FOSTER WATCH 2K22! WILL HE STAY OR WILL HE GO!

[Big D]

Does anyone believe he'd have made that call against the ABs in NZ though?

Limited sympathy because of the Swain cheap shot, but, having seen the time elapsed on at least one of the AB kicks at goal, it really does smack of calling one for the assessor, where something that's been happening all game gets pulled up in the last few minutes.

Kicks at goal have a time limit. Free kicks and penalties must be taken without delay according to the laws with free kick the sanction for time wasting.

[cashead]

Foley (and the Aussie forwards apparently) fucked around and found out. The Wallabies can wail and pull their hair and gnash their teeth and cry foul all they want, they've no one but themselves to blame.

It's like the Argies the other week. The ABs weren't a team that was beyond their ability to beat, in the same way the Pumas weren't necessarily the better team than the All Blacks in Christchurch - it's just that the losing team got in their own way and paid the price for it.

[Puja]

Free kicks and penalties must be taken without delay according to the laws with free kick the sanction for time wasting.

It has actually been bugging me that he gave the wrong punishment by immediately awarding a scrum. While the Kiwis would probably have opted for a scrum anyway if they'd been given a free kick, it bothers me that he's made such a dramatic and game-deciding decision and then got it wrong.

It stiĺl feels like a harsh and unnecessary call to me - yes the Australians were fucking about and there is always the risk of finding out, but it wasn't a necessary call. He could have called time off and said that he would stop time while the lineout was being formed to avoid any further timewasting, but he chose to call a technicality that decided the game. He was technically correct, but it didn't show a very good feel for the game, IMO.

Puja

[morepork]

The Wobbalies were cynical at the pointy end of proceedings. If the decision was technically correct, how is the decision defined as subjective?

[Puja]

The Wobbalies were cynical at the pointy end of proceedings. If the decision was technically correct, how is the decision defined as subjective?

Rugby union refereeing.

Puja

[morepork]

The Wobbalies were cynical at the pointy end of proceedings. If the decision was technically correct, how is the decision defined as subjective?

Rugby union refereeing.

Puja

You are advocating for subjective interpretation of laws by different refs?

[Puja]

The Wobbalies were cynical at the pointy end of proceedings. If the decision was technically correct, how is the decision defined as subjective?

Rugby union refereeing.

Puja

You are advocating for subjective interpretation of laws by different refs?

Not advocating, more noting that it already exists. Someone like Matthew Carley would never have given that decision (and that's not necessarily a compliment to him). I'd also not expect Owens to give that decision (he would absolutely have stopped time until the lineout was formed or insisted that time was rewound, plus given some saucy commentary to White). Whereas if you'd told me this happened and asked me to guess the ref, Raynal would've been pretty high on the list (probably level with Barnes? Although Barnes's communication would've been a lot better and would've likely involved calling time off and saying, "If you don't take it, I'm going to free-kick you.").

The laws are themselves subjective, given that there's no definition of what counts as time wasting and players have been let off with far worse in far less dramatic circumstances.

Also, Hello World. Good to be back.

Puja

[morepork]

Dramatic circumstances is exactly why the decision matters. This is inherent in the distinction between being an annoying prick and to bend the rules to gain an advantage and just being a Kok when the situation is not so dramatic. Both should be penalty worthy, but the former more so because it impacts on the ability to compete as per the rules of the game.

[Puja]

Dramatic circumstances is exactly why the decision matters. This is inherent in the distinction between being an annoying prick and to bend the rules to gain an advantage and just being a Kok when the situation is not so dramatic. Both should be penalty worthy, but the former more so because it impacts on the ability to compete as per the rules of the game.

I do get that point and would be equally annoyed if it were done against my team. However, I've gone and rewatched the video and Australia waste a maximum of 25 seconds of actual gametime after the earliest point at which a team playing quickly could've kicked it (and practically only 10 seconds after a team not in a hurry would've kicked it). That feels like an awfully small amount of actual time wasted for the punishment of a 5m scrum in the middle of the pitch to be appropriate, especially since they could be recouped by calling time off while the lineout was being formed.

If it'd been on the halfway and NZ had taken that possession and scored from a distance, I'd have a lot less sympathy, but changing a penalty to clear the lines, into probably the best attacking position on the pitch is a big turnaround and, while technically correct, it changed the result of the game, which I don't think the 25 seconds would have done.

Puja

[Sandydragon]

Dramatic circumstances is exactly why the decision matters. This is inherent in the distinction between being an annoying prick and to bend the rules to gain an advantage and just being a Kok when the situation is not so dramatic. Both should be penalty worthy, but the former more so because it impacts on the ability to compete as per the rules of the game.

I do get that point and would be equally annoyed if it were done against my team. However, I've gone and rewatched the video and Australia waste a maximum of 25 seconds of actual gametime after the earliest point at which a team playing quickly could've kicked it (and practically only 10 seconds after a team not in a hurry would've kicked it). That feels like an awfully small amount of actual time wasted for the punishment of a 5m scrum in the middle of the pitch to be appropriate, especially since they could be recouped by calling time off while the lineout was being formed.

If it'd been on the halfway and NZ had taken that possession and scored from a distance, I'd have a lot less sympathy, but changing a penalty to clear the lines, into probably the best attacking position on the pitch is a big turnaround and, while technically correct, it changed the result of the game, which I don't think the 25 seconds would have done.

Puja

That was my first instinct, but reviewing the footage, the ref gives plenty of warnings which are all ignored. Foley's team mates are screaming for him to kick the ball, but he knows his team is at a player disadvantage and wants to chew up as many seconds as possible. I think its the right call, as frustrating as that is for Aussies right now.

[J Dory]

The ref didn't give NZ the game, he gave them a scrum and fairynuff looking at the reddit vid. Would be interested to know what percentage of 5m scrums result in tries, Liz, we need you.

[Spiffy]

It was a valid decision by the ref. though a harsh enough call at that stage of the game and in that field position. If refs are going to ping this level of transgression then they certainly should be cracking down on squint scrum feeds, obstruction, taking out players beyond the ruck, faking injury and all the other little bits of cynical skulduggery that are ruining the game.

[cashead]

Darcy Swain gets only 6 weeks. Should've been a life ban, the fucking grubby cunt. Fuck him, and fuck anyone that tries to defend that shit.

Then you get the fucking Wallabies and Dave Rennie with their "A bloo bloo bloo bloo bloo he feels awful and he's got hurty-wurty feefees over it." Fuck off, you cunt.

[Puja]

Darcy Swain gets only 6 weeks. Should've been a life ban, the fucking grubby cunt. Fuck him, and fuck anyone that tries to defend that shit.

Then you get the fucking Wallabies and Dave Rennie with their "A bloo bloo bloo bloo bloo he feels awful and he's got hurty-wurty feefees over it." Fuck off, you cunt.

Just went to look at a replay as I hadn't seen it yet and startled my daughter by swearing out loud. that isn't quite Calum Clark levels of absolutely inarguably deliberate limb breaking, but it's close enough that it's hard not to agree with you, Cas.

Puja

[Numbers]

When I watched the incident at the end I could have sworn one of the commentators said there were only a few seconds left, this made me think that the stadium clock may have been a little fast as the clock on the screen showed much more time left to play, with this in mind it seemed obvious to me that Foley was stalling to try and get to the final whistle and the ref pulling him up on that was fair enough imo, he won't be doing that again and it sets a good precedent around time wasting.

[J Dory]

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 23 Sevu Reece

Looking forward to seeing this combination get a go, hopefully Codie Taylor doesn't have another mare.

[cashead]

Getting real "Rodney So'oialo playing against Italy in 2009" vibes - a player in the downward slope of a test career being given a chance to hold off the younger, superior challenger to his starting spot.

[morepork]

We need more nuanced coaching strategy to keep pace with the Heathens from the North (and Straya and South Africa). The NZRFU is currently looking as sophisticated as South Canterbury Finance at the moment.

[morepork]

Discipline wins games. Refwang will be high on the list of priorities this World Cup. I just hope that the strategic response doesn’t descend into kick and clap.

[J Dory]

Really liked the look of that backline with Jordie at 12 and Beaudy at 15.

[Sandydragon]

Darcy Swain gets only 6 weeks. Should've been a life ban, the fucking grubby cunt. Fuck him, and fuck anyone that tries to defend that shit.

Then you get the fucking Wallabies and Dave Rennie with their "A bloo bloo bloo bloo bloo he feels awful and he's got hurty-wurty feefees over it." Fuck off, you cunt.

Just went to look at a replay as I hadn't seen it yet and startled my daughter by swearing out loud. that isn't quite Calum Clark levels of absolutely inarguably deliberate limb breaking, but it's close enough that it's hard not to agree with you, Cas.

Puja

A very deliberate attempt to seriously injure another player. The ban should have been at least a season, and probably more.

[Scrumhead]

Darcy Swain gets only 6 weeks. Should've been a life ban, the fucking grubby cunt. Fuck him, and fuck anyone that tries to defend that shit.

Then you get the fucking Wallabies and Dave Rennie with their "A bloo bloo bloo bloo bloo he feels awful and he's got hurty-wurty feefees over it." Fuck off, you cunt.

Just went to look at a replay as I hadn't seen it yet and startled my daughter by swearing out loud. that isn't quite Calum Clark levels of absolutely inarguably deliberate limb breaking, but it's close enough that it's hard not to agree with you, Cas.

Puja

Even worse, they’re using Australia A games to run down his ban

I suspect Swain may be a bit of a marked man from now on …