Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Except it wasn’t really a punch, it was a strike with the inside of the hand in the same fashion as CJ Stander trying to escape the clutches of Owen Farrell from his leg back in the day, can’t remember the exact match. The second blow was even less of a punch and more of a push to the head. Vessels was still on the ground at this stage trying to conceal what had gone on so the usual target of shirt pulling/pushing wasn’t really an option. Adamson applied no common sense and very poor technical judgement given the advice he was getting on comms.

There are multiple incidents in a season where players get into handbags and if every minor glancing push results in a red card we will ruin the sport. Yellow would have been harsh enough for what Josh Murphy did and leave the rest to off field review.

I see Albert Lindner has been added to the academy page on the website.

Owen Doyle is a former International Rugby Union Referee, retiring in 1994. He was Director of Referees IRFU from 1995 to 2015 and Elite Referee Coach from 2015 to 2017.

He was 20 years a Director of Referees… Seriously

Adamson had plenty of choices as Holly told him… Holly is also better ref as well and said to give him a yellow… For starters Murphy's arm (no fist or even open hand) hit the back of Wessels head while he was trying to get him to stop grabbing his balls. This is called Self Defence and is a instinctive action to being sexually assaulted. This is not retaliation.

Common Sense which Refs are allowed to use (and Holly was using it) can say that it wasn't serious and was instinctive reaction to something… This is like an arm brushing off a opponent face as you are blocking him striking you… This was a deliberate strike to head but reaction to remove his hands from his balls..

Adamson ignored the advise from the TMO and gave a red… Owen Doyle said he was wrong to ignore that advise.

The south african hooker got a 9 week ban. I thought at the time the elbow moving towards murphy didnt leave much to the imagination. Maybe he owned up to it

https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/disciplinary/disciplinary-decision-jan-hendrik-wessels/

The Citing Commissioner in charge reported Vodacom Bulls player No 2 (Jan-Hendrik Wessels), for an act of foul play in the 18th minute under 

Law 9.27

 – A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals.

Yeah, can't agree. I think it's likely Murphy probably still gets a yellow for striking and misses 10 mins, but Wessels would have gotten a straight red (based on the suspension) without being replaced. You have to figure that's worth a couple of points at home?

Nope. If they saw he was being sexually attacked at the time, he is full right to try and get out of as quickly as possible.

He was obviously try to get his hand off him.

Very unlikely anything would happen to Murphy in that case.

It would not be retaliation if he is in the middle of getting assaulted.. Any reasonable ref would have put that down to self defence especially when the TMO says it wasn't a high degree of danger.

I just saw Connacht Rugby’s FB post about the rescinding of Josh Murphy’s red card. The amount of SA “supporter” comments is outrageous 😂.

Devine needs to be starting games

On 3 SA tubers videos there was about 700 comment…

Egg Chasers Video has over a thousand… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1P1xmuS9Co&t=606s&pp=0gcJCQYKAYcqIYzv

There will be more people commenting that weren't there than people who were there soon…

Some of the vitriol against Murphy is disgraceful… They accuse him of lying and faking it without an ounce of evidence …

In fairness the URC explanation of the Decision was way to breif and offered little transparency… That is an injustice to both Murphy and Wessels..

This guy from SA was quite reasonable… He said that the video is inconclusive but the burden of proof is much lower… We didn't read there statements…

So if one worker claimed another work sexually harassed her and we have the video and we can't be conclusive… If you get the statement that matches to the facts and the other with discrepancies.. Who you believing?

I really don't mind that selection

Kelly and Nankivil will be a great test for Forde and Gavin.

I'd happily take a point. An away win in Munster would be nice but they've got a good selection out. Target their scrum and lineout and take any points on offer.

Devine definitely changes the game when he comes on but I have a vague memory Blade used to do similar. I am happy enough to see Devine develop and will be a starter soon enough.

I think that Connacht cannot win without plays of trickness or surprise atack at the away game against Munster. Who can it in the released staraters?

It’s player (especially in atacking time) who can do some unexpected movements in the practical or real combats.( like Dupont). And he should be mstrong defender. And more not only he must have high-speed to contact area or backing up positions as possible. I'm sorry my poor ability of communication. Please forget my posting.