Rugby - not set pieces
- Thread starter Lee Grant
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Some of this trivia I jotted down but I misplaced it—and it is now found:
• Southern Districts (The Rebels) v. Manly (The Marlins) – Round 9 Shute Shield.
In one scrum the Southerns' pack engaged early.
Steve Robilliard: "Southerns went early – they were Rebels without a pause."
• Wales v South Africa
Alain Rolland advised Bok skipper JdV that the TMO was taking a bit of time because he was looking for foul play by a Bok player.
JdV: “It will be hard to find if it didn't happen.”
Nice try Jean, but it did happen: it was a small matter of Francois Louw getting his forearm into Richard Hibbard's face on the run.
• Racing Metro v Harlequins—Heineken Cup
After another bad display by an English club team in the Heineken Cup …
Mark Robson: "The English clubs are like Tiger Woods: 2007 since they have won a major".
• As at 7th December, teams in the French Top 14 had won only 14% of their away matches. They tend to play their best players in their 13 home games.
• Clermont v Biarritz—Top 14
Last Saturday Clermont beat Biarritz 35-6 which meant that they had won 69 consecutive matches at their home ground Stade Marcel-Michelin in all forms of rugby.
The last team to beat them at home? Biarritz in November 2009.
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• Southern Districts (The Rebels) v. Manly (The Marlins) – Round 9 Shute Shield.
In one scrum the Southerns' pack engaged early.
Steve Robilliard: "Southerns went early – they were Rebels without a pause."
• Wales v South Africa
Alain Rolland advised Bok skipper JdV that the TMO was taking a bit of time because he was looking for foul play by a Bok player.
JdV: “It will be hard to find if it didn't happen.”
Nice try Jean, but it did happen: it was a small matter of Francois Louw getting his forearm into Richard Hibbard's face on the run.
• Racing Metro v Harlequins—Heineken Cup
After another bad display by an English club team in the Heineken Cup …
Mark Robson: "The English clubs are like Tiger Woods: 2007 since they have won a major".
• As at 7th December, teams in the French Top 14 had won only 14% of their away matches. They tend to play their best players in their 13 home games.
• Clermont v Biarritz—Top 14
Last Saturday Clermont beat Biarritz 35-6 which meant that they had won 69 consecutive matches at their home ground Stade Marcel-Michelin in all forms of rugby.
The last team to beat them at home? Biarritz in November 2009.
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Your'e right Zander: I had jotted down some other comment about that game but didn't use it, but had typed the name of the match out first and forgot to change it.
I don't have my jottings now so it must have been Munster v Gloucester from October.
• Talking of Munster: their tribute to Nelson Mandela was something different.
At Thomond Park where the crowd is always silent for kicks at goal, they clap during what is a minute's silence at other grounds for dignitaries who have died.
They did this before the Munster v Perpignan HC match for Madiba—it sounds disrespectful but it isn't.
• Leinster v Northampton - Heineken Cup
But the fans of other Irish teams aren't always silent when opponents kick at goal. In Round 4 of the Heineken Cup some of the Dublin crowd jeered the Northampton goal kicker.
They weren't happy campers: Leinster had thrashed Northampton away at Franklin Gardens 40-7 and were expected to dish up something as tasty for their home crowd in the return match the following week—but it was not to be.
Northampton played with a higher level of intensity and pulled their fingers out on defence. With Leinster down 9-13 at the end of the game and battering the Northampton goal line, the visitors repelled them for 20 phases and forced a knock-on after the bell.
To add insult to injury the Saints' winger, Elliot, picked up the pill and ran almost 100 metres to score at the other end for them to win 18-9 and deny Leinster a losing bonus point.
No, the Dubliners weren't happy campers.
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Well, this is something to do whilst watching the cricket:
Shute Shield Players in Europe
Saracens v Leicester - Round 10
Sydney-siders may have recognised a name on the reserves bench for Leicester last weekend: centre Terrence Hepetema, who had played for Randwick in the Shute Shield this year, got on the park for six minutes for the Tahs against the Force in June and went on tour with the NSW Barbarians to Argentina in August.
He's already started a few games for the Leicester Tigers and was in the reserves against Sarries after returning from injury. He came on not long after oranges but he should have stayed on the bench because 6. Billy Vunipola of Saracens took a run at him not long after.
Hepetema bravely went to tackle him low but got it horribly wrong and went to ground before Big Billy, who fell over because of the speed bump. He was penalised for not using arms, but he did not realise it as he was groggy and had to be assisted off the field, probably thinking he was back at Coogee Oval.
Gloucester v Worcester - Round 10
There were lots of old Shute Shield players in the next Premiership game I watched, which was notable for the delay of 30 minutes while they fixed the broken crossbar.
Gloucester had Huia Edmonds, ex-Eastern Suburbs, on the bench, and ex-Tahs, Stormers, and Brumbies, but Worcester had four from the Shute Shield in their 23.
One Worcester starter played for a few Sydney clubs: scrumhalf Jeremy Sua, who was ex-Oz Schoolboys and played at Westfield Sports High School alongside Israel Folau of the Waratahs and Steve Mafi of Leicester—and played for the Junior Waratahs as they were called then, and later for Tasman and the Crusaders, plus Samoa.
Another run-on Worcester player was LHP Ofa Fainga'anuku who represented Tonga after playing for Gordon and Eastern Suburbs in the Shute Shield; also for the Junior Tahs, then for Glasgow, before being recruited at Sixways.
On the Worcester bench was ex-Manly and Oz Sevens player, Paul Warwick, who went to Connacht then to Munster, to Stade Francais, to Worcester.
The fourth Shute Shield player appearing for Worcester was hooker Nick Seymour (Southern Districts and North Sydney) who got a few gigs for the Junior Tahs.
He should not be confused with serious traveller, flyhalf Ben Seymour, who played for Sydney Uni and Manly, trialled with the Tahs and represented the Western Force in 2012 before he was recruited by Agen for the French Top14 comp. He played for Northland in the ITM Cup this year and is currently playing for US Bressane in the Pro D2 (the French second division).
Not a bad experience so far for Ben—and he's only 23 years old.
Play rugby union and see the world.
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Shute Shield Players in Europe
Saracens v Leicester - Round 10
Sydney-siders may have recognised a name on the reserves bench for Leicester last weekend: centre Terrence Hepetema, who had played for Randwick in the Shute Shield this year, got on the park for six minutes for the Tahs against the Force in June and went on tour with the NSW Barbarians to Argentina in August.
He's already started a few games for the Leicester Tigers and was in the reserves against Sarries after returning from injury. He came on not long after oranges but he should have stayed on the bench because 6. Billy Vunipola of Saracens took a run at him not long after.
Hepetema bravely went to tackle him low but got it horribly wrong and went to ground before Big Billy, who fell over because of the speed bump. He was penalised for not using arms, but he did not realise it as he was groggy and had to be assisted off the field, probably thinking he was back at Coogee Oval.
Gloucester v Worcester - Round 10
There were lots of old Shute Shield players in the next Premiership game I watched, which was notable for the delay of 30 minutes while they fixed the broken crossbar.
Gloucester had Huia Edmonds, ex-Eastern Suburbs, on the bench, and ex-Tahs, Stormers, and Brumbies, but Worcester had four from the Shute Shield in their 23.
One Worcester starter played for a few Sydney clubs: scrumhalf Jeremy Sua, who was ex-Oz Schoolboys and played at Westfield Sports High School alongside Israel Folau of the Waratahs and Steve Mafi of Leicester—and played for the Junior Waratahs as they were called then, and later for Tasman and the Crusaders, plus Samoa.
Another run-on Worcester player was LHP Ofa Fainga'anuku who represented Tonga after playing for Gordon and Eastern Suburbs in the Shute Shield; also for the Junior Tahs, then for Glasgow, before being recruited at Sixways.
On the Worcester bench was ex-Manly and Oz Sevens player, Paul Warwick, who went to Connacht then to Munster, to Stade Francais, to Worcester.
The fourth Shute Shield player appearing for Worcester was hooker Nick Seymour (Southern Districts and North Sydney) who got a few gigs for the Junior Tahs.
He should not be confused with serious traveller, flyhalf Ben Seymour, who played for Sydney Uni and Manly, trialled with the Tahs and represented the Western Force in 2012 before he was recruited by Agen for the French Top14 comp. He played for Northland in the ITM Cup this year and is currently playing for US Bressane in the Pro D2 (the French second division).
Not a bad experience so far for Ben—and he's only 23 years old.
Play rugby union and see the world.
.
Castres v Perpignan Round 14
In the 11th minute 9. Durand of Perpignan pushes 4. Samson of Castres away.
Castres 2. Rallier pulls Durand away gently from his teammate and Durand falls to the ground feigning a face injury.
Referee Pascal Gauzere is suspicious and after looking at the incident on the big screen he gives a yellow card……to Durand, for simulating an injury.
Serves him right.
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In the 11th minute 9. Durand of Perpignan pushes 4. Samson of Castres away.
Castres 2. Rallier pulls Durand away gently from his teammate and Durand falls to the ground feigning a face injury.
Referee Pascal Gauzere is suspicious and after looking at the incident on the big screen he gives a yellow card……to Durand, for simulating an injury.
Serves him right.
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Nusadan
Chilla Wilson (44)
Read the comments below about Frank Shelford, any truth to it?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...m_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-UK
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...m_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-UK
^^^^ By all accounts the injury to the Crown Jewels of Wayne (Buck) Shelford is accurate.
http://www.cracked.com/article_20260_the-5-most-horrifying-sports-injuries-all-time_p2.html
Frank Shelford is another NZ Rugby player of about the same time, but I don't think he was a direct relative of Buck although all NZers are some sort of Cuzzie Bro so you never know.
http://www.cracked.com/article_20260_the-5-most-horrifying-sports-injuries-all-time_p2.html
Frank Shelford is another NZ Rugby player of about the same time, but I don't think he was a direct relative of Buck although all NZers are some sort of Cuzzie Bro so you never know.
Famously so: it was in the "Battle of Nantes", in the mid-80s. He got a kick in the balls and it peeled the scrotum of one of his nuts. He also lost some teeth.
He got the zambuck to stitch his nutsack up and he went back on the park.
Hard bastard.
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suckerforred
Chilla Wilson (44)
Even I cross my legs & cringe at that one......
Ulster v Munster
Ulster kick the ball through and 11. Gilroy of Ulster and 12. Dineen of Munster are both going for the ball. Gilroy runs a bit in front of Dineen, and Dineen pushes him aside and gets the ball.
But it looks like interference on Gilroy and a penalty is given to Ulster. Alain Rolland awards one but asks the TMO to have a look in case it's a penalty try.
After a few replays Rolland asks:
The TMO said:
Wrong and wrong.
In relation to a penalty try, the laws mention only the probability of scoring a try but for the infringement.
Therefore Rolland's question of a 'possibility' was wrong and the response about a certainty (which wasn't asked for anyway) was also wrong.
Incidentally, no penalty try was awarded.
Later in the match Munster score a try and the trainer brings the kicking tee on for the conversion. The trainer must have said something to the ref about the Ulster crowd and their protest about the try.
Rolland said:
You got that one right Alain.
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Ulster kick the ball through and 11. Gilroy of Ulster and 12. Dineen of Munster are both going for the ball. Gilroy runs a bit in front of Dineen, and Dineen pushes him aside and gets the ball.
But it looks like interference on Gilroy and a penalty is given to Ulster. Alain Rolland awards one but asks the TMO to have a look in case it's a penalty try.
After a few replays Rolland asks:
If there was interference and it was a penalty, was there a possibility that a try would have been scored?
The TMO said:
I don't think it's certain that a try would have been scored.
Wrong and wrong.
In relation to a penalty try, the laws mention only the probability of scoring a try but for the infringement.
Therefore Rolland's question of a 'possibility' was wrong and the response about a certainty (which wasn't asked for anyway) was also wrong.
Incidentally, no penalty try was awarded.
Later in the match Munster score a try and the trainer brings the kicking tee on for the conversion. The trainer must have said something to the ref about the Ulster crowd and their protest about the try.
Rolland said:
They pay their money—they're entitled to their own opinion.
You got that one right Alain.
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Bardon
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Spotted this piece of reporting from the BBC on the England Saxons v Irish Wolfhounds game that the Irish won 14-8.
"England produced a late resurgence to try to steal victory, but Elliot Daly was held up short and Freddie Burns was squeezed into touch when trying to sneak a try."
The bolded part is the interesting bit. The description doesn't really capture what actually happened.
Ireland had just held England up right on the tryline in the corner. The clock had gone into the red numbers. Burns was at the back of the ruck and went to pick the ball up and dive over in the corner to score the try and then have a chance to win the game with a touchline conversion.
Burns didn't score the try but there was no squeezing or any other intervention from Ireland that prevented him from scoring. The ball must have slipped from his hands but what actually happened was that Burns pick the ball up at the base of the ruck and in one movement passed the ball to the assistant ref and dove over the line empty handed.
"England produced a late resurgence to try to steal victory, but Elliot Daly was held up short and Freddie Burns was squeezed into touch when trying to sneak a try."
The bolded part is the interesting bit. The description doesn't really capture what actually happened.
Ireland had just held England up right on the tryline in the corner. The clock had gone into the red numbers. Burns was at the back of the ruck and went to pick the ball up and dive over in the corner to score the try and then have a chance to win the game with a touchline conversion.
Burns didn't score the try but there was no squeezing or any other intervention from Ireland that prevented him from scoring. The ball must have slipped from his hands but what actually happened was that Burns pick the ball up at the base of the ruck and in one movement passed the ball to the assistant ref and dove over the line empty handed.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I had heard, second hand (no pun intended), that Shelford was actually the victim of a squirrel grip.
BeastieBoy
Herbert Moran (7)
League's latest round of changes have cut down their set pieces and will speed up their game and continuity. The NRC will need some radical rule changes to make any impression.
p.Tah
John Thornett (49)
We'll see if that's the outcome. The major point about the changes as pointed out by Mascord in the SMH today is that the NRL is getting more and more different to park footy and League in England and France. He referred to the NRL as the 3rd rugby code.
If people want speed and continuity they'll never beat rugby 7s.
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
That is correct,but it's 15 minutes from go to whoa.
Westie
Sydney Middleton (9)
Hope so. Can't wait.
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