy kick.
4: Robshaws call to kick for the corner was the RIGHT call, win the game and England are through, Draw left them in almost the same position as a loss, but with a chance to go through on the 2012 rankings (sod that).
5: I knew we'd (England) had lost when Mike Brown lost his temper and fronted up to Warburton - knew emotion had taken over too much at that stage.

Great win for Wales, congrats lads, really great performance in a massive game. Super from the pack to get back into the game, difficult for them to back it up against Fiji with all the injuries, will be interesting to see how this pool pans out.

lastly nothing in the Wood/Williams connection, hacking a loose ball clumsily if he gets cited he'll get cleared.

laters

Don't know if you'll agree but the penalty at the end given against Warburton was the only mistake Garces made, he was on his feet, supporting his own weight and won the ball fairly.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Wales were exceptionally disciplined considering how long they were under the cosh for, then Gatland out thought lancaster and his bearded monkey, Andy Farrell

 

[Peat]

Tbh the biggest question I'd have for Garces is what did I think Joe Marler was doing in the scrums that was legal, as I did not see it, and that was to England's advantage.

 

[valley commando]

There was nothing wrong with Lydiates tackle, Brown is an idiot to react like that, its a pity its not 15 or so years ago because someone would have surely slapped him and shut him up by now, Farrell used to be like that but has grown up a lot in the last 18 months.

I will repeat Lydiate did nothing wrong it was a fair tackle, why do I get a notification for this comment only a complete idiot would think or say a player as fair as Lydiate tried to break a fellow players leg, please grow up and once again somebody explain what the hell I got a notification/reputation comment.

 

[chippieolamus]

Don't know if you'll agree but the penalty at the end given against Warburton was the only mistake Garces made, he was on his feet, supporting his own weight and won the ball fairly.

I don't think Garces was poor, but he did make a few mistakes, e.g. when Watson dived for the ball and he gave a penalty for not allowing the player up. Also I was a little confused at the penalty which Cole gave away, https://youtu.be/BbDDdSGqV0c?t=14m48s I know this is something which the refs have been told to clamp down on, but what was cole meant to do here? He went for the ball, at which point the Welsh player rolled on top of it, so where else was Cole supposed to put his hands?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I don't think Garces was poor, but he did make a few mistakes, e.g. when Watson dived for the ball and he gave a penalty for not allowing the player up. Also I was a little confused at the penalty which Cole gave away, https://youtu.be/BbDDdSGqV0c?t=14m48s I know this is something which the refs have been told to clamp down on, but what was cole meant to do here? He went for the ball, at which point the Welsh player rolled on top of it, so where else was Cole supposed to put his hands?

I think that penalty was given for Farrell's late tackle on Gareth Davis, not for Watson diving on the player.

For Cole, well, his hands had to go straight onto the ball, and not on the floor and then sweep up onto the ball. So clear penalty - not supporting his body weight.

 

[Peat]

Tbh the biggest question I'd have for Garces is what did I think Joe Marler was doing in the scrums that was legal, as I did not see it, and that was to England's advantage.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yeah - unbelievable that an international ref cannot see a LH step out as far as Joe was.

 

[valley commando]

have just repeatedly watched the incident which put Liam Williams out of last nights game, I think it's citable and I won't be surprised if he gets done for that at the very least it's extremely careless.

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

Tbh the biggest question I'd have for Garces is what did I think Joe Marler was doing in the scrums that was legal, as I did not see it, and that was to England's advantage.

That was my biggest rage-inducing thing. Marler wasn't even trying to scrum straight

 

[smartcooky]

Jeeze, is that it?!
I missed it live but from the Welsh reaction on social media you'd think he stamped his boots directly into Williams' eyes, scrunched his boot about a bit and then took a dump on his wounds after, for good measure.

I agree that some of the Welsh fans' reactions have been OTT, but I still think it was a reckless piece of dangerous play by Wood. He had to see that there were heads near the ball.


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Another thing, although not necessarily a mistake by Garces, is that the match winning penalty could easily have gone the other way.

While Mike Brown was guilty of holding onto the ball, just watch the actions of George North (from 1:29:59 if the link doesn't take you directly there)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...dSGqV0c#t=5399

North is not a tackler so he can't play the ball from there (has to go around and enter through the gate)
He never releases Brown
He makes no attempt to move away from the ball

IMO, North illegally prevents White from competing for the ball, although its possible that Garces thought Gethin Jenkins was latched onto the ball so quickly that Brown's offence was the more material one.

 

[TommiG88]

I agree that some of the Welsh fans' reactions have been OTT, but I still think it was a reckless piece of dangerous play by Wood. He had to see that there were heads near the ball.

If a player gets cited and banned for the rest of the tournament, can they be replaced?

Get rid of wood and bring in Itoje or ewers.

 

[smartcooky]

If a player gets cited and banned for the rest of the tournament, can they be replaced?

No. Only injury and compassionate reasons.

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

[video]https://video-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hvideo-xap1/v/t42.1790-2/12024297_10206777874500845_64191539_n.mp4?efg=eyJ2 ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InNkIn0%3D&oh=9e91be55d49dfe84b738b67aa0785b2b&oe=56085C83[/video]

:lol::lol:

 

[ratsapprentice]

I can't put into words how uncomfortable that shuffle makes me feel... it goes on for so long!

 

[smartcooky]

[video]https://video-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hvideo-xap1/v/t42.1790-2/12024297_10206777874500845_64191539_n.mp4?efg=eyJ2 ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InNkIn0%3D&oh=9e91be55d49dfe84b738b67aa0785b2b&oe=56085C83[/video]

:lol::lol:

Ahhh yes, the famous "Biggarena"

 

[TobesHodges]

Zero wrong with the Ref, was the best I've seen a French ref I think.. Honestly neither team deserved to lose this game, they were equally ill disciplined, but Wales held their nerve at the depth and that's what separated the teams on the day.

From the big 4's perspective which ever team gets through they won't feel very threatened by either team, lack of expansive rugby.

It pains me to say this, but I would rather Wales don't slip to Fiji and go through, Wales showed fight, a real defiance in the face of defeat and deserve their show to go on..

For England I just want us to show a good account of ourselves and a decent performance against Australia, the win would be a bonus. As an all round WC, this has been one of the best so far, long may it continue!

 

[chippieolamus]

I think that penalty was given for Farrell's late tackle on Gareth Davis, not for Watson diving on the player.

For Cole, well, his hands had to go straight onto the ball, and not on the floor and then sweep up onto the ball. So clear penalty - not supporting his body weight.

Yup, but what I'm saying is that I don't understand what Cole is expected to do. He goes for the ball, but the Welsh player deliberately rolls on top of it. Cole's hands have to go somewhere. More of a small gripe with the laws than the ref.

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

I can't put into words how uncomfortable that shuffle makes me feel... it goes on for so long!

Kit man needs to get some fabric softener in the rotation.

If it works use it, heck, Farrell uses his gorm-face on the ball and that works

 

[bazz]

all the celtic nations looking good,but Scotland will win the cup

 

[shtove]

As an all round WC, this has been one of the best so far, long may it continue!

Yes - plenty of good tries, a few nail biters and no training runs, the law enforcers have mostly done a difficult job well, and there's no clear favourite. Plus 90k people turned up on freebies to see Romania crush Ireland - they were disappointed, but that's a big crowd.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Mike Brown = Prick

Fine player but a prize prick (and not in a good way).

 

[ShonH]

Interesting array of excuses and rationalization for the English failure. A far cry from a few weeks ago when the experts were making their proclamations about home field advantage being the difference. As always, the WC will be settled on the field and England will go into the record books as the only host team to not make it out of pool play in rugby history. Well done experts.

 

[barthelemy]

The french team comments on the England-Wales (they have watched it) :

http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/-personne-n-etait-decu-pour-les-anglais/594207


Title (and words of Swarzevski) : Nobody was sad for England

Some of the comments from players :

Uini Atonio : It was a nice victory (for the welsh). The welsh have not been scared of throwing some nice plays.

And about England decision to go for the line out : I do not know why they took the line out ! It was still a pool game: a draw is better than nothing. It's as if they wanted to show that they have balls. But we must think before making a decision like this. and as a joke (and because he is a prop) : I would have taken the scrum.

Brice Dullin : It was a big match from Wales. Despite their injured players, they nailed it. I'm admirative.

and about the England decision to go for the line out : If they score after the line out, everybody praise the decision. If (Robshaw) has done this choice, it is because the whole team agreed. It is difficult to criticize ambition.

Rory Kockott about Robshaw decision to go for the line out : TBF, if you are not on the pitch in that situation, nobody can tell what sort of decision ones would have taken

Morgan Parra : if England is first in their pool or if they are eliminated, it does not change anything and it does not concern me, because we do not meet them in the quarterfinals.

 

[The Jones Boy]

The experts never factored in Lancaster and Andy Farrell's clockwork premeditated substitution plans.
Gatland did though and there lays the rub.
If Lancaster and Farrell bothered to read the game they would have left Burgess on, he had swags of gas in the tank and he was tackling the big Welsh enters comfortably, Owen Farrell was having a blinder, the last thing England needed was another no.10 coming in from the cold and to shift him out to 2nd five, that was retarded. Leave the guy where he was on fire.
Woodward never changed a team unless it was necessary.

 

[Larksea]

was a great game to watch as a neutral, the 2nd half in particular. Its always crazy to see a team get decimated by injury so bad you cant help but feel it will be impossible for them to win only for them to somehow lift and come from behind.

it was interesting watch the game highlights and so many of the penalties that resulted in points could have gone either way. but generally the team that had the momentum and the upper had at the time got the points. so I think the end result is ok even though so many of the refs calls were 50/50

scrum officiating has been a real mixed bag this WC. The longer scrum rules mature the more tricks players figure out to get around them and I think that's going to be a feature the whole way through.

A lot of attention has gone that late decision to kick for the corner instead of go for the points. IMO the decision was ok but the actual follow up by England was poor. The accuracy and effort at the resulting lineout & period of play that followed was the teams undoing. Not the decision itself. And the kick was no sure 3 points eiher, it would have probably been the most difficult kick of the game the rest of the kicks in the game were tricky, one a longer range one but not difficult in those conditions.

I actually think both teams played well and Australia should take notice they have a challenge ahead of the. The welsh have the points in the bank but have they just played their final? Are injuries in this game going to take influence later results?