Agree? . . .

[chopper15]

'The only way France can beat Wales tomorrow is if the poor standard of refereeing continues and their offences at the breakdown go unnoticed'. Brendan Venter


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...t-the-rules-of-rugby-says-Brendan-Venter.html

 

[Mike Selig]

Nope it is mainly nonsense.

 

[Ian_Cook]

Venter does have a number of valid points.

All day, BL allowed players to go off their feet, with impunity; tacklers not releasing, tackled players not rolling away, side entry to tackles, hands in the ruck among other things.

Alain Rolland will not make this mistake tomorow

 

[Mike Selig]

However the headline and the crux of his argument is some kind of nonsense about French indiscipline. France have beaten Wales quite a bit recently, so I have no idea where he draws his conclusions from.

 

[Simon Thomas]

Column filler stuff and deliberately provocative, and much of it nonsense.

BL's performance is covered in other threads.

I deal in reality, not hypothetical situations and "what if" scenarios.

The actual match is in my view finely balanced between two decent teams. Much of what has been written about the French is total rubbish and media specualation.

 

[chopper15]

Venter does have a number of valid points.

All day, BL allowed players to go off their feet, with impunity; tacklers not releasing, tackled players not rolling away, side entry to tackles, hands in the ruck among other things.

Alain Rolland will not make this mistake tomorow

Interesting comment and opinion, Ian. Appreciated.:hap:

 

[Mike Selig]

Column filler stuff and deliberately provocative, and much of it nonsense.

BL's performance is covered in other threads.

I deal in reality, not hypothetical situations and "what if" scenarios.

The actual match is in my view finely balanced between two decent teams. Much of what has been written about the French is total rubbish and media specualation.

Precisely.

 

[Davet]

I would expect France to beat Wales, assuming that the French are now in competitive mode rather than simply Gallic shrug mode.

I would also expect NZ to beat the Wallabies.

But I appear to have been wrong about lots of rugby lately so don't place any bets on my advice!

 

[chopper15]

Precisely.

Your brief rejoinder 'Precisely' suggests you're in full agreement with Simon's comments, . . . .and much of it nonsense. I deal in reality, not hypothetical situations and "what if" scenarios.

Would appreciate any opinions on Venter's comments that you, as an experienced ref., don't consider nonsense, Mike.

And surely you don't go along with Simon's 'hypotheticals' sentiment, which, I suspect, was prompted by a teensy weensy bit of petulance by the irreverence displayed to the RFU by this biscuit-eating upstart.:biggrin:

Of course, you both will be involved in future hypotheticals . . . as learned and experienced refs you just won't be able to resist getting your oars in.

 

[Mike Selig]

Your brief rejoinder 'Precisely' suggests you're in full agreement with Simon's comments, . . . .and much of it nonsense. I deal in reality, not hypothetical situations and "what if" scenarios.

Would appreciate any opinions on Venter's comments that you, as an experienced ref., don't consider nonsense, Mike.

And surely you don't go along with Simon's 'hypotheticals' sentiment, which, I suspect, was prompted by a teensy weensy bit of petulance by the irreverence displayed to the RFU by this biscuit-eating upstart.:biggrin:

Of course, you both will be involved in future hypotheticals . . . as learned and experienced refs you just won't be able to resist getting your oars in.

I'm not really an experienced ref Chopper but thanks anyway.

I agree with Venter about some of his analysis of BL's performance in the quarter final (but this is well documented in other threads): in particular I agree with "[BL] allowed all number of transgressions to go unpunished".

I also agree with his analysis on Rolland: "If the real Rolland referees in Auckland on Saturday then France and Wales will be met by an authoritarian who is not afraid to actually blow his whistle when he sees an offence."

The bits which are nonsense:

The opening line about France being "by far" the least disciplined side left in the world cup. The following nonsense about the French not understanding the tackle laws.
that BL suffered from stage fright. He just isn't a very good referee.
That games are decided by referees (this is really rich).
Then all this stuff about the french not understanding the laws. In particular about the French referee head not understanding the laws. I think Mr Venter would do well to watch a bit of top14. IMO the laws re tackler assist and especially arriving players on their feet are usually well reffed there.

I'm not sure I agree with his view on Para either, I think he released the backs very well.

 

[Account Deleted]

The article is nonsense because France can beat Wales no matter who referees the game. Likewise they could lose the game no matter who referees the game.

 

[chopper15]

Appreciated, Mike, thanks.

. . . . and I take it you will take part in future discussions involving sensible hypos.:clap:

PS. Have no fear, ATTR, Wales are going to strut their stuff tomorrow and earn themselves a worthy victory.:horse:epper::clap:


PPS. What countries I wonder will be supporting France tomorrow?

 

[Account Deleted]

Why would "countries" support anyone?

 

[Taff]

Why would "countries" support anyone?

What Chopper probably meant was "which country will other nationalities support?" Eg It's a pretty safe bet the majority of Scots will be supporting Wales.

 

[chopper15]

What Chopper probably meant was "which country will other nationalities support?" It's a pretty safe bet the majority of Scots will be supporting Wales.

. . . and your Celtic neighbours, Cornwall, believe you me, Taff.:horse:

 

[chopper15]

Why would "countries" support anyone?

The EU could probably give you a creditable answer to that query, ATTR.:sad:

 

[Account Deleted]

The EU could probably give you a creditable answer to that query, ATTR.:sad:

What's your answer Shopper?

Why would New Zealand support either side. Individual New Zealanders will support either, but the country?

 

[Davet]

Why would "countries" support anyone?

What Chopper probably meant was "which country will other nationalities support?" It's a pretty safe bet the majority of Scots will be supporting Wales.

Do you think the Scots are so fickle as to renege on the "auld alliance"?

 

[chopper15]

What's your answer Shopper?

Why would New Zealand support either side. Individual New Zealanders will support either, but the country?

I would've thought the majority of New Zealand supporters would rather lose to Wales than France should they beat Australia. And if they don't beat OZ they'll probably want Wales to win the WC.

I would also expect England and the majority of British Celtic countries' supporters along with Ireland's to support Wales. But how's about Australia, Argentina, Canada, USA, etc?

So, I wonder, is there a majority of any countries' supporters out there likely to support France?:biggrin:

. . . . Italy's perhaps?

 

[Account Deleted]

I've not given it any thought.