Sadly, all of Scotland will read he got it wrong, but won't read that he couldn't have used the TMO even if he wanted to.
The flip side is, play better for the other 79 mins and this isn't a problem.
No matter how you slice it, that was a tough call, knowing he cant resort to TMO and he has to make that call as he sees it, you cant kill the ref over it.
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Yeah, after learning that TMO was not an option for him under current rules, I softened my stance on the call. It was definitely wrong, but happened fast and was difficult to see. Hopefully they fine tune the current system to prevent things like this in the future.
They've done a lot of good work in regards to refereeing in the modern era and have come up with a system that, frankly, I would like to see implemented in other sports. It would instantly clean up soccer, for example, and get rid of all the diving and controversial penalty calls
Agreed. Would like to add the outright theft of the World Cup 1978 and Ortega's shenanigans in the 1998 World Cup quarter finals
Boys this isn't that garbage sport of Wendyball. Argentina has been a wonderful part of this great sport for years and years, generating some amazing players and techniques.
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Boys this isn't that garbage sport of Wendyball. Argentina has been a wonderful part of this great sport for years and years, generating some amazing players and techniques.
Are you Argentinian? I mean sure they've been a good squad for years and are fine, but lets not get too crazy here. They beat a depleted Irish side and reached the semis (and I love seeing tier 2 squads advance because the parity is awesome). But they came out of a fairly simple group aside from the All Blacks, and I guess Tonga. Full credit to them and I hope they compete hard against Australia this weekend, but they're still a notch below these top programs.
Are you Argentinian? I mean sure they've been a good squad for years and are fine, but lets not get too crazy here. They beat a depleted Irish side and reached the semis (and I love seeing tier 2 squads advance because the parity is awesome). But they came out of a fairly simple group aside from the All Blacks, and I guess Tonga. Full credit to them and I hope they compete hard against Australia this weekend, but they're still a notch below these top programs.
Nope not Argentinian.
But I am a fan of the expansion of the game and the changing of the "traditional" powers.
What we are seeing is the results of them getting into the rugby championship. For too many years they were in a rugby wasteland. In the 2014 RC they came last, but beat SA and ran close in all their games save a couple (AB's are a class organization).
I would like to see your classification of "tier 2 squads", cuz to my mind the Argentinians are not a tier 2 squad. They were, but those days, IMO, are gone.
They are currently ranked 4th in the world, up from 6th.
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Well I guess they're 4th in the world because they made it to the semis, but I find it hard to say that they should be ranked on the basis of one game, and even one tournament in that way. I mean let's say they run the table and win, do you really rank them ahead of the All Blacks, SA and Australia? That doesn't seem quite right.
I would have a hard time slotting them ahead of the Welsh, Irish, Scots, France and England really. The trouble with these rankings is that they really reflect recent history only at this point. Like Ireland lost to Argentina this weekend, so clearly they drop back to 6th. I think that as with any sport the rankings here are pretty subjective. I would think that Ireland wins that game more often than not if everyone is healthy.
This ranking from 6 months out pegs the Pumas at #9 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rug...3236258(Canada at 11, before a terrible summer). Is 9th too low...maybe, but it depends on where you drop the countries above I mentioned.
In my experience, rankings produced by any sport's Governing body arent worth the paper they're written on.
Currently the 3rd best team in the world in Soccer according to FIFA's World Rankings is Belgium followed closely by Portugal and Colombia. Wales is the 8th best team in the world.
My point being: World Rankings are somewhat flawed metrics.
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Well I guess they're 4th in the world because they made it to the semis, but I find it hard to say that they should be ranked on the basis of one game, and even one tournament in that way. I mean let's say they run the table and win, do you really rank them ahead of the All Blacks, SA and Australia? That doesn't seem quite right.
I would have a hard time slotting them ahead of the Welsh, Irish, Scots, France and England really. The trouble with these rankings is that they really reflect recent history only at this point. Like Ireland lost to Argentina this weekend, so clearly they drop back to 6th. I think that as with any sport the rankings here are pretty subjective. I would think that Ireland wins that game more often than not if everyone is healthy.
This ranking from 6 months out pegs the Pumas at #9 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rug...3236258(Canada at 11, before a terrible summer). Is 9th too low...maybe, but it depends on where you drop the countries above I mentioned.
The problem with the rankings is that the country's being ranked don't play each other enough to affect the rankings.
As they continue to develop players through the RC and Super Rugby they will get better and better. Remember for much of the 2000-2010 their best players left to go to mainly France. Now they will stay home, the most recent results are a reflection of the increased level of play in the RC. The 6 Nations doesn't hold a candle to that competition. They will be playing the top teams in the world since 2005 or 2006?
I don't agree that a top choice Irish side win that game "more often than not".
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
The problem with the rankings is that the country's being ranked don't play each other enough to affect the rankings.
As they continue to develop players through the RC and Super Rugby they will get better and better. Remember for much of the 2000-2010 their best players left to go to mainly France. Now they will stay home, the most recent results are a reflection of the increased level of play in the RC. The 6 Nations doesn't hold a candle to that competition. They will be playing the top teams in the world since 2005 or 2006?
I don't agree that a top choice Irish side win that game "more often than not".
Yeah and my point isn't that they're brutal or some horrific team. I just think that they had a good pool to come out of, and easier time in the QFs because of the injuries to the Irish (and perhaps some hang over from the France game for the Irish as well). It doesn't mean they're bad because a good team takes advantage of that. I just think that they're more likely in that 7-10th place in the world kind of thing and this is a nice run.
Yeah and my point isn't that they're brutal or some horrific team. I just think that they had a good pool to come out of, and easier time in the QFs because of the injuries to the Irish (and perhaps some hang over from the France game for the Irish as well). It doesn't mean they're bad because a good team takes advantage of that. I just think that they're more likely in that 7-10th place in the world kind of thing and this is a nice run.
I guess time will tell. They have been in the RC since 2012 and now have a SR team. I think they will continue to develop and you will see them continue to get wins against the Home Nations. They are on a steep curve and that will pay dividends. Sanchez is a great example of what can be produced with quality competition, top scorer in the 2014 RC.
I am very excited to see how that nation does in the next 10-20 years.
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
South Africa's Heyneke Meyer regards these All Blacks as best rugby team of all time:
Quote:
I must say this – and I really mean it, it’s not just talk – but this is probably the best team that’s ever played the game,” Meyer said of the All Blacks, who his Springboks will face in Saturday’s semi-final at Twickenham.
Quote:
We as a team knows that this must be our best performance ever if we want to beat them because they are the best team that’s ever played the game.
High praise from the opposing coach. I can't wait for this one. My prediction is NZL vs. ARG in the final.
Meyer is a mess of a coach. I can't stand how he ignored the truest openside in SA.
Boks v AB's
Too much power, pace and skill in the black jerseys. There isn't on legit speed merchant in the Bok back line and their forwards can't match the NZ forwards for skill. The Boks will need to make 400+ tackles to stay close.
AB's win by +10 pts
Aussie v Argies
This is close. I am concerned by Sio's injury, he has been playing well. I think the decider in this game is BamBam. He Pocock plays it is all over. There isn't a better player in the game currently than him at the breakdown. While I have been singing the praises of the Argies, I think the Aussies are still too deep. It will be close and will be a great game, much better than the Saturday game.
Aussies win by +3 pts
I can't wait for the games.
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
I've been generally pulling for the Boks because they have a number of players that I really like in Burger, De Jager and Strauss but after watching that AB game I cannot see anyone beating them. They are just on a whole other level.
The AB/Boks match is basically the Final in my opinion.
Which is okay, as a Rugby fan in general and an enthusiastic neutral its in all of our best interests to watch the All Blacks play as many games as possible, they are an absolute treat.
Its the way of sports like this, we becomes fans of the big teams because they're the ones we get to see more often and that get talked about most.
Aussies vs. Argies is a much tougher call.
Honestly, I think this one should be a Wallaby win, but if they play like they did against the Scots the Argies are going to destroy them.
In small tournaments at the single-elimination stage you dont get days off but the Wallabies took one and got away with it, they wont get another.
It seems like the Argies are peaking at the right time and I still havent seen the Wallabies put in a full effort.
If next game is where Australia get that effort and elevate their play its there for the taking, but if they dont the margins for error are effectively gone.
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I'm going with the All Blacks over the 'Boks and the Wallabies over the Pumas. Then I think that the final is a great game but the All Blacks wind up going back-to-back (with a little Drake reset).
The All Blacks are just too good and they look like they're firing on all cylinders. When you have guys like Sonny Bill Williams coming off the bench I just think they're too deep and too much to handle for the other teams at this point. Couple that up with guys like Dan Carter and Savea and you just have such great backs. To me the game is al about breakdowns and backs and at this point the All Blacks are dominant in both areas.
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I'm going with the All Blacks over the 'Boks and the Wallabies over the Pumas. Then I think that the final is a great game but the All Blacks wind up going back-to-back (with a little Drake reset).
The All Blacks are just too good and they look like they're firing on all cylinders. When you have guys like Sonny Bill Williams coming off the bench I just think they're too deep and too much to handle for the other teams at this point. Couple that up with guys like Dan Carter and Savea and you just have such great backs. To me the game is al about breakdowns and backs and at this point the All Blacks are dominant in both areas.
What is terrifying is the level of skill from prop to fullback
You see identical backdoor passes in this video, one by a 1st 5/8 and one by a front row player.
Amazing
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
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I'm going with the All Blacks over the 'Boks and the Wallabies over the Pumas. Then I think that the final is a great game but the All Blacks wind up going back-to-back (with a little Drake reset).
The All Blacks are just too good and they look like they're firing on all cylinders. When you have guys like Sonny Bill Williams coming off the bench I just think they're too deep and too much to handle for the other teams at this point. Couple that up with guys like Dan Carter and Savea and you just have such great backs. To me the game is al about breakdowns and backs and at this point the All Blacks are dominant in both areas.
I love how its 'Sonny Bill.'
He could have gone by Sonny or by Bill, but no. That guy is awesome!
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If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
