8 weeks for Francis

[gthedog]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35796218

Fair. Lucky not to have been binned at the time

[Lord Llandaff]

Yes it was reckless, and a ban was expected but there is no consistency in the game - Mike Brown had about 4 attempts at raking Murray's face, did some real damage and wasn't even cited, and Francis gets 8 weeks. Neither player was looking what they were doing and either could have damaged an eye.

World Rugby truly is a joke.

[Bob]

Expected 10 weeks so fair does

As LL says mind no consistency but never had been

[cadofyddol]

I thought that he'd maybe get away with it, seeing as he's English.

[Sourdust]

Yes, I think it's fair.

I don't see any malicious intent in what Francis did; but neither did I in Brown's actions, and I was still disgusted to see him get off.

[wayneha50]

seems England are the new Ireland when it comes to disciplinary matters

i wonder how Marler will get on...

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Yes it was reckless, and a ban was expected but there is no consistency in the game - Mike Brown had about 4 attempts at raking Murray's face, did some real damage and wasn't even cited, and Francis gets 8 weeks. Neither player was looking what they were doing and either could have damaged an eye.

World Rugby truly is a joke.

It was obviously deliberate contact with the eye area. He wasn't trying to gouge out his eye in particular but he was clearly going for the eyes and trying to make life as uncomfortabl as possible. 8 weeks is much lighter than I'dlike it to be.

[UKHamlet]

I'm of the opinion that there was no intent to deliberately gouge and as a matter of fact, neither was there any gouging. Video evidence suggests he rubbed his hand across Coles' face and that's all, other than Coles making the most of it.

Having said that, you can't put your hand in that position, so the penalty is entirely proportionate, fair and right.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I'm of the opinion that there was no intent to deliberately gouge and as a matter of fact, neither was there any gouging. Video evidence suggests he rubbed his hand across Coles' face and that's all, other than Coles making the most of it.

Having said that, you can't put your hand in that position, so the penalty is entirely proportionate, fair and right.

Oh dear.

[Mellsblue]

I'm glad to see that we still lose any sense of rational thought when Eng beat Wales.

The suggestions that Brown was attempting to rake Murray's face and that Cole made the most of Francis' actions are both laughable. Both perpetrators were guilt of a lack of care for the opposition player. Unfortunately for Francis his action is a hot topic whilst Brown's is not. It's not fair but direct your ire at the disciplinary system not the big, bad bullies in the white shirts.

[gthedog]

I'm glad to see that we still lose any sense of rational thought when Eng beat Wales.

The suggestions that Brown was attempting to rake Murray's face and that Cole made the most of Francis' actions are both laughable. Both perpetrators were guilt of a lack of care for the opposition player. Unfortunately for Francis his action is a hot topic whilst Brown's is not. It's not fair but direct your ire at the disciplinary system not the big, bad bullies in the white shirts.

I've said elsewhere Francis got what he should and that Brown was professionally exceptionally lucky to get away with nothing
That's not Brown's fault, maybe the RFU or England's fault but ultimately irrelevant to Francis

[UKHamlet]

Coles not making the most of it.

[Spiffy]

Coles not making the most of it.

Are tattoed rugby players tougher and/or more menacing than those without tattoes?

[Mellsblue]

Coles not making the most of it.

Yes, just look at the way he is looking for the ref, pointing at his eyes and demanding some action. If that's making the most of it then a lot of players need roles with the RSC. Biggar for instance and his almost footballer like haranguing of the ref for I can't remember what.

As I remember it, Cole got up and walked away without a fuss and it was the TMO who brought it to the ref's attention.

[UKHamlet]

Yes, just look at the way he is looking for the ref, pointing at his eyes and demanding some action. If that's making the most of it then a lot of players need roles with the RSC. Biggar for instance and his almost footballer like haranguing of the ref for I can't remember what.

As I remember it, Cole got up and walked away without a fuss and it was the TMO who brought it to the ref's attention.

Well considering Francis's hand barely went near his eyes, and in fact I think it was an attempt to tweak his nose, I think his over-reaction certainly merits some prestigious Thespian award.

[joshfishkins]

Coles not making the most of it.

Yes, just look at the way he is looking for the ref, pointing at his eyes and demanding some action. If that's making the most of it then a lot of players need roles with the RSC. Biggar for instance and his almost footballer like haranguing of the ref for I can't remember what.

As I remember it, Cole got up and walked away without a fuss and it was the TMO who brought it to the ref's attention.

Bigger is not in that photo. The person 'haranguing' the ref there is Webb, pointing out that Cole has killed the ball. Again.

On a different note, and this is probably in the wrong place, but given the penalty machine that Cole is, surely there must be a better prop on England than him?

[Tre]

Coles not making the most of it.

He coulda doid ffs

[Mikeyv]

As gouging incidents go, this was very mild, and only the player himself knows what the intent was, but he bought this on himself.

Every player, even the thickest, must know they can't hide from the camera, and needs to act accordingly, or take their chances in the disciplinary lottery.

[Sandydragon]

Im not convinced that Francis intended to gouge anyone, he doesn't even appear to look where he put his hand. But, there is still arguably a form of recklessness and I do fully support the governing body's attempts to eradicate gouging - it has no place whatsoever in rugby.If they err on the side of guilty where this is concerned, consistently, then I can live with that.

[Mellsblue]

Coles not making the most of it.

Yes, just look at the way he is looking for the ref, pointing at his eyes and demanding some action. If that's making the most of it then a lot of players need roles with the RSC. Biggar for instance and his almost footballer like haranguing of the ref for I can't remember what.

As I remember it, Cole got up and walked away without a fuss and it was the TMO who brought it to the ref's attention.

Bigger is not in that photo. The person 'haranguing' the ref there is Webb, pointing out that Cole has killed the ball. Again.

On a different note, and this is probably in the wrong place, but given the penalty machine that Cole is, surely there must be a better prop on England than him?

I wasn't saying it was Biggar in that photo - me saying 'for I can't remember what' should have given that away.

Cole is off form and has looked so ever since his injury, a bulging disc I think. However, Jones has said that on top form he rates him the best TH in the world and he is slowly getting back to form. If he weren't injured Brookes may be our first choice TH, domestic form would suggest so.

[UKHamlet]

As gouging incidents go, this was very mild, and only the player himself knows what the intent was, but he bought this on himself.

Every player, even the thickest, must know they can't hide from the camera, and needs to act accordingly, or take their chances in the disciplinary lottery.

Exactly

[Nightynight]

doesn't look very clever in this photo, the difference between Brown & Francis, Brown was going for the ball (stupidly and dangerously) but if the citing committee saw this photo alone, you'd think Francis was sitting on Cole and giving a cheap dig in the eye
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... Italy.html

[Mellsblue]

Yes, just look at the way he is looking for the ref, pointing at his eyes and demanding some action. If that's making the most of it then a lot of players need roles with the RSC. Biggar for instance and his almost footballer like haranguing of the ref for I can't remember what.

As I remember it, Cole got up and walked away without a fuss and it was the TMO who brought it to the ref's attention.

in fact I think it was an attempt to tweak his nose,

Haha, it just gets better.

[Mellsblue]

doesn't look very clever in this photo
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... Italy.html

Just as with the photo of Cole auditioning for King Lear, you really shouldn't use anything other than video to decide what has happened.

[Nightynight]

doesn't look very clever in this photo
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... Italy.html

Just as with the photo of Cole auditioning for King Lear, you really shouldn't use anything other than video to decide what has happened.

I agree, I think the slow-mo made it look worse than it was as well