By A Demanding England Fan
February 26 2012

Wales will SMASH England...... Errrr OH NO they didn't!

RBS Six Nations 2012

England 12 v 19 Wales

Well, Well, Well!  This so called established Wales side were going to smash England and put lots of points past them...Ha!     Well it didn't happen did it, in fact England went in at half time 6 points up and looking blow for blow as good as the Welsh.

 Englands Manu Tuilagi breaks through the Wales line - Unless stated all pictures Empics

Up until 8 mins or so before the end, after we had a raft of bench changes, it was 'even steven'.  Of course we got the usual stuff from the welsh players afterwards 'we knew we would win we just had to be patient'  Aye, we believe you.   Don't get me wrong...  well done they won, but hey let's give credit where it is due and that is to the starting 15 of England.  The work effort was tremendous and to be applauded and I for one would like to thank them, they made me proud.

England's defence was excellent this day and every man who started gave 100% and that was all I asked of them.  The fact that when the subs came on, the side changed and we had stupid penalties being given away.................  well these players should be dropped or punished, frankly they let the team down and all the good work that had gone before.  Some of these replacements are 'has beens' anyway- get rid I say and now!

Picture from the Sun

Of course England nearly pulled off a try in  the dying minutes of the match.  I actually felt Strettle did score a try but there you go that is sport........it can drive you insane.  In fact all the Welsh Players were all lined up behind the posts ...so they must have thought so as well.

Never mind and so onto this new England onwards and upwards and more of the same please.  I am looking forward to the next game now with relish. 

All that talk from the Welsh going to  -Smash England indeed, they were darn lucky ....   they where gifted 'A get out of Goal Card' on the day.... and they know it.    I reckon if the French have their right heads on when they pay Wales, they will do a number on them,  mark my words Ha!

Referee Steve Walsh during the RBS 6 Nations match

England : 15-Ben Foden, 14-Chris Ashton, 13-Manu Tuilagi, 12-Brad Barritt, 11-David Strettle, 10-Owen Farrell, 9-Lee Dickson; 1 Alex Corbisiero, 2-Dylan Hartley, 3-Dan Cole, 4-Mouritz Botha, 5-Geoff Parling, 6-Tom Croft, 7-Chris Robshaw, 8-Ben Morgan.

 Replacements: 16-Rob Webber (for Hartley, 73), 17-Matt Stevens (for Corbisiero, 66), 18-Courtney Lawes (for Botha 61), 19-Phil Dowson, 20-Ben Youngs (for Dickson, 61), 21-Toby Flood (for Farrell, 66), 22-Mike Brown (for Foden, 78)

Wales : 15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-Alex Cuthbert, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-George North, 10-Rhys Priestland, 9-Mike Phillips; 1-Gethin Jenkins, 2-Ken Owens, 3-Adam Jones, 4-Alun Wyn Jones, 5-Ian Evans, 6-Dan Lydiate, 7-Sam Warburton, 8-Toby Faletau.

Replacements: 16-Richard Hibbard, 17-Paul James, 18-Ryan Jones (for AW Jones, 54) 19-Justin Tipuric, 20-Lloyd Williams, 21-Stephen Jones, 22-Scott Williams (for Roberts, 41).

Wales will Smash England!

Discussion started by Unofficial England Rugby Union , 26/02/2012 15:53

Unofficial England Rugby Union
26/02/2012 15:53

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Isaac Dix
26/02/2012 18:46

Quote:

All that talk from the Welsh going to -Smash England indeed

What talk? It was a media stunt. You can't even blame Gatlands big mouth this time. Do not believe everything you read in the press? I, personally, never had Wales down to smash England. I predicted a tight game with a 7 point win to Wales. Not bad eh!!

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Glossopshark
26/02/2012 22:07

Wales appear to be honing the same skills as England 2003 and Australia 1991 - The ability to win games when not playing at their best

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Remember 22nd November 2003
26/02/2012 22:53

Well done to Wales and Steve Walsh.

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Rarua
26/02/2012 23:03

Yes, Walsh reffed a very good game.

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Remember 22nd November 2003
26/02/2012 23:42

Indeed. The first penalty against England where the tackler had rolled away but penalised England for not rolling away. Also when North pushed the ball into touch inside 5 metres he didn't give a penalty and arguably a yellow card to North. Again, great referreeing, well done Steve.

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arquero
26/02/2012 23:55

Rarua,

Is this the same Steve Walsh as has been suspended by the IRB a number of times from officiating? The beard is no disguise, I'm afraid!

Unlike Wayne Barnes, about whom you love to moan, this guy actually DOES have previous! No complaint about the result, but why is this man still in the middle at internationals, given his record?

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cardiffblue
27/02/2012 01:09

Dear oh dear. Unbelievable!

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kiwitaff
01/03/2012 13:05

Pathetic. I didn't hear any regular Welsh rugby supporters (as opposed to those that jump on the International band wagon) saying Wales would smash England. I was nervous of this game even prior to the tournament as I feel Wales aren't as good a team as some are making them out to be and England were an unknown quantity. My worries were compounded when England won the openers without playing that well.

As for the apparent accussation that Walsh was somehow biased to Wales, did the poster miss all the times Dickson got away with trying to play scrum half for Wales, the lineout throws that appear to not go straight and worst of all Robshaw taking out a man in the air and not getting any form of card?

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clutch
01/03/2012 16:23

Couple of isolated incidents are less significant than letting Wales slow the ball at every opportunity. Still, the idea that he favoured Wales is ludicrous. Wales played the ref better. Not the first time an England side has played the ref badly!

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Isaac Dix
01/03/2012 19:58

Quote:

Kiwitaff
I didn't hear any regular Welsh rugby supporters (as opposed to those that jump on the International band wagon) saying Wales would smash England.

Same here and I totally agree. Loads of bandwagon jumpers were saying Wales by 15-20. One even bet me £5 that Wales would win by 20+. Silly man. I knew it was going to be close. The England side has bags of potential. I knew that hence the prediction.

Quote:

Clutch
Couple of isolated incidents are less significant than letting Wales slow the ball at every opportunity.

Both sides played the ref clutch. I have watched this game twice for the whole 80 mins. England had hands in the ruck, slowing down ball all the time when Wales were going forward. All sides are at it not just Wales. Ireland are masters at the art.

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clutch
01/03/2012 23:05

You watched it twice???

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Rarua
03/03/2012 08:16

arquero,

Walsh has problems but not with his actual refereeing.

The advantage problem is that the advantage doesn't last forever. In fact there are some farcical instances when advantage has been given after several minutes which is contrary to the laws of the game. All refs make mistakes, Walsh makes fewer than most.

My issues with Barnes was that for the second 40 minutes the French were offside on at least 15 occasions but were not penalised once.

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arquero
03/03/2012 11:12

Sorry, Rarua, but I disagree. The "previous" to which I was referring was all rugby related, and for which he was suspended by his governing body for varying periods of time.

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clutch
04/03/2012 21:19

Rarua. Did you hear Steve Diamonds Barnes related comments?

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Remember 22nd November 2003
04/03/2012 23:20

Quote:

Rarua
arquero,
Walsh has problems but not with his actual refereeing.

The advantage problem is that the advantage doesn't last forever. In fact there are some farcical instances when advantage has been given after several minutes which is contrary to the laws of the game. All refs make mistakes, Walsh makes fewer than most.

My issues with Barnes was that for the second 40 minutes the French were offside on at least 15 occasions but were not penalised once.

Where in the laws of the game is advantage defined ?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:03:04:23:21:41 by Remember 22nd November 2003.

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TightOldPomfretian
05/03/2012 08:52

According to the rule book the advantage law takes precedence over all other laws and that the referee has sole discression over whether a team has gained an advantage be it tactical or territorial

The only time it can not be given is when the ball comes directly out of the tunnel at a scrum or if a ball / ball carrier touches the referee.

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Rich.
05/03/2012 10:48

Havign just watched brief highlights of the Eng Wales game again, without wishing to blame Mike Brown (as many would have done the same), as Strettle goes over Brown starts celebrating and looking to the touch judge for comfirmation, whereas George North (only slightly in front of him) goes in and keeps the ball off the deck. IF Brown had just concentrated on going in and trying to add his weight to ensure the ball was grounded on/over the line then a try MAY have been scored. Footy players often get caught out doing things like this and we need to ensure we just keep playing until the whistle goes.

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Rarua
06/03/2012 02:12

It is not correct to continue until a side is held up,then go back to the original penalty.

Advantage was gained, the ref called it over, that's it. Them's the rules.

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PoyntonShark
06/03/2012 08:31

Slight point of order Rarua. It may be correct to continue until a side is held up , then go back to the original penalty, if the ref deems that no advantage acrued in the meantime.

Whether advantage was gained is a subjective matter (a deficiency in the law IMHO), if Walsh had'nt forgotten he was playing advantage (I'm still not convinced), then he obviously deemed it was gained, and his opinion is the only relevant one. He didn't call it over, at least I didn't hear him, but the law indicates no requirement for him to do so.

This is all beginning to sound like a whinge. It's not meant to be on my part. One of the more interesting discussions we have had in these parts for some time.

Unhappiness, where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as a fun and take it if we can

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Rich.
06/03/2012 10:31

As a slight side issue (but related to this discussion about advantage), what annoys me is that refs don't play advantage when they wish to give someone a yellow card. Often you see the attacking team look to trake a quick penalty in a position where a try looks almost certain and yet the ref stops them because he wants to yellow card a defender. OK the defence is then down to 14 men but they can then re-group, get their defensive line sorted and hope to hold out (as they often manage to). I see no reason why the ref can't play advantage as normal and then yellow card the defender when play stops. I've only once seen that happen.

It almost encourages cynical players to prevent a try by whatever means (e.g. go hugely ofside to make sure they don't score rather than on-side or slightly off-side and leaving them with a good chance of still scoring)

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Remember 22nd November 2003
07/03/2012 21:36

Quote:

Rarua
It is not correct to continue until a side is held up,then go back to the original penalty.

Actually, you'll find that you're wrong. Again.

Quote:

Rarua
Advantage was gained

No it wasn't.

Quote:

Rarua
the ref called it over, that's it.

No he didn't

Quote:

Rarua
Them's the rules.

No they're not, they're actually laws and nowhere in the Laws of the Game is "advantage" defined.

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Rich.
09/03/2012 15:28

Paddy O'Brien on that IRB 30 mins rugby show on Sky said he thought it was the right decision and it's about a refr considering that tactical or positional advnatge had been gained - and that having gotten Strettle into such a try-scoring position that advantage was gained

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