Timisoara was again quite poor and showed the same old weaknesses that doomed their Challenge Cup campaign (lack of discipline, weak scrum). However, they defended well and tried to play modern running rugby, which resulted in two nice tries. The young starting scrumhalf ruined a few good chances with his bad passing.
The ref was terrible. The first yellow was strange, I agree that a strict ref can punish such a tackle but there's no way you bin a player for that if you forgive others for punching. The second was a disgrace, just a tacker not releasing. No comments about the third, it was a deserved yellow card. The ref made numerous other mistakes and the lineswoman even had to explain to him at the end that one of Timisoara's binned players could return to the pitch.
Yar seemed to rely too much on Lomidze, who kept trying to break the line in force but ended being held up. They also looked very vulnerable to rolling mauls, Timisoara should use them a lot more in the return leg. Timisoara has two Superliga fixtures until then, which should help the team shape up.
The ref was terrible. The first yellow was strange, I agree that a strict ref can punish such a tackle but there's no way you bin a player for that if you forgive others for punching. The second was a disgrace, just a tacker not releasing. No comments about the third, it was a deserved yellow card. The ref made numerous other mistakes and the lineswoman even had to explain to him at the end that one of Timisoara's binned players could return to the pitch.
Yar seemed to rely too much on Lomidze, who kept trying to break the line in force but ended being held up. They also looked very vulnerable to rolling mauls, Timisoara should use them a lot more in the return leg. Timisoara has two Superliga fixtures until then, which should help the team shape up.
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