Castle Lager Rugby Championship 2014

[Fulcrum29]

Took the ref long enough to root out the Aussies' negative play!!

I believe that moment gave HM a stroke.

 

[Replay]

Could've. Imo, the game plan didn't show us to do better earlier in the competition. These last 2 games would certainly have opened HM's eyes. I am no fan of HM, but I have more hope for the RWC

Also not a HM fan....If this guy could come back from the dead...

 

[Fulcrum29]

Are you making excuses on their behalf?

Nah, Aussies was thoroughly warned since the early minutes into the upcoming 10 minutes till the whistle, good that the authority yellowed Hooper. The Pumas deserved that moment, as a simple LOS error and an idle linesman in their game against the Kiwis denied them a try and a possible closer game or even stretching to a victory.

 

[Spizz]

Also not a HM fan....If this guy could come back from the dead...

View attachment 155388

Oh yes. If only he'd stayed in Scotland

 

[OGroteKoning]

I know the Argentine coaching staff is allowed to celebrate the victory, but can someone please interpret this for me as I don't understand their language...

 

[OGroteKoning]

Another...

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-unio...for-defeat-bernard-foley-20141005-10qizr.html

Don't blame lasers for defeat: Bernard Foley

MENDOZA: Bernard Foley has refused to blame laser beams for the Wallabies shambolic capitulation to the Pumas on Saturday but conceded it would be helpful if match officials granted kickers a second shot at goal when the potentially harmful practice takes place.

Foley battled green laser beams on his face for the entire match and missed two crucial kicks when Australia trailed Argentina 18-17 towards the end of the Test.

One kick was from 49 metres out - beyond the range of even Foley, the Waratahs' new ice man after his title-winning kick two months ago - but the second, in the 70th minute, was inside the 22-metre zone and just to the left of the posts.

With green lights flickering over his face and eyes, Foley attempted the kick but it bounced off the left upright.

It was the last chance the Wallabies had to score in the match, going down 21-17 to claim the dubious honour of being the first side to lose to Argentina in their three years in the Rugby Championship.

"It's not great but I suppose it's part of it. It's not what made me miss the kicks so you can't draw on it too much," Foley said.
"It's disappointing that it's here and in the game but it wasn't the reason I missed the kick."

Referees have granted kickers extra shots before, as was the case in La Plata last year when assistant referee recommend Jaco Peyper let All Blacks' five-eighth Aaron Cruden make a second attempt.

There was some confusion in the reporting of that Test match, which New Zealand won 33-15, and it was not immediately clear if Cruden's second shot was granted because of the lasers or an early charge down.

Foley said he brought the lights to referee Nigel Owens' attention on Saturday but was never given the option to have another strike.

"I brought it up with him but what can you do I suppose," he said, steadfastly refusing to blame the laser beams for his late-game wobbles.

"It was a very kickable goal and it was happening all night on all kicks, so you can't put it down to the last one.

"It shouldn't be [in the game], but how do you stop them over here? Maybe the rekick will teach them - but who knows."

Lasers are nothing new in Argentina. In 2012 both Mike Harris and Kurtley Beale had to contend with them and Cruden battled in La Plata last year.

In Mendoza on Saturday it was just another storyline in the Wallabies tale of woe. It was the first time Australia has lost to Argentina since 1997 and the worst possible finish to the side's Rugby Championship campaign.

"They got the calls in the rucks and they played to the letter of the law - or the referee - so it was pretty frustrating in that regard," Foley said.

"They've [Argentina] improved and challenged all the teams, a lot of the games have gone down to the end, but I thought if we were able to hold the ball better, close that game out, it shouldn't have been us.

"We had no excuses there, we didn't perform as well as we should have. They were passionate and the crowd really allowed them to get that momentum. That's probably what we should have been able to nullify."

Centre Matt Toomua will be monitored in coming days for concussion symptoms after an encounter with Pumas No.12 Juan Martin Hernandez in the 30th minute.

Coach Ewen McKenzie said Toomua passed the pitch-side concussion assessment but medical staff did not want to put him at unnecessary risk after his concussion in Cape Town a week earlier.

I am really glad the Pumas won, but it is also really poor to have the audience (spectators) distract the opponents.

 

[faniebraai]

I can't even figure out what's going on in this picture!

 

[OGroteKoning]

I can't even figure out what's going on in this picture!

Looks like a happy ending to me

 

[Fulcrum29]

Aussies missed two penalties... Siestog.

I am taking this comment back, you don't love rugby when you sabotage the game. It is good to see the Aussies rugby team not blaming the disturbance, or else they would had been labelled sour losers.

 

[faniebraai]

Looks like a happy ending to me

Looks like a dry hump orgy.

 

[faniebraai]

I am taking this comment back, you don't love rugby when you sabotage the game. It is good to see the Aussies rugby team not blaming the disturbance, or else they would had been labelled sour losers.

this is true

 

[OGroteKoning]

Looks like a dry hump orgy.

Hmmm... Similar interpretation as mine. Thank you my learned colleague

 

[ABCpt]

Yellow cap!! Woohoo!

 

[thestaggy]

You reckon? I thought it was because rugby internationals have been happening here unhindered since the 1800s and remains totally untransformed this day; while international football has only been happening since the 1990s made up largely by players pooled from what was essentially the 2nd tier to ensure transformation.

Considering most African states were independent on average 30 yrs before SA - yet Bafana Bafana are one of only 14 nations among a possible 54(?) to have won it - I can't see how you can call it failure. It's overachievement in my book! But what do I know. Let's stick rugby then.

Not buying this excuse for one second. SA came out of isolation and were crowned African champions. Since then they have been on a rapid decline even though the amount of money and investment plowed into football has increased dramatically. Bafana Bafana is the most well-funded national team on the continent yet they perform at a progressively worse level year on year. A shock upset over Spain does not gloss over the fact that they couldn't even beat Ethiopia, that powerhouse of world football, in two attempts.

Bafana Bafana is treated just as well as the Proteas and the 'Boks in terms of commercial, technical and financial support. In fact, of the 3 they are treated the best as they are not subjected to the same non-sport related political interference that rugby and cricket are yet they are the most embarrassing of the trio. Unlike the Proteas and 'Boks, Bafana Bafana's shortcoming are all self-inflicted and internal whereas the other two manage to maintain a high level of performance when subjected to constant external pressure.

Anyhoo, back on topic. I'm glad HM seems to have seen the light; kicking rugby is not the way to play the game anymore. It may have its merits when we head north and have to deal with heavy tracks and weather conditions that are not conducive to running rugby, but you are not going to beat the All Blacks by kicking.

For a moment there my heart sank as they looked to find that second wind they somehow manage to pull from nowhere. We are due to face them in the semis of the RWC, so I wonder if the management team should consider a formidable fitness program in the lead up? That is what I believe to be the difference between the two teams. We can match them and even surpass them for the opening 60-minutes, but in that final quarter they just keep on going and we seem to fade away.

 

[faniebraai]

.

 

[Frankie_Yale]

Personally I'm really glad the Springboks manage to win this one, even if it was by being given a lucky penalty at the end.

One thing that bothers me is what is up with all the hype, fireworks and parading around the stadium like we won the championship?

This is only the 1st win for HM as Springbok coach against NZ since he was appointed.
No championship/tri nations titles either.

I remember all those comments + opinions when PDV was selected as coach , about him not being the best candidate and not having Super rugby experience, etc.

So now we've got the best guy/candidate as the national coach, but alas no results to show for it...

IMO I think we could've selected another coach, but with the WC next year it's unfortunately too late.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Personally I'm really glad the Springboks manage to win this one, even if it was by being given a lucky penalty at the end.

One thing that bothers me is what is up with all the hype, fireworks and parading around the stadium like we won the championship?

This is only the 1st win for HM as Springbok coach against NZ since he was appointed.
No championship/tri nations titles either.

I remember all those comments + opinions when PDV was selected as coach , about him not being the best candidate and not having Super rugby experience, etc.

So now we've got the best guy/candidate as the national coach, but alas no results to show for it...

IMO I think we could've selected another coach, but with the WC next year it's unfortunately too late.

That lucky penalty is thanks to the Boks putting pressure on the All Blacks, their mistake won us the game. Never been to Ellis Park? It is a show where only champions participate, we won the 1995 Rugby World Cup there, don't bother me at all. Also, the 2015 Rugby World Cup is months away, there is still an upcoming tour between then and now.

 

[Frankie_Yale]

That lucky penalty is thanks to the Boks putting pressure on the All Blacks, their mistake won us the game.

lets be honest , I think the word you're looking for is ill-discipline by NZ.

As for the Ellis Park show , I understand its sentimental value , but was it really necessary?

Perhaps we're not focusing on what seems to be the white elephant in the room which is:

No championship title since PDV as well as average performances against touring sides.

 

[faniebraai]

lets be honest , I think the word you're looking for is ill-discipline by NZ.

As for the Ellis Park show , I understand its sentimental value , but was it really necessary?

Perhaps we're not focusing on what seems to be the white elephant in the room which is:

No championship title since PDV as well as average performances against touring sides.

I think this victory against the obvious best team in the world meant a lot for the players, and I think even more for the fans.

And if you want to nit pick, the lap could be thanking the crowd for the support throughout the tournament as well, it was after all the last game of it.