New Zealand v France

Can't believe they still trot out the "mercurial France" thing. That hasn't really been true since the 1990's.
They are generally pretty predictable these days but we live in hope. They did show a few flashes of behind the pack
in the 6 nations at least

any thoughts/fancies at the half?

yes imo referee has had a good game didnt appear to be giving the All Blacks the usual easy ride they get from a lot of the refs

especially not allowing Smith and Whitelock to get in his ear

surprised how well Serge B speaks english

could france hang on?possible?

France look to be building a very big, strong team who will give trouble to many teams.

Their defence looks more disciplined so they could hang on +26 looking very good

France to find a way to lose it late on.

French defence is very good so far, forcing some surprising errors

Thought that looked bad in real time, but it's a terrible decision

bollox yellow card, why not go to TMO???

Once again another game of (international) rugby (with NZ!) is ruined by the ref, it happens in pretty much every game now.

so he gives a yellow for a (French) player clearly hitting the ball (and not any part of neck or face) but even on video when the NZ player clearly hits him in the face (before the other hits him with his head)and only gives a pen?

Wow.

someone had a word with the ref half time -nap

The French have collapsed here completely.

Have to agree Sewter its a different ref this half. That decision was one of the worst ever seen in international rugby .

it's his first top flight game apparently

How often do we see a ref go straight to his pocket for a single challenge without referring it to the video ref?  Almost unheard of.

but went to the TMO for that obvious no try

i don't think it was a penalty let alone a pen & a card. Still, France shouldn't collapse like that even a man down.

onward,aus/ire

dont blame France at all the All Blacks can do that to any team but the help from the ref was ridiculous

That last try would not have been given if the TMO had a look. Player held, should release

I won on the HC overall, but can't believe I lost on the 40.5 live given when my bet was matched (either just pre-KO or early doors in play)....

fwiw,aus13+

+13 ?

What a game this should be.

winning margin 13+

Haylett-petty and Timu  anytime try

ahh winning margin got you now

getting a stream is a pita

game 2 ruined already. if that is a red card the game has gone mental. the french player never takes his eyes off the ball.
ref says he was not in a realistic position to get the ball but he was right underneath it. as he goes to jump
barrett jumps across him so he can't get off the ground. i don't think it was even a yellow, just an unfortunate
incident competing for the ball

I thought it was a stone-waller, TBH.

why? just because of the way barrett landed? there has to have been an intent to injure or reckless play.
i think the french player was in a perfect position to get the ball but barrett has leapt forward and across him
just as he goes to jump.
the idea he is somehow able to get out of there is completely unrealistic, especially as it is cleat he is totally
focused on the ball.

Never ever a red card, this is one of the reasons that NZ are world chapions is they ALWAYS get every decision going.

Southern hemispere refs are a joke

way too easy that

My interpretation of 'realistic' is that at the instance the French player jumps, based on where Barrett is (he IS going to win the ball), the French player is not in a realistic position to win it.  As such, he has a duty of care to Barrett to make sure he isn't going to hurt him.

As comms have literally just confirmed.

Agree with everything you say Northern, these comms are just trying to justify a poor decision. Last week two NZ guys should of been sent off but of course nothing .... This has just ruined a spectacle for everyone

So why no yellow card just now as french guy kicked ball both feet off the ground
just a pen

the french player actually has both feet off the ground. how can he "take himself out of there" as
he apparently is supposed to? he is right under the ball. it was very unfortunate how barrett landed and
he got up some height but i just don't see how it is reckless.
looks more dramatic in slow mo of course but in real time he has no way of avoiding that.

I think Barrett was out of control. Nobody made him land on his head.

Another thing i don't much like is refs calling players by their first name. that ref is calling the french by number
and the Kiwi's by name. if he's talking to the NZ captain call him captain not Sam.

anyone any fancies on the aus/ire game?

Sexton back, huge for the Irish, should of won last week, I think they will this time

France forwards playing really well, just got to keep it away from the NZ backs

Another joke, the referee should of just given a try

It's the same when Owens is reffing let go back 50 phases
to see how i can disallow the try

Jun 16, 2018 -- 10:13AM, hunt lunt and cunningham wrote:

Another joke, the referee should of just given a try

On what basis???

Try looking at this game without NZ eyes Latalomme

I'm looking at the game with neutral eyes.  I make more money if France stay within 29.5.  The fella got up on his knees and clearly propelled himself forward.

Dont mean to be rude, but everything is going NZ way.

I think the ref has got pretty much every decision bang on, save maybe for not carding Cane near the end of the first half.

If you slow everything down it all looks different, maybe we are from different ages

Always has i'm on France +28.5 LAT

Yes but thats the difference he DIDNT card Cane

Im on France +29 maybe pocket talking

Well at least we all won,France played really well and it could of been a great game if it wasnt for that decision

New Zealand were awful today. That reserve scrum half they had was very poor

Another game of international rugby ruined by the ref? what a shock. I can't watch NZ games anymore (or at least make no effort to) as watching the best side in the world is one thing but watching the best side in the world always get the rub of the green (being very generous) gets very boring long before the 1000th time!

Well said Spyker

any fancies on this one today?

fwiw,unders

Haha im going overs. Well think it will be. Not putting any quid on it. Dry ground etc, but wary that there have been changes which may lead to a less continuous game. Will see shortly. Draw at 150 looks big.

What is going on between the refs and the bias towards New Zealand THREE weeks in a row

Lacey is a shocking ref. all he had to do there was give a NZ scrum. they would not have argued about it

Try bias last 10 years always offside always give away 3
with a player hardly ever binned

shoite morning.not a peep out the georgians ffs,fiji got smashed oooooooooo woe

so now not even checking blatent forward passes

Just enjoy the best team on the planet playing Rugby.

just looked a laws 6:10/11/12 and seems there is no law under which the ref could have disallowed that try for his block.
really surprised to see that but only covers the ball carrier running into the ref. law needs amended imo

White towel will be thrown any minute now.

Yes Sage on the -23.5 just in time

A big bet for me double figures

Sageform, typical NZ comment, any team in any sport anywhere in the world will look like the best team in the planet if they get all the decisions in their favour all the time. You can play with a flair knowing you are not going to get penalised. The reffing in this series has been at an all time low, which is a shame because it does not help the love of the All Blacks

The bias is being mentioned more by the press (though obv they all know which side their bread is buttered so are pretty circumspect) as even casual rugby watchers have noticed it. Hard not to as it's every match and pretty blatant now. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a bit of a change in the 'championship' this year - just enough to say 'look the refs aren't biased' but not enough to make any difference and back to normal service after a game or 3.