QuoteHe doesn't have the distance for a drop goal from half way - he and the team know that.Originally Posted by BonnieShels
Can't get over Jones bottling it at the end. The back row were moving side to side in the ruck to set him up and he did nothing.
Where was the fear coming from. You're a point down in the 79th minute of a wc semi. Kick a bloody goal or at least try.
Frankie's comments were shocking and George took him to task for it.
He doesn't have the distance for a drop goal from half way - he and the team know that.
I know that. But it was the 79th minute. Did they think they were going to keep getting through the phases? Idiotic from the Welsh.
No, what's idiotic is doing something knowing it'll fail
How do you work that one out? It was the very end of the game. They weren't gaining territory and hadn't done for a few phases. They were going out of the world cup if they didn't score. It was the epitome of "nothing to lose". If he missed there was no loss as time was up anyway.
In fairness to ITV's commentator he quoted the rule, and once armed with that knowledge I could see why the ref gave a red. I don't think he set out to tackle him the way he did and I think he made an effort to ease the French guy's fall.
I think too many people make sentimental judgments rather than technical ones. They'd have all been cheering here if a French guy had seen red.
I still feel for Wales though.
Sorry - was responding to p19's posts!
I think Wales had to keep going through the phases either to get closer for the drop or to force the pen. France were very disciplined at the end. It'd have been pointless going for a drop from 45m if he doesn't have the range. He couldn't place kick from that distance in 2009, thankfully for us.
But it was pointless to not bother as well, literally point less. They had gained no territory in 5 phases and it didn't look like the French were gonna cough up a penalty at that stage.
Stick Halpenny in the pocket if Jones had no balls.
He didn't have the distance that time. He bottled it earlier when they were up in the 22, when he knocked on. Thing about going through the phases, even not making ground, is to try and draw the penalty.
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
Apart from missing the conversion, he bottled a drop goal attempt around the 70min mark
I thought Jones would have had a 35m drop goal attempt late on if he had set himself up to receive the ball when Wales were around the 25.
Maybe the Welsh team were correct not use him, but I would have thought this was bread&butter to such a player in such a position, to have the nerve and skill to give it an honest effort?
Except they still had the ball. He KNEW he would miss it.
He didn't know that a) walees couldn't break through or b) France weren't going to give a penalty. By not going for the drop he gave Wales 2 options. By going for the drop, he gae Wales ZERO options of winning
54,321 sold - wws will never die - ***
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Drop goals from half-way are very very rare indeed. Even scoring a penalty is by no means guaranteed.
On 70 mins they were dead in front of the posts, but Jones lost it in the tackle. They should have been setting up for a drop then, but were still looking for a penalty. I wouldn't say he bottled the drop attempt earlier - the French were up in an instant, so he had to switch to his left foot.
As Macy said, they were going through the phases looking for a penalty, or to get a break and make 15 yards to give them a drop chance, but the French defended very well and very intelligently - committed nobody at all to the breakdown apart from the tackler (who instantly released and rolled away), and maintained their line.
Also, watching it here in Japan, my english-language commentary comes from Kiwi TV, and atfer Warburton's comment, their analyst, Justin Marshall, instantly said, 'He's in trouble. I'm not talking yellow card trouble, I'm talking red card trouble.'
My own take on it was that Warburton mid-tacke that he was accidentally spear tackling the guy, and made the wrong decision. He let him go, but he needed to twist his body round so that he landed on his lower back/backside.
Last edited by osarusan; 16/10/2011 at 9:52 AM.
Paul Ackford in today's Sunday Telegraph saying the decision was 100% right, and anyone saying otherwise is letting emotion dominate knowledge of the laws.
NZ deserve to win the cup, only team from start to finish that played good rugby. Which France team will turn up for the final?
As I said, I thought he could have been set up to attempt a drop goal from 35m, as the ball was close enough to the 25 for a short time.
I really enjoyed that semi final. NZ v Australia has to be one of the greatest sporting international rivalries.
Yes, sorry, I mis-read your post.
On tonight's game - Australia just didn't have the guile to make their territory count in the first half. Beale being missing definitely hurt them, but he wasn't the reason their scrum was walloped in the 2nd half. Why they persisted in kicking deep all second half is beyond me.
Some of the player tweets make them look like ignorant nobheads though, showing they don't know the rules.
btw any row back from the ITV boys, fessing up that Rolland was actually right and they were wrong? Dallaglio was particularly extreme, in calling for him to be dropped. He should in fact get the final, if the IRB have the balls...
Last edited by Macy; 16/10/2011 at 12:34 PM.
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
He had a terrible game for the NZ-France pool game.
That apart he has been his usual self. Just don't like the idea of him refereeing French matches.
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