[2015 RWC] Pool A: Fiji vs. Uruguay (06/10/2015)

[TRF_heineken]

Stadiummk, Milton Keynes (06/10/2015, 20:00)
Pool A, Round 3
Referee: JP Doyle

 

[TheOvalBall]

Fiji: Kini Murimurivalu, Aseli Tikoirotuma, Vereniki Goneva, Lepani Botia, Nemani Nadolo, Ben Volavola, Nemia Kenatale; Sakiusa Matadigo, Akapusi Qera (captain), Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Leone Nakarawa, Api Ratuniyarawa, Leroy Atalifo, Sunia Koto, Campese Ma’afu. Reserves: Viliame Veikoso, Peni Ravia, Taniela Koroi, Tevita Cavubati, Netani Talei, Henry Seniloli, Josh Matavesi, Timoci Nagusa

Uruguay: Gaston Mieres, Santiago Gibernau, Joaquin Prada, Andres Vilaseca, Rodrigo Silva, Alejo Duran, Agustin Ormaechea; Alejandro Nieto, Matias Beer, Juan Manuel Gaminara, Jorge Zerbino, Santiago Vilaseca (captain), Mario Sagario, Carlos Arboleya, Alejo Corral. Reserves: German Kessler, Oscar Duran, Mateo Sanguinetti, Mathias Palomeque, Franco Lamanna, Juan De Freitas, Jeronimo Etcheverry, Francisco Bulanti

 

[TheOvalBall]

Uruguay score their first World Cup try in 12 years.

 

[hermanshire]

Japan beat South Africa, can Uruguay do the same against Fiji?

 

[Irish boy]

Yeah baby

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Bien ahi!

 

[OverGore]

nice little left uppercut from 13

 

[wayevs]

Bravo fantastic a 2nd try for the Uruguayans keeping them in, game on!!

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

What a stupid way to end up a world cup. So sorry for him.

 

[wayevs]

God this ref is terrible, ma'afu a yellow for what???

 

[hermanshire]

Cavubati elbowed the Uruguayan who tried to protect the ball. That is what sparked it all

 

[Jaguares]

Go Teros go!

 

[wayevs]

Go Uruguay!!

 

[ABs2011]

Nakarawa has to be one of the premier locks in the world. What a standout player he is. I hear he is quite a big contributor as to why the Fijian scrum is so good too!

Good game Fiji, good game Uruguay for that matter!

Sad to see Fiji go to be honest. If they got a draw similar to either Tonga or Samoa, first and foremost I'm pretty sure they would not be having to go through qualification for RWC2019, but furthermore I genuinely think they would have been a chance to go through the the QFs. Not only did they get a horror pool, but they got a horror draw as well. Having to backup from the Eng game only a few days later to play OZ, and then another tough game vs Wales after that. It really is something world rugby need to look at.

 

[TheOvalBall]

It is sad to see Fiji go home. They are a joy to watch.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I know the rules give the ref the liberty to red card Ormaechea, but i a single phrase from the referee could have avoided that. Considering uruguayans' mother tongue ain't english i don't think a tad of lenience is too much to ask for.

 

[wayevs]

Agreed. It was stupid putting Fiji in the group of death , it is silly these groups are done 3 years in advance of the tournament and Fiji were condemned before this tournament kicked off and rugby is the loser , Fiji are just so good watch and I admire the way the play the game but things need to change because that pool A was just ridiculous !

 

[ABs2011]

I know the rules give the ref the liberty to red card Ormaechea, but i a single phrase from the referee could have avoided that. Considering uruguayans' mother tongue ain't english i don't think a tad of lenience is too much to ask for.

I'm not sure what else the ref could have done really. I mean the game was getting out of control. That was the 3rd time in only a few minutes where things had blown up - he couldnt let that go on any longer so IMO he had to yellow them both.

On top of that he had warned both teams after the last incident so they should have all known. It certainly sux for the little halfy but he should have known better.

 

[Yoshimitsu]

I don't concur. "Stop being cocks" was easily understood by all after the previous ruckus. The very next opportunity presented the 9 decides to be a bellend. To be fair that's probably not a langauge thing, more a scrum half thing.

 

[ABs2011]

Agreed. It was stupid putting Fiji in the group of death , it is silly these groups are done 3 years in advance of the tournament and Fiji were condemned before this tournament kicked off and rugby is the loser , Fiji are just so good watch and I admire the way the play the game but things need to change because that pool A was just ridiculous !

How is the draw done? do you know? Cause it was also bloody stupid putting the host nation with any more than 1 top tier nation, let alone 2 + another top 10 nation. I hope they learnt form that with Japan in the next RWC. In this case not only did rugby supporters lose out because of this, but presumably world rugby (and definately the UK ecomony) lost a packet of money on it as well. However it was done it was idiotic at best!

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I'm not sure what else the ref could have done really. I mean the game was getting out of control. That was the 3rd time in only a few minutes where things had blown up - he couldnt let that go on any longer so IMO he had to yellow them both.

On top of that he had warned both teams after the last incident so they should have all known. It certainly sux for the little halfy but he should have known better.

I take my previous comment back. I thought he had been given one yellow card for the push and another one for arguing with the ref just after that. Completely forgot about the previous one.
My bad.

 

[ABs2011]

I actually take my previous comment back. I thought he had been given one yellow card for the push and another one for arguing with the ref just after that. Completely forgot about the previous one.
My bad.

Ah ok, that makes sense. Yeah he got his first yellow for the no-arms tackle that led to the first (penalty) try of the match. Which obviously mean getting into more trouble after a warning was a pretty dumb-arse thing to do. It has cost him a test match against England as well which would be a pretty big deal for him I presume!

 

[ABs2011]

Oh man, I didnt realise this at the time, but just to add to the poor kid's pain, apparently he was awarded man of the match but then it was taken off him once he recieved his second yellow/red card. Wow - hero to zero stuff!!

 

[ajwffc]

How is the draw done? do you know? Cause it was also bloody stupid putting the host nation with any more than 1 top tier nation, let alone 2 + another top 10 nation. I hope they learnt form that with Japan in the next RWC. In this case not only did rugby supporters lose out because of this, but presumably world rugby (and definately the UK ecomony) lost a packet of money on it as well. However it was done it was idiotic at best!

At the time of the draw the top 4 side that had qualified (using the ranking at the end of the 2012 autumn internationals) were placed in pot 1 (New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and France). The next 4 in pot 2 (England, Ireland, Samoa, Argentina) and the final 4 in pot 3 (Wales, Italy, Tonga and Scotland). Pot 4(Americas 1(Canada), Asia 1(Japan), Europe 1(Georgia) and Oceania 1(Fiji)) and Pot 5 (Africa 1(Namibia), Americas 2(USA), Europe 2(Romania) and Repechage(Uruguay)) were made up of the side still to qualify. The 1st team drawn form each pot was put into group A the 2nd into group B and so on. The Welsh were 0.32 points behind Argentina (they lost 3-0 in there tour of Australia in the summer and lost games v New Zealand, Argentina and Australia in the autumn.) which dropped them into pot 3.

 

[ABs2011]

At the time of the draw the top 4 side that had qualified (using the ranking at the end of the 2012 autumn internationals) were placed in pot 1 (New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and France). The next 4 in pot 2 (England, Ireland, Samoa, Argentina) and the final 4 in pot 3 (Wales, Italy, Tonga and Scotland). Pot 4(Americas 1(Canada), Asia 1(Japan), Europe 1(Georgia) and Oceania 1(Fiji)) and Pot 5 (Africa 1(Namibia), Americas 2(USA), Europe 2(Romania) and Repechage(Uruguay)) were made up of the side still to qualify. The 1st team drawn form each pot was put into group A the 2nd into group B and so on. The Welsh were 0.32 points behind Argentina (they lost 3-0 in there tour of Australia in the summer and lost games v New Zealand, Argentina and Australia in the autumn.) which dropped them into pot 3.

Thanks for explaining that. I figured it must have been something along those lines. Do you know if they are going to stick with that format? The obvious change I would make is include the host nation in pot 1 by default. I would also consider doing the draw a bit later. Is there any reason it needs to be done so early?

 

[ncurd]

I think I read somewhere possibly Brian Moore's blog that World Rugby already admits to a cocktail up on this one.

Problem is next time, you have 10 tier 1 teams & 1 host nation and only 8 QF places(not accounting for at least one upset from a tier 2 team). Not entirely sure how you make it work. Let's not blame World Rugby though England with Wales' injury issues had the talent to make it it through and we're let down my multiple management errors. World Rugby should look into the system that allowed it to happen but nope cop the blame.

- - - Updated - - -

Foe example the fix above merely moves England to pot 1 and France to pot 2. The issue happened due to Wales being in pot 3.

 

[Tony Manx]

Thanks for explaining that. I figured it must have been something along those lines. Do you know if they are going to stick with that format? The obvious change I would make is include the host nation in pot 1 by default. I would also consider doing the draw a bit later. Is there any reason it needs to be done so early?

The reason for the silly early draw was all about logistics apparently! They needed to know the pools to start arranging the venues, accommodation etc

 

[korn1]

Great to see Fiji win. Love the rugby they play.

 

[Mcfadden]

I thought the referee did his best in a very challenging situation. The last 20-30 minutes of that match was completely disgraceful in all honesty (save for Uruguay's surge, and the Fijian comeback in quick succession). I thought whenever JP Doyle blew the whistle it made sense and I could understand it. I hate how referees have one set of rules for one team, and another set for the second side. Doyle was calm, collected (as much as you could be) and dealt to the players of each side in a way which was appropriate.