The Lemon Fool

Bizarre game with French tactics clearly wrong in the teeming rain. Wayne Barnes made a lot of mistakes and gave 30 penalties - a ridiculous amount by any standard. The first Scot's try needed a TMO as a minimum - looked grounded before the line then a second movement. Not sure of the rule - but awarding the French try in the second half when clearly stating that an infringement before possible grounding would have been a penalty try - yet the proved grounding resulted in a very difficult kick from out wide (missed) as opposed to in front of the posts seems bizarre. Meant 2 points at a crucial stage. Despite all that - difficult to begrudge the Scot's win given such a wholesome effort full of bravery and guts. As for Dulin not kicking the ball dead when in the red - his natural instinct to play even when the game was dead should not be too criticised.

T7

But what could he have been thinking?

"If I play it out of here we can score two unanswered tries and a couple of penalties with minus 10 seconds on the clock to win the tournament rather than just kick the ball into touch to at least win the game. Oh, OK I'll just run the ball then".

I guess that must be the definition of "panic".

terminal7 wrote: the French try in the second half when clearly stating that an infringement before possible grounding would have been a penalty try - yet the proved grounding resulted in a very difficult kick from out wide (missed) as opposed to in front of the posts seems bizarre.
T7

Though that's how the law is worded. A PT with the player having actually scored, would require the try to have been probably scored in a more advantageous position otherwise - eg much closer to the posts. We are probably talking significantly closer to the posts here, not just eg 1 m closer,. Each to their own but IMO (fwtw!) france wouldnt have scored signidicatly closer to the posts if at all.

'Id agree its a bit of a daft anomaly the way it can pan out. But what happened is within the wording of the laws.

didds

. . . and if he in the split second he purposely did not ground the ball? Of course no player could take the chance not being aware what's in the referee's mind. Anyway - still concerned that Barnes was whistle crazy in this game.

T7

terminal7 wrote:. . . and if he in the split second he purposely did not ground the ball? Of course no player could take the chance not being aware what's in the referee's mind. Anyway - still concerned that Barnes was whistle crazy in this game.

T7

Why do international players give away so many penalties? It's as if they don't know the rules of the game. Coming in at the side, not releasing, offside, etc.