Rugby World Cup

[Druid]

I thought the ref did a good job of keeping the game going. Well done to two great sides.

This is a part of the problem with rugby, it's not the ref's job to keep the game going, it's his (or her) job to apply the laws as they are written. I blame Nigel Owen for this crap about "interpretation" and making the ref a major character in the entertainment.

Barnes has made some very odd decisions this evening

[Demannu]

I wondered how much vitriol the ref was going to get from the NZ contingent.
They don't get the fact that he didn't give the red card, the bunker did.
Barnes is also a target for the kiwis as he doesn't let them pull their usual crap and shenanigans to swing tight matches

[Noggin]

I think the ref has been really good and fair.

The Kiwi always complains about the refs, but particularly about this one!! I can't remember why he got so pissed off with him, but it's being going on a lot of years!!

Suppose he will moan some more now.

Ooooooo yes!!

Especially the SA elbow to the NZ face right in front of the ref but nothing said!! Picture and everything! Love him to bits but I think I'm a weirdo - if 'my' team loses, I just get on with things! No point going over and over something that can't be changed. I was gutted the other weekend when both my teams were knocked out, but hey, even pulling up the ref doesn't change the result!

I thought the ref did a good job of keeping the game going. Well done to two great sides.

This is a part of the problem with rugby, it's not the ref's job to keep the game going, it's his (or her) job to apply the laws as they are written. I blame Nigel Owen for this crap about "interpretation" and making the ref a major character in the entertainment.

Barnes has made some very odd decisions this evening

I didn't think it flowed that much. I've not watched enough rugby in the last few years to know enough to work out why TBH, but my mate keeps saying that Barnes "killed the game", which I take to mean he kept stopping it. But I'm not sure if it needed stopping at those points or if another ref would have played advantage more?

I wondered how much vitriol the ref was going to get from the NZ contingent.
They don't get the fact that he didn't give the red card, the bunker did.
Barnes is also a target for the kiwis as he doesn't let them pull their usual crap and shenanigans to swing tight matches

Not being a dick here, I just haven't watched enough rugby in the last few years to know (it's in winter, I barely get to see the 6 Nations matches, let alone anything else!), but what is the Kiwi usual crap and shenanigans? I've learnt a lot about other teams from my kiwi mate and my 6 Nations mate, but obviously the kiwi doesn't comment negatively on the NZ!!!

[Noggin]

After the last few weeks I'm trying to find someone that wants to share the driving back from Marseilles after the first match!!! I have the day off before and on the first match and it's the only Friday game. AND it's France Ireland

So, going to put out feelers to see if anyone with a car is up for that trip, maybe overnight on the Thursday so we can have a bimble around Marseilles Friday before the match, then a drive back home in the night so I can work on the Saturday!!


I think I might have sorted out a rugby buddy to go to the last match - 9pm on a Saturday, so a good chance I can get to that as it's only 2.5 hours away!! My '6 Nations' buddy (he's the guy I watch with if I finish work early enough and if he's in resort cos he explains things to me when I don't understand the 'new-to-me' rules!!) is already looking to see if there's accommodation out here that week or two so he can come over for skiing and add in a rugby match!!

[Demannu]

The Kiwi always complains about the refs, but particularly about this one!! I can't remember why he got so pissed off with him, but it's being going on a lot of years!!

Suppose he will moan some more now.

Ooooooo yes!!

Especially the SA elbow to the NZ face right in front of the ref but nothing said!! Picture and everything! Love him to bits but I think I'm a weirdo - if 'my' team loses, I just get on with things! No point going over and over something that can't be changed. I was gutted the other weekend when both my teams were knocked out, but hey, even pulling up the ref doesn't change the result!

I thought the ref did a good job of keeping the game going. Well done to two great sides.

This is a part of the problem with rugby, it's not the ref's job to keep the game going, it's his (or her) job to apply the laws as they are written. I blame Nigel Owen for this crap about "interpretation" and making the ref a major character in the entertainment.

Barnes has made some very odd decisions this evening

I didn't think it flowed that much. I've not watched enough rugby in the last few years to know enough to work out why TBH, but my mate keeps saying that Barnes "killed the game", which I take to mean he kept stopping it. But I'm not sure if it needed stopping at those points or if another ref would have played advantage more?

I wondered how much vitriol the ref was going to get from the NZ contingent.
They don't get the fact that he didn't give the red card, the bunker did.
Barnes is also a target for the kiwis as he doesn't let them pull their usual crap and shenanigans to swing tight matches

Not being a dick here, I just haven't watched enough rugby in the last few years to know (it's in winter, I barely get to see the 6 Nations matches, let alone anything else!), but what is the Kiwi usual crap and shenanigans? I've learnt a lot about other teams from my kiwi mate and my 6 Nations mate, but obviously the kiwi doesn't comment negatively on the NZ!!!

Off the top of my head, Google Andy Haydn 1978 for a truly shameful bit of cheating.
NZ push the limits of legality every time they play. Nothing wrong with that, but when they get pulled up on it, especially by Barnes, apparently it's the ref's fault.
You have to bear in mind that rugby in taken seriously in NZ. As a famous commentator once remarked, it's not a matter of life and death, it's far more important than that!