Ireland dominate Sam Warburton's British and Irish Lions team of the week

Sorry for my bad England - edited 🤣

The biggest part for me is the inconsistency

Yep really dumb and unfortunately red

Just totally not needed but no damage done.

Nic White should have been yellow carded

It worries me that these days we are scrutinising every decision and this game has two tries under scrutiny

I still feel that should have been a penalty against Morgan but it’s also wrong as it’s only because it was reviewed due to a well worked try

Tosi causing obstruction against the French. Innocuous and seen all the time

No try

Sheehan if we go by the ambiguous laws - arguable try!

It’s a bladdy try - he dove to score

He didn’t hurdle

"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"

If we use those laws then he dove in the air to avoid tacklers who couldn’t touch him 🤣🤷‍♂️

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

JH 15 minutes ago

You’re absolutely spot on there with how commonplace incidents get called up in an inconsistent way when it’s a try scoring scenario. And I fully agree that this is why there was nothing for the referee to look at from either players actions there.

It would be interesting though if referees ever did decide to start enforcing rule 15.3.

There is an argument that it would make the game safer but it would largely take jackaling out of the game. Defending teams might need to go more to counter rucking to contest for possession

Tom 15 minutes ago

The Aussies were much improved, the addition of Skelton and Valentini made a big difference. They put our halfbacks under pressure and it seemed to rattle them in the first half, Fin Russell's passing was atrocious by his usual sublime standards. When the Lions clicked they were a bit too strong though imo. All the way through the tour it's felt to me like the Lions have consistently struggled to find their rhythm but under the surface is a talented team with a bit too much for the Aussies. Overall a mediocre Lions team touring a spirited Australian side a couple of years from being at that level.

Hugo Keenan: From high school 'D' team to British and Irish Lions immortality

Ed the Duck 23 minutes ago

Which one, 2-1 series win for the Aussies?

10 Go to comments

Over the sideline 27 minutes ago

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

One of my major frustrations with rugby at the moment JH is that what’s illegal in the act of scoring a try is often very commonplace throughout the rest of the match. These type of incidences from both the Wallabies player and the Lions player are perfect examples and offside rulings during different field positions is another one.

My own view was that there was nothing from either player that required stopping the awarding of the try and whilst I don’t need to see a penalty for pretending to be hurt, im in 100% agreeance we definately don’t need it in rugby.

Ibbero1 33 minutes ago

It certainly was, theatrics. Coming away from the ruck, holding his head, when the clear out was nowhere near his head

Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

RK 39 minutes ago

Yeah and the Springboks smashed you in 98, just like they have the last 5 tests

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Hellhound 50 minutes ago

Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

Wow can't even defeat someone with 50% IQ. That's bad😂 Fine, I'll stop trolling you🤣🤣

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Evans 52 minutes ago

All Ausies are whingers!

Hellhound 53 minutes ago

I was pissed off at Jasper. It wasn't a head butt, but the rules are clear around head contact and there was head contact. That is red. Right decision, but soft. Rugby is becoming soft. They are trying to take away what makes rugby rugby. Soft calls like that shouldn't be punished. As good as Jasper is, it's time he gets dropped. He isn't a youngster and he knows better. He spends more time off the field due to indiscipline than on the field. The Boks have at least 5 different players that can play 8. He isn't needed. Indiscipline is what will cost the Boks in big games. We don't need that.

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

tf 57 minutes ago

If you go through any game there are so many calls you can say are wrong. Moaning about a 50:50 in the last minute doesn't look good. If the TMO looked at loads of clear outs in slow mo there would be penalties ever other breakdown.

Sheehan's try or Beirn getting taken out off the ball earlier while the Lions were attacking earlier both could be contentious and had just as big an effect on the game. But as they werent in the 80th minute dont get the same scrutiny.

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Jfp123 57 minutes ago

Well, I don’t have any special knowledge. I can only give my personal opinion. I don’t know of anyone definitely ruled out.

There are plenty of French 10s, but few who particularly stand out. Apart from those already mentioned, Reus was excellent as an under 20. He hasn’t made such a big impression since then, but he’s only young, and switched clubs, so there’s time for him to develop. I’ve also heard Berdeu’s name mentioned once or twice. Or then again, Ntamack started as a centre, and Ramos’ main position is 15, so it’s possible someone else might change to 10 from another position and flourish.

There’s also a huge pipeline of young players, but their time will come after the next WC.

Of course, it’s only a big problem if Ntamack gets injured, but unfortunately he has been injury prone lately, and there’s such a high injury rate in general!

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JH 1 hour ago

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

You’re right . I can’t give an example because they are never given. But that is precisely why in that scenario clearouts like Jac’s yesterday are hardly ever pinged. He was clearing out a player who was positioned illegally in the ruck like what happens countless times in a match. Tizzano was inviting head / neck contact.

The only difference here to most every other ruck is that usually the cleared out jackal attempting player who was illegally and dangerously positioned in the ruck doesn’t try to milk a penalty

Colmcille 1 hour ago

You can’t tackle a player at shoulder height or higher, but if you’re both crouched, contesting a ball, at 48” or lower!

100% true!

It’s called mitigating circumstances!

Contact is enviable, the players are so low, the referees are the judge and jury.

Every rugby player knows, the referees decision is sacrosanct

Australia!

Come back in 12 years time, and seek vengeance