Japan v Springboks

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Not to take anything away from SA but Japan have not brought the same level of intensity and accuracy to this game as they did with Ireland & Scotland.

[Lizard]

Think I'm about done with this.

[Digby]

Not to take anything away from SA but Japan have not brought the same level of intensity and accuracy to this game as they did with Ireland & Scotland.

I think Japan look very similar, they're just up against a much stronger outfit

[Son of Mathonwy]

Well won by SA but we'll never know how it would have gone if they'd played most of the match with 14 men, as they should have.

[Scrumhead]

Not to take anything away from SA but Japan have not brought the same level of intensity and accuracy to this game as they did with Ireland & Scotland.

I think Japan look very similar, they're just up against a much stronger outfit

To be honest, I think it was a combination of both. Much more intensity and aggression from the Bok defence and less fluidity and accuracy from Japan.

Some of the Japanese mistakes definitely came from Bok pressure, but there were a lot more unforced errors too. A bit more like their opening game against Russia.

[Digby]

Well won by SA but we'll never know how it would have gone if they'd played most of the match with 14 men, as they should have.

And very weird Barnes didn't even have a look along with the TMO

[Son of Mathonwy]

Well won by SA but we'll never know how it would have gone if they'd played most of the match with 14 men, as they should have.

And very weird Barnes didn't even have a look along with the TMO

Yes, I can't think of a carding for a dangerous tackle that didn't involve the TMO, ever. Was it arrogance? So strange not to want to make absolutely sure of the decision, even if it did happen in front of him.

[Digby]

Well won by SA but we'll never know how it would have gone if they'd played most of the match with 14 men, as they should have.

And very weird Barnes didn't even have a look along with the TMO

Yes, I can't think of a carding for a dangerous tackle that didn't involve the TMO, ever. Was it arrogance? So strange not to want to make absolutely sure of the decision, even if it did happen in front of him.

It's possible he didn't want to have to issue a red, but that's not really for him to rule on imo, it's either a red or not and what he wants is irrelevant

[Sourdust]

In real-time I thought "yellow" and was actually pleased that Barnes had just flashed the card without nonsense.

Looking at the replays, Beastie was pretty lucky. Perhaps there should be a directive compelling referees to refer foul play to the TMO - while retaining their ultimate authority, of course.

[switchskier]

I thought that it was yellow in real time and was pleased that Barnes dealt with it in such a decisive manner. For me it's on the TMO to interject and tell him that he should take a look.

[Lizard]

Fuck sake. People spend all their time complaining about TMO referrals taking too long and then lose their shit when a ref just does his job.

Surely the real scandal here is that some Springboks were not wearing official RWC strip? This is almost certainly a breach of the Participation Agreement and worthy of immediate disqualification.

[Digby]

A very weird take on people 'losing their shit'

[Cameo]

Not to take anything away from SA but Japan have not brought the same level of intensity and accuracy to this game as they did with Ireland & Scotland.

I think Japan look very similar, they're just up against a much stronger outfit

I think there was a bit of both. SA looked stronger than Ireland or Scotland but also their aggressive style of defence is designed to bring errors. Hansen was talking earlier in the tournament about SA gambling in defence. If you have an error free game against them you will find plenty of holes. It is just v v hard to do as they fly at you so hard and fast.

Japan's up and unders were strange though

[Digby]

Ireland have a Farrell designed defence also aiming to force errors, though yes SA push harder still.