Rugby World Cup 2011 - New Zealand

[Big Boy]

Yes, and if you deliberately lift the guy off the ground in that manner it's an offence. OK, it may have been in the heat of the moment, but for a guy leading his country's hopes, it showed a total lack of control.

In the event you do lose your head like that, it is up to you to ensure your opponent is returned to the ground safely - not dropped. He was wrong on 2 counts, and well done to the ref.

[pharvey]

Yes, and if you deliberately lift the guy off the ground in that manner it's an offence. OK, it may have been in the heat of the moment, but for a guy leading his country's hopes, it showed a total lack of control.

In the event you do lose your head like that, it is up to you to ensure your opponent is returned to the ground safely - not dropped. He was wrong on 2 counts, and well done to the ref.

I agree with you BB, but the tackle was hardly as you say it was. Countless reporters have said the referee is wrong or has been extremely harsh. You do have a massive hatred for Welsh Rugby don't you..... WOW! Honestly,hope it's only ''Welsh"" rugby you hate...........

Deserved a Yellow Card, nothing more!!

[Big Boy]

You do have a massive hatred for Welsh Rugby don't you..... WOW! Honestly,hope it's only ''Welsh"" rugby you hate..........

Not hatred, but I do enjoy seeing them lose. It's only a game, so (with one exception) I couldn't hate anybody that much if they were simply playing a game.

As an aside, I was listening to the commentator before the game, and didn't realise that the Welsh squad contained so many youngsters. I reckon these are the same guys my son's team found so impregnable when he was playing schoolboy club rugby. There were a couple of bad teams back in those days, but most of the Welsh teams were far too good - hence my dislike.

[JimmyGreaves]

All I can say BB is that your dislike is love compared to the Irish dislike of English teams in Sport. God Know's why!

[Big Boy]

JG, It's not only the Irish, most of the world likes to beat England at sport. Unfortunately, most do

[MrPlum]

When he lifted the Frenchie off the ground he realized it was a dangerous challenge so let him go. No attempt to 'spike'. He landed on his back, not his head. It's a question of intent. In a situation like that, they can replay the incident and see exactly what happened, then all the officials can decide if a sending off is appropriate, bearing in mind the audience and occasion.

What's the point of strictly enforcing a rule when the game is effectively ruined as a contest, along with the enjoyment of tens of millions of spectators? Likewise in World Cup soccer.

Are they going to send off every player who picks an opponent up off his feet? I saw a SA player, in one line-out, grab the legs of an opponent, when he was up in the air and upended him. Result? Penalty. You see players, when a ball has been kicked high in the air, clatter into the catcher, at speed, when he's 2 feet off the ground. Very dangerous play. Is any action taken?

I haven't seen much rugby where players have been sent off. Is it really so difficult for a talented team to beat a mediocre one, even with only 14 men? I was rooting for Wales but they didn't seem to have any ideas on how to breach the French defences and the penalty and drop goal attempts were abysmal.

Poor game. The French should apologize for turning up.

[pharvey]

You do have a massive hatred for Welsh Rugby don't you..... WOW! Honestly,hope it's only ''Welsh"" rugby you hate..........

Not hatred, but I do enjoy seeing them lose. It's only a game, so (with one exception) I couldn't hate anybody that much if they were simply playing a game..

I'd love to see a UK team win it, but I'm a self confessed hater of Welsh rugby.

Ahem........ Well BB, I'm sure you're happy today....


Personally, I think the final has suffered!

[Big Boy]

Personally, I think the final has suffered!

I don't think it mattered who got through England, Ireland, Wales or France. IMHO the Southern Hemisphere is too strong.

[Arcadian]

Dear Aunty HH Forum, I must be schizophrenic, last week I was English, this morning I was Welsh and now it seems I am an Antipodean. Can you offer any help.

[barrys]

There was a very similar "tackle" by an Aussie player on Ronan O'Gara in last week's 1/4 final - and there wasn't even a penalty awarded, let alone a card shown. Severe lack of refereeing consistency it would appear.

Bad luck Wales, would have liked to see them go through - plenty of spirit but their place kicking let them down badly on a day when the French were there for the taking, even with 14 men.

[Big Boy]

Apologies for harping back to pharvey's beloved wendyball, but I've seen worse crimes than Rooney's go unpunished as well.

It takes a lot of bottle for a referee to uphold the laws of the game. Because so few have the bottle (especially in the presence of a hostile crowd, it's sad when your team is the team on the receiving end. However, 2 wrongs don't make a right.

[pharvey]

Apologies for harping back to pharvey's beloved wendyball, but I've seen worse crimes than Rooney's go unpunished as well.

It takes a lot of bottle for a referee to uphold the laws of the game. Because so few have the bottle (especially in the presence of a hostile crowd, it's sad when your team is the team on the receiving end. However, 2 wrongs don't make a right.

You are one bitter man BB. It was a YELLOW CARD end of.

[EDIT] SERIOUSLY, WHO REALLY DID SH*T IN YOUR COFFEE??

[Big Boy]

Cheer up pharvey, it's only a game. I actually think it's great to see a referee who's not afraid to do his job. Rooney was probably only a yellow as well - after all, he only committed one offence

Seriously, professional sport is full of too many overpaid prima donnas these days. The referee is always being blamed for his mistakes/inconsistency. Mistakes are human. Inconsitency between officials is the problem - zero tolerance for everybody would be the best way to stop the law breakers.

I applaud the way rugby ensures the referee is respected. However, there is a lot of room for improvement.

[Edit] Maybe I need a new TV because it certainly looked red to me

[lindosfan1]

Lifted from the BBC site

Well, how much drama can you take? It was bad enough for Wales when world class prop Adam Jones went off injured so early in the game, but to have captain Warburton red carded was an absolute disaster. Was it the right call? Here's what the IRB says: "Law 10 Foul Play: (j) Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player's feet are still off the ground such that the player's head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play. Sanction: Penalty kick." There was a clarification in 2009. "The IRFU has requested a ruling with regard Law 10-Foul Play. Current Law prohibits the tackling of a player who is in the air, either in the line out or in open play. The Law is designed to protect players, and to prevent them landing on the ground, on their heads or upper body.
It appears a serious anomaly, therefore, that a player(s) can deliberately lift an opponent off his feet and then may drop (or 'spear') the opponent so that he lands head down or on his upper body.

1. 10 4(e) Foul Play -Dangerous tackling. Does the action of deliberately lifting an opponent off his feet in a tackle so that he may then be dropped (or 'speared') so that he lands on his head or upper body constitute tackling 'dangerously' as defined in this Law.

2. Law 10 -Foul Play. Does the action described in 1 by definition contrary to the letter and spirit of the laws and constitutes, per se, an act of foul play should it occur in general play; e.g. a player, on the fringes of ruck or maul, so lifted.

Ruling of the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

1. The act of lifting an opponent off his feet in a tackle AND dropping or 'spearing' that player so that his head and/or upper body comes into contact with the ground first, is a dangerous tackle.

2. The dangerous play described in 1. above is considered dangerous play no matter where it occurs in the game."

[redzonerocker]

A bit late tuning in, but the game was ruined by a poor refereeing decision imo
Stupid tackle by Warbutton but definately just a yellow card offence.

They certainly put in a shift with 14 men though & were deserving of a bit of fortune going their way in the latter stages.
I thought they had it with that kick from Halfpenny near the end . . . agonisingly short

As a neutral, the best side lost & France are possibly the worst side to grace the WC final.
You really do have to believe that the Welsh would have won the game with a full team, though nothing is certain sport.

I hope the AB's give 'em a right roasting in the final, after they dispose of the Aussies tomorrow of course

ps
Fortunately for me, my league prediction gamble paid off.