England vs South Africa - Sunday 3rd May

[loudnconfident]

AJ Venter puts in the best legal tackle of the game. Absolutely levelled Robinson - even when it's against your own team, you have to stand up and applaud that.

Puja

Jason Robinson was seriously tough. Even compared to his International contemporaries. Mental and physical

[Mellsblue]

Another red for that ‘tackle’ on Wilkinson.

[Mellsblue]

Love that try. He was utter class.

[Puja]

Greenwood was a bit special, as was that finish. Suckered about 4 South Africans just with the movement of the ball in 2 hands.

I tell you who else is impressive - Jason Leonard. I had it in my head that he was a bit of a legacy from amateur days and was kept on for the experience, but he's been superb the last two games.

Didn't remember Wilkinson going off this early.

Puja

[Puja]

Another red for that ‘tackle’ on Wilkinson.

I missed that. What was it?

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Another red for that ‘tackle’ on Wilkinson.

I missed that. What was it?

Puja

This will surprise you given the previous 45 mins but....clothes lines/swinging arm to the head.

[Mr Mwenda]

And Paddy O'Brian's piped up with "We're having niggle from both sides," after Fleck strikes Cohen in the face. Proper Donald Trump style.

People might complain about the TMO, but this kind of shit wouldn't happen nowadays.

Puja

That generation of refs was diabolical and O'Brien the worst of them. Owens and Barnes are much better.

[Puja]

Another red for that ‘tackle’ on Wilkinson.

I missed that. What was it?

Puja

This will surprise you given the previous 45 mins but....clothes lines/swinging arm to the head.

Flying headbutt from Krige on Dawson. Nice.

Healey's had a good start. Tackled about three times after releasing the ball of course, but that's barely worth commenting on.

Puja

[Puja]

And there's the 5 seconds of madness. Will stream the video of that after the game.

Puja

[Puja]

Dawson isn't massively sure where he is. We might malign the currebt concussion protocols, but at least we're not this bad anymore.

Puja

[Puja]

We butchered a sure fire try on about 3 separate occasions there.

Puja

[Puja]

Another bold decision from O'Brien. I mean, I'm pretty sure Christophers would still have made it to the line despite the cover defence coming across, but this is also the Christophers who habitually loses the ball in the least of contact.

Still, overall it's hardly an outrageous decision on the run of the game.

Puja

[loudnconfident]

that "tackle" on Christophers... (have I missed Kreige punching his own scrum-half?)

[Puja]

Sorry about that - pressed a button by mistake.

Puja

[Puja]

that "tackle" on Christophers... (have I missed Kreige punching his own scrum-half?)

You have, but if you all stick around after the final whistle, I'll show you the analysis video about the filth that went on in this game.

Puja

[Puja]

Robbie Fleck actually has the minerals to shout "Oh ref, look at that!" after Kay gives a shove to a Saffer.

Puja

[Puja]

To be fair, Johnno was trying to choke out Krige off the ball there. Mind, I think the argument could reasonably be made that is was in defence of his teammates from any more of Krige's brutality.

Puja

[Puja]

F*cking hell Krige! Another flying elbow!

Puja

[Mellsblue]

We got luck there. No way that was our decision.

[Mellsblue]

Leonard’s on field mannerisms are so similar to Jamie George’s.

[Mellsblue]

Did Hilda get punched in the face at that last breakdown?

[Puja]

Did Hilda get punched in the face at that last breakdown?

Almost certainly. I feel confident that I have seen only half of the cardable offences committed by SA.

53-3. Time for the filth analysis.

Puja

[loudnconfident]

Awesome - many thx. (I stand corrected: it was the SA no 10, not the No 9, who Krige thumped.)

[Mellsblue]

So many terrible cheap shots. ****s.

Cheers Puja.

[Puja]

And that concludes the 2002 autumn internationals. As the lockdown seems to be going for a bit longer, do we want to continue? I have the 2003 tour to Australia and New Zealand that would keep us going for another 2 weekends, or we could try and get the 2003 6N games?

Puja