Why would we blame the ref for winning? We might thank him, as I'm sure all right-minded Welshies are thanking the hapless M. Gauzere today, but blame him for winning? What an odd idea.
**OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
- DragsterDriver
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
I can’t imagine Billy being the Sarries quiz champion tbf.Petej wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 11:18 amThe selection of the thickest player in the squad as captain is a huge mistake.Punter15 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 10:26 amLooks like Eddie is such an autocrat with such a defined plan that they have been coached not to think, and just follow instructions. They may not have been the brightest bunch to start with, but he's managed to make them thicker.DragsterDriver wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:34 am The players are thick and indisciplined. Fücking shambles.
Itoje is reputed to have a brain the size of a planet but plays like an utter moron.
- nicebutdim
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread

I thought we did very well to get back into it at 24-24 after poor refereering. We were playing all the rugby and looking pretty damn good. However the way we played in the last twenty minutes when the game was there to win was dreadful and we deserved to lose. Wales were solid but we just threw the game away with ill discipline and errors.
We were behind because of the ref, and lost because of us.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Their 1st try would not have happened if a) we hadn't committed so many penalties that Farrell was told to talk to his players b) we hadn't committed a penalty in a danger zone. We opened ourselves up to the dangers. 23 points scored where we didn't touch the ball after conceding a penalty. That's our problem - that's why we lost - not the unfortunate decisions that followed.nicebutdim wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 1:15 pmStrangely enjoyable game.
I thought we did very well to get back into it at 24-24 after poor refereering. We were playing all the rugby and looking pretty damn good. However the way we played in the last twenty minutes when the game was there to win was dreadful and we deserved to lose. Wales were solid but we just threw the game away with ill discipline and errors.
We were behind because of the ref, and lost because of us.
- blindcider
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
This isnt a whinge but one thing I thought interesting yesterday was the ref and the offside lines. He was very clear on where he wanted the line to be but it had no relation to the law on offside. This then went out the window in the last quarter and he stopped refereeing it all together.
There was a real strange moment as well when he told off the entire English line for going offside and stopped them and then said it was ok as the ball had been lifted
There was a real strange moment as well when he told off the entire English line for going offside and stopped them and then said it was ok as the ball had been lifted
- terryfinch
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
I have given up trying to understand the laws tbh. It is becoming a cr*p game to watch with too many random stoppages.blindcider wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:03 pm This isnt a whinge but one thing I thought interesting yesterday was the ref and the offside lines. He was very clear on where he wanted the line to be but it had no relation to the law on offside. This then went out the window in the last quarter and he stopped refereeing it all together.
There was a real strange moment as well when he told off the entire English line for going offside and stopped them and then said it was ok as the ball had been lifted
- DragsterDriver
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
It’s not the laws, it’s having an idiot reffing and a helmet in the TMO box.
- blindcider
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
For me the worst thing they have changed recently is that they have really slowed down the scrum set process. Its leading to more collapsed and penalties because the front rows are needing to hold the balance for an age after the long bindterryfinch wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:10 pmI have given up trying to understand the laws tbh. It is becoming a cr*p game to watch with too many random stoppages.blindcider wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:03 pm This isnt a whinge but one thing I thought interesting yesterday was the ref and the offside lines. He was very clear on where he wanted the line to be but it had no relation to the law on offside. This then went out the window in the last quarter and he stopped refereeing it all together.
There was a real strange moment as well when he told off the entire English line for going offside and stopped them and then said it was ok as the ball had been lifted
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Thing I hate is the caterpillar being formed at a ruck, to allow the SH to kick. At one stage Wales had a 4 men join behind the ruck to prevent any chance of a charge down. If refs enforced the 5 sec rule they wouldn't have time to bring in all the extra players. It needs to be outlawed.blindcider wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:29 pmFor me the worst thing they have changed recently is that they have really slowed down the scrum set process. Its leading to more collapsed and penalties because the front rows are needing to hold the balance for an age after the long bindterryfinch wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:10 pmI have given up trying to understand the laws tbh. It is becoming a cr*p game to watch with too many random stoppages.blindcider wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:03 pm This isnt a whinge but one thing I thought interesting yesterday was the ref and the offside lines. He was very clear on where he wanted the line to be but it had no relation to the law on offside. This then went out the window in the last quarter and he stopped refereeing it all together.
There was a real strange moment as well when he told off the entire English line for going offside and stopped them and then said it was ok as the ball had been lifted
- RodneyRegis
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Exactly. Call use it as soon as the ball is available at every ruck, not sometimes when it's already been available for 5 seconds, and then give them 10.ovalball wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 5:10 pmThing I hate is the caterpillar being formed at a ruck, to allow the SH to kick. At one stage Wales had a 4 men join behind the ruck to prevent any chance of a charge down. If refs enforced the 5 sec rule they wouldn't have time to bring in all the extra players. It needs to be outlawed.blindcider wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:29 pmFor me the worst thing they have changed recently is that they have really slowed down the scrum set process. Its leading to more collapsed and penalties because the front rows are needing to hold the balance for an age after the long bindterryfinch wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:10 pmI have given up trying to understand the laws tbh. It is becoming a cr*p game to watch with too many random stoppages.blindcider wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:03 pm This isnt a whinge but one thing I thought interesting yesterday was the ref and the offside lines. He was very clear on where he wanted the line to be but it had no relation to the law on offside. This then went out the window in the last quarter and he stopped refereeing it all together.
There was a real strange moment as well when he told off the entire English line for going offside and stopped them and then said it was ok as the ball had been lifted
- Anonymous 1
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
That was funny/weird watching them standing there clearly thinking WTFblindcider wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:03 pm This isnt a whinge but one thing I thought interesting yesterday was the ref and the offside lines. He was very clear on where he wanted the line to be but it had no relation to the law on offside. This then went out the window in the last quarter and he stopped refereeing it all together.
There was a real strange moment as well when he told off the entire English line for going offside and stopped them and then said it was ok as the ball had been lifted
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
And each ref has a different way of policing the offside line, some are strict and some aren't. Some (cough...Garces..) decides which team he'd like to be strict on during the game.blindcider wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 3:03 pm This isnt a whinge but one thing I thought interesting yesterday was the ref and the offside lines. He was very clear on where he wanted the line to be but it had no relation to the law on offside. This then went out the window in the last quarter and he stopped refereeing it all together.
There was a real strange moment as well when he told off the entire English line for going offside and stopped them and then said it was ok as the ball had been lifted
Our final game against SA during the tour (it was Jackson), he was VERY lenient to both sides.
Rugby reffing is f*kd right now with the inconsistencies. And that affects both teams on the day.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Metres made;
ENG - 382
WAL - 247
Kicks from hand;
WAL - 36
ENG - 24
Possession;
WAL - 55%
ENG - 45%
Clean Breaks;
ENG - 10
WAL - 4
Defenders Beaten;
ENG - 19
WAL - 10
Turnovers;
WAL - 12
ENG - 10
Penalties Conceded;
WAL - 9
ENG - 14
ENG - 382
WAL - 247
Kicks from hand;
WAL - 36
ENG - 24
Possession;
WAL - 55%
ENG - 45%
Clean Breaks;
ENG - 10
WAL - 4
Defenders Beaten;
ENG - 19
WAL - 10
Turnovers;
WAL - 12
ENG - 10
Penalties Conceded;
WAL - 9
ENG - 14
- DragsterDriver
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
How many pens did curry concede? I’m seeing only one?
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Yeah 1.DragsterDriver wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 11:28 am How many pens did curry concede? I’m seeing only one?
Here's full list;
Itoje - 5
Mako - 2
Faz, Ewels, Robson, May, Hill, Curry, Genge - all 1 each
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
I'd like to see the number of knock ons and turnovers - it felt like we often made great progress only to give a way a stupid penalty, or cough up the ball, and not keep the pressure on their defence.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
And that way, you stop giving away penalties and instead concede the gainline. You hesitate, play a more restrained game and let the opposition dominate that way instead.DragsterDriver wrote: ↑Sat Feb 27, 2021 11:23 pm Say the ref was riding itoje- calm it down and stop taking risks. Not rocket science.
I think you and Fatty and others underestimate the impact of a bad ref. It's all very well to say that you can't control the ref, but you can control what you do, but in reality that's bullshit. A one-sided ref will either penalise you to defeat or force you to play your game on the back foot and lose that way.
Rugby is a sport in which the officials can - if they were so inclined - win or lose a game without even needing to make a 'wrong' decision. It's a game that is INCREDIBLY dependent on the officials. And so an official having a bad day, or getting on the wrong side of one team - however unintended - has a big impact.
It's why ref management is one of the key skills of a captain (and something that Farrell is incredibly bad at).
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Another recurring problem then. Lawrence pissed the refs off, as did Trundle. Borthwick was hopeless with refs. Robshaw was OK I think, now Faz.4071 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:47 pmAnd that way, you stop giving away penalties and instead concede the gainline. You hesitate, play a more restrained game and let the opposition dominate that way instead.DragsterDriver wrote: ↑Sat Feb 27, 2021 11:23 pm Say the ref was riding itoje- calm it down and stop taking risks. Not rocket science.
I think you and Fatty and others underestimate the impact of a bad ref. It's all very well to say that you can't control the ref, but you can control what you do, but in reality that's bullshit. A one-sided ref will either penalise you to defeat or force you to play your game on the back foot and lose that way.
Rugby is a sport in which the officials can - if they were so inclined - win or lose a game without even needing to make a 'wrong' decision. It's a game that is INCREDIBLY dependent on the officials. And so an official having a bad day, or getting on the wrong side of one team - however unintended - has a big impact.
It's why ref management is one of the key skills of a captain (and something that Farrell is incredibly bad at).
If the reffing/discipline game is so important (I agree with you that it is), why do we not give more priority to addressing it? It has to come right up our priority list, surely? If we want to win games, we have to cut off the oppo's points fountain, which is our stupidity and not getting on with the ref's interpretations.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Can someone explain Hill and Ewels to me? Really not sure what Ewels, in particular, offers.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
I take your point - but England are giving away more penalties than the oppo, all the time. And, many of the penalties are simply stupid - like the one Robson gave away. We could easily reduce the count by 30% just by cutting out the stupidity.4071 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:47 pmAnd that way, you stop giving away penalties and instead concede the gainline. You hesitate, play a more restrained game and let the opposition dominate that way instead.DragsterDriver wrote: ↑Sat Feb 27, 2021 11:23 pm Say the ref was riding itoje- calm it down and stop taking risks. Not rocket science.
I think you and Fatty and others underestimate the impact of a bad ref. It's all very well to say that you can't control the ref, but you can control what you do, but in reality that's bullshit. A one-sided ref will either penalise you to defeat or force you to play your game on the back foot and lose that way.
Rugby is a sport in which the officials can - if they were so inclined - win or lose a game without even needing to make a 'wrong' decision. It's a game that is INCREDIBLY dependent on the officials. And so an official having a bad day, or getting on the wrong side of one team - however unintended - has a big impact.
It's why ref management is one of the key skills of a captain (and something that Farrell is incredibly bad at).
- DragsterDriver
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
It wouldn’t mean conceding the gain line for itoje, just not the riskier bits. A proper captain would have told him. Make your tackles and carries- play straight.4071 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:47 pmAnd that way, you stop giving away penalties and instead concede the gainline. You hesitate, play a more restrained game and let the opposition dominate that way instead.DragsterDriver wrote: ↑Sat Feb 27, 2021 11:23 pm Say the ref was riding itoje- calm it down and stop taking risks. Not rocket science.
I think you and Fatty and others underestimate the impact of a bad ref. It's all very well to say that you can't control the ref, but you can control what you do, but in reality that's bullshit. A one-sided ref will either penalise you to defeat or force you to play your game on the back foot and lose that way.
Rugby is a sport in which the officials can - if they were so inclined - win or lose a game without even needing to make a 'wrong' decision. It's a game that is INCREDIBLY dependent on the officials. And so an official having a bad day, or getting on the wrong side of one team - however unintended - has a big impact.
It's why ref management is one of the key skills of a captain (and something that Farrell is incredibly bad at).
None of this excuses the ref and TMO of course.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
We were screaming for players like Curry and Itoje for years, as we watched every other team have good poachers. I can excuse a lot of their penalties, given how disruptive they are. But 5 pens in a game from one player...can't happen. Hopefully that's as bad as it gets.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
3 of them weren’t pens. Stripping a ball is not a deliberate knock on. He’s not going to ignore a ball that’s obviously out and the second strip was legal.Hawk97 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 1:50 pm We were screaming for players like Curry and Itoje for years, as we watched every other team have good poachers. I can excuse a lot of their penalties, given how disruptive they are. But 5 pens in a game from one player...can't happen. Hopefully that's as bad as it gets.
The line out pen was also debatable as nothing had formed when he latched onto the ball carrier.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Aside from being a part of the Exeter machine (where I argue it's about the collective anyway) what does he do to separate himself from the likes of Lawes or Launch or Attwood etc?
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Ref had a shocker. An absolute shocker. 5 pens in a game though, you just can't carry it. I'm hoping it never happens again, but apparently he's up to 10 in 3 games now.mr flaps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:41 pm3 of them weren’t pens. Stripping a ball is not a deliberate knock on. He’s not going to ignore a ball that’s obviously out and the second strip was legal.Hawk97 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 1:50 pm We were screaming for players like Curry and Itoje for years, as we watched every other team have good poachers. I can excuse a lot of their penalties, given how disruptive they are. But 5 pens in a game from one player...can't happen. Hopefully that's as bad as it gets.
The line out pen was also debatable as nothing had formed when he latched onto the ball carrier.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Doesn't explain why we nearly always concede more penalties than our opposition. If it was just this one game, we could put it down to the rub of the green with the ref - but that argument just doesn't wash when we are serial offenders - and when we keep giving up really dumb penalties.mr flaps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:41 pm3 of them weren’t pens. Stripping a ball is not a deliberate knock on. He’s not going to ignore a ball that’s obviously out and the second strip was legal.Hawk97 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 1:50 pm We were screaming for players like Curry and Itoje for years, as we watched every other team have good poachers. I can excuse a lot of their penalties, given how disruptive they are. But 5 pens in a game from one player...can't happen. Hopefully that's as bad as it gets.
The line out pen was also debatable as nothing had formed when he latched onto the ball carrier.
The players, as a whole, just don't seem to learn.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Yep. Last time we didn't lose the penalty count was the Scotland game in Edinburgh.ovalball wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:52 pmDoesn't explain why we nearly always concede more penalties than our opposition. If it was just this one game, we could put it down to the rub of the green with the ref - but that argument just doesn't wash when we are serial offenders - and when we keep giving up really dumb penalties.mr flaps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:41 pm3 of them weren’t pens. Stripping a ball is not a deliberate knock on. He’s not going to ignore a ball that’s obviously out and the second strip was legal.Hawk97 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 1:50 pm We were screaming for players like Curry and Itoje for years, as we watched every other team have good poachers. I can excuse a lot of their penalties, given how disruptive they are. But 5 pens in a game from one player...can't happen. Hopefully that's as bad as it gets.
The line out pen was also debatable as nothing had formed when he latched onto the ball carrier.
The players, as a whole, just don't seem to learn.
That would have been another loss had we done so, given the style of play from both
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
I don't think he'd be there if Lawes and Launch were available. They're a long way ahead of him atm.
I haven't been very impressed with him in an ENgland shirt - but I wouldn't give up on him quite yet.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
I hope you're right about Launch, but Lawes and Hill are in the squad and both played the last game didn't they?ovalball wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:57 pmI don't think he'd be there if Lawes and Launch were available. They're a long way ahead of him atm.
I haven't been very impressed with him in an ENgland shirt - but I wouldn't give up on him quite yet.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Yes - but that was partly due to a couple of injuries in the back row as well as Launch being outHawk97 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:58 pmI hope you're right about Launch, but Lawes and Hill are in the squad and both played the last game didn't they?ovalball wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:57 pmI don't think he'd be there if Lawes and Launch were available. They're a long way ahead of him atm.
I haven't been very impressed with him in an ENgland shirt - but I wouldn't give up on him quite yet.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
On Spencer;
“I’ve had a couple of conversations with Eddie and he has given me a few areas to work on,” Spencer revealed.
“One was to be more vocal and organise the pack and I’ve tried to put that into practice as much as possible.
https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest- ... ular-no-9/
So...where is he, Eddie? He's surely worked on that by now
“I’ve had a couple of conversations with Eddie and he has given me a few areas to work on,” Spencer revealed.
“One was to be more vocal and organise the pack and I’ve tried to put that into practice as much as possible.
https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest- ... ular-no-9/
So...where is he, Eddie? He's surely worked on that by now
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
5 in 2 is just about acceptable for someone who causes as much havoc to the opposition as he does. It's a decent enough trade off. And - as pointed out earlier - several of the penalties against Wales were... um... inventive interpretations from Gauzerre.Hawk97 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:51 pmRef had a shocker. An absolute shocker. 5 pens in a game though, you just can't carry it. I'm hoping it never happens again, but apparently he's up to 10 in 3 games now.mr flaps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:41 pm3 of them weren’t pens. Stripping a ball is not a deliberate knock on. He’s not going to ignore a ball that’s obviously out and the second strip was legal.Hawk97 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 1:50 pm We were screaming for players like Curry and Itoje for years, as we watched every other team have good poachers. I can excuse a lot of their penalties, given how disruptive they are. But 5 pens in a game from one player...can't happen. Hopefully that's as bad as it gets.
The line out pen was also debatable as nothing had formed when he latched onto the ball carrier.
As long as this was a one-off, then it's still not a problem. We won't see reffing quite like that again. At least not until next time we play Wales.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
100%.4071 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 5:00 pm5 in 2 is just about acceptable for someone who causes as much havoc to the opposition as he does. It's a decent enough trade off. And - as pointed out earlier - several of the penalties against Wales were... um... inventive interpretations from Gauzerre.Hawk97 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:51 pmRef had a shocker. An absolute shocker. 5 pens in a game though, you just can't carry it. I'm hoping it never happens again, but apparently he's up to 10 in 3 games now.mr flaps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:41 pm3 of them weren’t pens. Stripping a ball is not a deliberate knock on. He’s not going to ignore a ball that’s obviously out and the second strip was legal.Hawk97 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 1:50 pm We were screaming for players like Curry and Itoje for years, as we watched every other team have good poachers. I can excuse a lot of their penalties, given how disruptive they are. But 5 pens in a game from one player...can't happen. Hopefully that's as bad as it gets.
The line out pen was also debatable as nothing had formed when he latched onto the ball carrier.
As long as this was a one-off, then it's still not a problem. We won't see reffing quite like that again. At least not until next time we play Wales.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
Who would you rather have a 8, Dombrandt or Simmonds?
Simmonds for me. Just the carrying and suddenness would shock a lot of defences. I don't know as much about Alex though.
Simmonds for me. Just the carrying and suddenness would shock a lot of defences. I don't know as much about Alex though.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
I think Simmonds would add more to the team dynamic but I'd have no problem with Dombrandt either. Mercer would also be a decent choice - just not sure he's quite as reliable. All acedemic though because Eddie will pick Billy again.
- DragsterDriver
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Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
I think Eddie's idea of a number 8 is a big lump. Simmons and Dombrandt may be too athletic.
Re: **OFFICIAL** English Rugby Thread
You can understand his thinking - especially with no Manu. But he was playing Curry there, when Billy was last injured - and that seemed to work ok, despite him not being an experienced 8. Can't remember if Manu was playing at that time - I think he was. Either way, there's no point in playing a big lump that isn't playing well and doesn't trouble defences (albeit he was a bit better v Wales).