France v Wales predictions

[Sandydragon]

Fucking shocking end to a dire game. A very doubtful sub by the French followed by some penalties that were also dubious. Barnes lost the plot there, as did the 4th official it seems.

Nonetheless wales cannot rely on defence alone to win a match. France did try to play some rugby at times and on balance they probably deserved the game that it more. A win would have masked our failures this season so frankly it seems just.

The only dubious thing about the penalties was that they weren't accompanied by a penalty try and a yellow card.

The fact that a scrum is retreating is not an automatic penalty. On one clear occasion, the French had momentum but their props lost their binding, before the Welsh players did the same. In that case, it was not a French penalty. Most refs don't get every scrum call correct and frankly we should not have been in the position where we were defending for our lives in the 79th minute. But technically not every penalty Barnes gave to the French was a penalty; and yes JD2 should have been yellow carded IMO.

[Sandydragon]

Regarding the bite allegation, as per usual the French tv didn't give any supporting evidence, this needs to be looked at, one camera angle in the modern game is highly unlikely and this happens in all there home games, the tv director replays every possible infringement against France and none of the ones commited by the home team.

I can't see why he would bite himself as the French seem to be insinuating.

If the bite mark could be seen, which evidently it could, a photo should have been taken. It wouldn't have been too CSI to compare against the potential offenders gnashers in the ruck.

With regards to the HIA incident, I'm not that offay with the procedure but surely it doesn't let the player waltz off the pitch and down the tunnel unescorted (thanks for that picture Mr Frenchie Director). Putting cynicism aside, surely they have a duty of care for his welfare.

Walking on his own whilst holding his stomach? It was pure cynicism.

As Ive said elsewhere, we shouldn't have put ourselves in that position. Just winning a restart would have prevented that, as would keeping the ball in hand and not just giving the French possession so easily.

[Mikey Brown]

I still feel Brian Moore has a point (possibly the only point he has) about feeding in the scrum allowing all this nonsense because there is no point challenging for the ball. All scrumhalves do it but I have never seen anyone do it to the extent Serin gets away with. Skillfull little bastard though.

[Mikey Brown]

Sorry. That wasn't really relevant.

[bruce]

Fucking shocking end to a dire game. A very doubtful sub by the French followed by some penalties that were also dubious. Barnes lost the plot there, as did the 4th official it seems.

Nonetheless wales cannot rely on defence alone to win a match. France did try to play some rugby at times and on balance they probably deserved the game that it more. A win would have masked our failures this season so frankly it seems just.

The only dubious thing about the penalties was that they weren't accompanied by a penalty try and a yellow card.

The fact that a scrum is retreating is not an automatic penalty. On one clear occasion, the French had momentum but their props lost their binding, before the Welsh players did the same. In that case, it was not a French penalty. Most refs don't get every scrum call correct and frankly we should not have been in the position where we were defending for our lives in the 79th minute. But technically not every penalty Barnes gave to the French was a penalty; and yes JD2 should have been yellow carded IMO.

Aye yellow to both JD2 and the French winger would have been fair. Although I think we had enough covering defence so that a penalty try wasn't option, whereas the with the French I don't think they were stopping North. Halfpenny IMO was completely accidental.

[jared_7]

Fucking shocking end to a dire game. A very doubtful sub by the French followed by some penalties that were also dubious. Barnes lost the plot there, as did the 4th official it seems.

Nonetheless wales cannot rely on defence alone to win a match. France did try to play some rugby at times and on balance they probably deserved the game that it more. A win would have masked our failures this season so frankly it seems just.

The only dubious thing about the penalties was that they weren't accompanied by a penalty try and a yellow card.

The fact that a scrum is retreating is not an automatic penalty. On one clear occasion, the French had momentum but their props lost their binding, before the Welsh players did the same. In that case, it was not a French penalty. Most refs don't get every scrum call correct and frankly we should not have been in the position where we were defending for our lives in the 79th minute. But technically not every penalty Barnes gave to the French was a penalty; and yes JD2 should have been yellow carded IMO.

I thought repeated scrum infringements on the line was a penalty try? Is 5-6 in a row not "repeated"?

[bruce]

The only dubious thing about the penalties was that they weren't accompanied by a penalty try and a yellow card.

The fact that a scrum is retreating is not an automatic penalty. On one clear occasion, the French had momentum but their props lost their binding, before the Welsh players did the same. In that case, it was not a French penalty. Most refs don't get every scrum call correct and frankly we should not have been in the position where we were defending for our lives in the 79th minute. But technically not every penalty Barnes gave to the French was a penalty; and yes JD2 should have been yellow carded IMO.

I thought repeated scrum infringements on the line was a penalty try? Is 5-6 in a row not "repeated"?

Only if they would probably have scored a try without the infringement. The scrums were a mess, Barnes didn't have a clue what was going on so was favouring perceived dominance. It was picked up a few times from Brian Moore that the French were the first to pop up or drop a bind, and yet Barnes still awarded to France. There was one scrum in our 22 when the French loosehead was approaching 90 deg to out tighthead who was pushing straight, I think that was awarded to us, but not that infringement.

[jared_7]

The fact that a scrum is retreating is not an automatic penalty. On one clear occasion, the French had momentum but their props lost their binding, before the Welsh players did the same. In that case, it was not a French penalty. Most refs don't get every scrum call correct and frankly we should not have been in the position where we were defending for our lives in the 79th minute. But technically not every penalty Barnes gave to the French was a penalty; and yes JD2 should have been yellow carded IMO.

I thought repeated scrum infringements on the line was a penalty try? Is 5-6 in a row not "repeated"?

Only if they would probably have scored a try without the infringement. The scrums were a mess, Barnes didn't have a clue what was going on so was favouring perceived dominance. It was picked up a few times from Brian Moore that the French were the first to pop up or drop a bind, and yet Barnes still awarded to France. There was one scrum in our 22 when the French loosehead was approaching 90 deg to out tighthead who was pushing straight, I think that was awarded to us, but not that infringement.

OK, cheers. I was under the impression at scrum time if there were multiple infringements on the line then they awarded penalty tries, even if those infringements were, for example, deliberate collapses before it could be determined the attacking side was getting a shove on. In fact, I'm almost certain that view has been held a number of times on these boards.

It doesn't surprise me Barnes was guessing, he normally decides before the game which law he is going to referee that day and which side he thinks is going to be the infringer.

[Sandydragon]

I think another ref would have awarded the penalty try. My point was more that not all of the penalties awarded to France at the scrum were French penalties. I also though the penalty for not being ten when picamoles took the ball pff the mark was a bit harsh as well.