Ireland v Australia - 2nd test, how the expected starting XVs compare.

Basil3 wrote: »

Like any match, there were bad decisions for both sides. I don't think the ref had any bearing on the outcome of the game, in any case.

Both teams were quite wasteful with opportunities they created.

So 5 Aus penalties on their own line and a deliberate knock on = no card

1 Ireland penalty on their line and a deliberate knock on = yellow card

Yup, that’s fair referring alright.

mangobob wrote: »

We won but I am absolutely disgusted at the reffing performance. One of the most biased reffing performances I have ever seen in my life. When I see comments like that I usually roll my eyes at the hyperbole, but its absolutely true in the case and I stand by it 100%.

However you are absolutely right. We are too laboured at times in attack. If we have one weakness its a lack of a rapier cutting edge. Nothing could more clearly illustrate the difference between us and New Zealand than our bluntness in attack.

Ah come on. It was inconsistent but I have no problem with it outside of the yellow card situation. He gave us one massive call for POM's last turnover penalty where POM wasn't anywhere near on his feet. He was lying on the ruck.

We won. They should have received a yellow long, long before. It was a complete war up front and the referee whistled a huge amount. We were complaining about people not being penalised last week. Now we got a guy whose whistle was never out of his mouth and gave us a rake of shots at goal.

On to the final test....with a European referee!

wp_rathead wrote: »

Must have been watching a different game to alot of ye, ref was fine to ireland
In fact he let us away with few things, could have been pen against POM for the lineout where he lands on Pocock, and Ringrose was twice in from the side at rucks
It was a cracking game of rugby and Ireland should have won by more but credit to Austry
Furlong and Earls were brilliant

Yeah. Yeah you were watching a different game alright. The ref kept Australia in this game. No question.

But I agree with the rest of your post. I thought POM was fortunate not to be penalised and Australia do deserve a lot of credit for their defence.

If we can improve the defensive linout then next weeks game is there for the taking.

Christ lads, both deliberate knock ons were yellow. Foley killed an overlap, it should't even be up for discussion.
The earlier one by Australia 13 was a penalty only example.

Buer wrote: »

Ah come on. It was inconsistent but I have no problem with it outside of the yellow card situation.

"Outside of the yellow card situation" - but thats virtually the WHOLE situation right there. It was not a single incident we are complaining about. It was a very prolonged series of decisions in the game where Australia were consistently infringing time after time after time after time after time, often on their own line and received nothing but warning after warning. That's what yellow cards are for - to punish teams that illegally preventing their opponents from either scoring or mounting meaningful attack. When the ref finally finds his card in his pocket, its to brandish it to McGrath. It could easily have cost us the game and you simply cannot downplay it or brush it under the carpet.

Anyway, we won. I need a beer.

wp_rathead wrote: »

Must have been watching a different game to alot of ye, ref was fine to ireland

Consistency on the different deliberate knock ons?

mangobob wrote: »

"Outside of the yellow card situation" - but thats virtually the WHOLE situation right there. It was not a single incident we are complaining about. It was a very prolonged series of decisions in the game where Australia were consistently infringing time after time after time after time after time, often on their own line and received nothing but warning after warning.

Fair enough. That hardly warrants this though:

We won but I am absolutely disgusted at the reffing performance. One of the most biased reffing performances I have ever seen in my life

If England lose today I'll be the happiest man on earth after that win.

Buer wrote: »

Fair enough. That hardly warrants this though:

For the record, I don't think that the ref was biased, he was just poor.