Semi #1 wales vs France your thoughts.....?

[slomo]

I think the sending off should of been a yellow, not a straight red, it changed the game completely, hook and s jones were piss poor, too many missed kicks , priestland was missed at 10, the wales line out was forgettable, 5 or 6 lost on their throw... The garlic munchers have rode their luck and now find themselves in the big game!....

[brokendown gunfighter]

whoever wins tomorrow,will win the world cup by 20 points

[James]

Agreed.

That must f*&king hurt for the Wales fans. It's one thing losing to a better team but it's another entirely losing by a point having been a man down for 60 minutes. It's was heroic performance for Wales but France should shoulder some of the blame for being pretty shitty in their decision making.

It's a tough call on those lifting tackles. It's pretty similar to the Rory Sidey one for the Force this year. I was pretty pissed that that was a red but at least they are being consistent. I guess you have just got to remember the potential damage that can be done with that kind of tackle.

[fulvio sammut]

Both sides played their final last week. Nothing in reserve.

Who ever wins tomorrow wins the World Cup.

[Rex Messup]

The game has gone soft
It was a great hit........
Getting sent off for that is a farce
Wales should demand a replay
They did miss a kick from in front of the posts from where my old mum could have thrownit over
France were sh1te
Wales were robbed
It wasn't worth watching

[JediKnight]

France into the final having lost two matches en route - sacre bleu!

Also, was it such a good idea to have a refereee from Ireland (beaten by Wales last week) who also happens to have a French father?!?!?!

[brokendown gunfighter]

France into the final having lost two matches en route - sacre bleu!

Also, was it such a good idea to have a refereee from Ireland (beaten by Wales last week) who also happens to have a French father?!?!?!

who according to the saffers,is probably the bastard son of bryce Lawrence

[blueandblack]

Wales did pretty damn well with 14 players for 3/4 of the game.Not sure whether red was warranted or not but I was pleased to see that the ref would take some form of action rather than be in fear of affecting the result, and take no action at all.

[TrevorM]

Red or yellow - ISTM to have been a touch or go situation. The ref could have shown yellow but chose in this case to show red.

Bottom line is that once again the main factor in the final result of a close contest was not the relative strengths of the two teams but a judgement made at a critical time by the ref.

[todd4]

If the French had lost that game after being a man up for 60 mins they could never have lived it down. The French media and public would have been out for blood. I could imagine half the team applying for asylum in NZ rather than go home.
If they play that same game plan next week they are stuffed.
Edit - I think they will be stuffed anyway.

[todd4]

On the subject of the red card I seriously think that any card red or yellow should be referred to the TMO for a final recommendation. The ref and assist refs only get to see things in real time, a TMO would be able to take a proper look at incidents and give a more informed opinion. I don't think it would take that much more time as the play has been stopped already. Awarding of a card can have more of an impact on a game than the scoring of a try.

[jargan83]

Wales had opportunities and did not take them

What did their goalkickers kick for the night?

[James]

On the subject of the red card I seriously think that any card red or yellow should be referred to the TMO for a final recommendation. The ref and assist refs only get to see things in real time, a TMO would be able to take a proper look at incidents and give a more informed opinion. I don't think it would take that much more time as the play has been stopped already. Awarding of a card can have more of an impact on a game than the scoring of a try.

I completely agree with that.

Problem is that the IRB have made it expressly clear that a lifting tackle where the player lands on their upper back/neck and/or head = a red card. Warburton will get 2-3 weeks.

[travelling_gerry]

Rory Sidey v Sharks

[Zorba]

France into the final having lost two matches en route - sacre bleu!

Also, was it such a good idea to have a refereee from Ireland (beaten by Wales last week) who also happens to have a French father?!?!?!

Gutsy move by Rolland to send off the Wales Captain when a yellow card would have been a more appropriate option seeing the frog did not appear to suffer more than a headache.

Now that the French are in the finals it looks like the multi lingual ref will get the nod for the big game next week.