Wallabies v Lions Game 2 MCG 26 July

[Tomthumb]

I do find it all amusing that all the Northern scribes that have been so outspoken on any contact near the head for years now all of a sudden think it’s perfectly fine

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

I do hope someone punches Tom Curry in the face in the next game. Guy is such a wanker.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Sheehan jumping for the try is the biggest wtf than a 50/50 call in a ruck.

I queried that over on the Refereeing Decisions thread not for the dive (not jump), which you're allowed to do in the act of scoring a try, but it being dangerous play in terms of his boot(s) potentially collecting an Aus defender. @Strewthcobber, who I have a lot of time for wrt the finer points of refing, basically said it's only an issue (& penalty) if he actually collects someone with his boot(s). Which is kinda what most of us want from refs i.e. rule on what happens not what might have happened.

In terms of the last try I'm firmly in the camp that has Tizzano arriving first, having hands on the ball & the Lion making no real attempt to stay on his feet when cleaning him out. Penalty all day long for mine.

AB having had a Lions series win taken away by a mind-boggling bit of officiating mental gymnastics ("so we 'ave a deal, yes?" or words to that effect) I feel the Wobs & their supporters pain.

 

[John S]

The Lions have numerous bodies in motion once they move the ball from first receiver. It has created a lot of confusion in the provincial matches as well as the two tests.
It’s borderline obstruction but nonetheless very effective in putting doubt into the defensive line but also creating space out wide.
Agree Jorgensen was caught in no man’s on at least 3 occasions I recall.

Yeah, I noticed that a few times, four of them running a not quite blocking line at the defenders along with the ball carrier - there was one where it looked like the "support" players were in front of the carrier

 

[Super Hooper]

Nobody cares about the third test it’s a dead rubber and if world rugby finds in our favour it doesn’t help us at all.

Nobody cares different to saying but if Beale didn’t slip we win 2-1

It matters for the narrative of the Series. The Pommies say that they smashed the Wallabies in the first test. Which is a half lie. The second Test was too close, but they still got away with it. So if they win the final Test, it will help sustain their narrative that it was an easy tour.

On the other hand, if the Wallabies win the third Test, they will destroy that narrative. When I say narrative I mean the marketing around the tour, the Lions, etc.

Narrative, marketing nowadays in sports is too important. In this case, if the narrative that it was an easy tour takes hold in the collective popular imagination, that opens up a chance for France or Argentina to ask to host the Lions tour, claiming that they are more competitive than Australia and would therefore put on a better show.

So, in terms of marketing. Yes, it matters. Marketing is one of the reasons why AFL and NRL are always grow and rugby decreases

 

[TSR]

I do hope someone punches Tom Curry in the face in the next game. Guy is such a wanker.

No need for that sort of violence.

Just take his head off in a break down clearance. Won’t even warrant a penalty

 

[LookLongPlayShort]

Felt the wallabies deserved at least two scrum penalties around the end of the game as a result of Genge pulling down the scrum. is that not the touch judge's job? either way, hard done by, good luck for the third test

 

[Where's the beef]

A few thoughts from last night.
1. That was the best performance by a wallaby team in a very very long time. However, If you want to be at the pointy end of the table its also the minimum standard of performance you should expect of the team.
2. I thought the backline functioned well. We have our 12, because we don't have a decent alternative in the country. I support joe's choice here. Issac Henry was looking the goods till he did his ACL. Hunter is a wasted bus. Would be interested to see whit young fitler can do.
3. The calls were the calls. I don't agree with them, but, we just have to move on and know that people get away with this. To be fair the ;lions are not the only side that do this. Many of our Kiwi brothers do as do the SAFS's. There are many l;aws that are in the book regarding the ruck that get forgotten. If WRC is serious then they should be administered consistently.
4. I thought JS conference post match was spot on.

The boys showed alot of heart last night. They know what they are capable of. The real test will be bringing it next weekend. Our provincial and National sides have a multi year history of putting in a good performance then backing it up with a poor one. That is the challenge for next week.

 

[griffins]

He's exhausted. 80mins in, 2mins of 13 phases. After defending on both sides of the field multiple times in that section, he was also heavily cleaned out in the tackle before the Tizzano one.

We also had three blokes defending half the field, with an exhausted Frost doing very well to be his only help inside. Shooting up was actually higher risk than backing himself to track and drag him down short. He will be dirty with his 1 vs 1 miss on Lowe but he couldn't have done much else here.

 

[Drew]

I do hope someone punches Tom Curry in the face in the next game. Guy is such a wanker.

As much as itoji? Every stop in play he stood in front of the ref pouting and/or whinging. Curry is a close second though

 

[Drew]

No need for that sort of violence.

Just take his head off in a break down clearance. Won’t even warrant a penalty

Get Skelton on the case, he’ll be built like the cricketer Gladstone Small in no time

 

[whitefalcon]

I queried that over on the Refereeing Decisions thread not for the dive (not jump), which you're allowed to do in the act of scoring a try, but it being dangerous play in terms of his boot(s) potentially collecting an Aus defender. @Strewthcobber, who I have a lot of time for wrt the finer points of refing, basically said it's only an issue (& penalty) if he actually collects someone with his boot(s). Which is kinda what most of us want from refs i.e. rule on what happens not what might have happened.

At the risk of getting off topic here...

In the example of dive try by Sheehan, how on earth is a defending team supposed to legally defend that.

If it is in the laws of the game, I think we should adjust those laws, but it is a hard one to cover all the scenarios for.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I agree it might be difficult for the boys to get up for game 3 and they should inject some fresh hungry players - tupou/LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)/hooper/donno/paisami/pietsch just to freshen things up
But I guess the lions will hopefully have the same issue.
2-1 series loss would be a fair result if they can back up last nights game

 

[Rebel man]

It matters for the narrative of the Series. The Pommies say that they smashed the Wallabies in the first test. Which is a half lie. The second Test was too close, but they still got away with it. So if they win the final Test, it will help sustain their narrative that it was an easy tour.

On the other hand, if the Wallabies win the third Test, they will destroy that narrative. When I say narrative I mean the marketing around the tour, the Lions, etc.

Narrative, marketing nowadays in sports is too important. In this case, if the narrative that it was an easy tour takes hold in the collective popular imagination, that opens up a chance for France or Argentina to ask to host the Lions tour, claiming that they are more competitive than Australia and would therefore put on a better show.

So, in terms of marketing. Yes, it matters. Marketing is one of the reasons why AFL and NRL are always grow and rugby decreases

lol Australia is the most profitable tour for the Lions they will never abandon the tour

 

[LevitatingSocks]

At the risk of getting off topic here...

In the example of dive try by Sheehan, how on earth is a defending team supposed to legally defend that.

If it is in the laws of the game, I think we should adjust those laws, but it is a hard one to cover all the scenarios for.

I assume either essentially "catching" him while falling backward and praying you can hold him up in the end goal or coming in like a missile like Koroibete on Mapimpi to prevent him from getting over the try line in the first place. It's a lose/lose proposition from a defensive prospective because you're either on the back foot for a low % play or going to pick up a yellow/red card in the process.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

This is a quote from world rugby a few years ago:

“In principle, in a try scoring situation, if the action is deemed to be a dive forward for a try, then it should be permitted. If a player is deemed to have left the ground to avoid a tackle; or to jump, or hurdle a potential tackler, then this is dangerous play and should be sanctioned accordingly.”

 

[The Red Baron]

No need for that sort of violence.

Just take his head off in a break down clearance. Won’t even warrant a penalty

No no, you have it wrong. You need to tackle him while he is in the air.

 

[TSR]

No no, you have it wrong. You need to tackle him while he is in the air.

Can’t we do both???

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

That’s not a rule though. He was supporting his own body weight.
The lions player didn’t do a lot wrong but he was fractionally late to the ruck and he never stayed on his feet. The head/neck contact is irrelevant imo.

Yes upon watching replays I kind of agree.
Timing wise he might not have been able to adjust to not hit head/neck but he flies in off his feet, doesn’t support himself at all and I think the second guy does as well.
Yes in other rucks guys end up off their feet but when they just dive into ruck - it’s usually a penalty.

 

[Shiggins]

At the risk of getting off topic here...

In the example of dive try by Sheehan, how on earth is a defending team supposed to legally defend that.

If it is in the laws of the game, I think we should adjust those laws, but it is a hard one to cover all the scenarios for.

Well, you can't ban playing diving when scoring. Imagine having to place the ball down while running. However, you should never be allowed to jump over a tackler regardless of its while scoring a try. I remember a wallaby try disallowed for this exact reason when he dove over a ruck. I think it was Wilson from memory.

From this clarification it's certainly a PK to Aus and no try.