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Eye gouging and stomping - La Rochelle's dirty tactics a throwback to rugby's amateur days
La Rochelle spent the majority of their Champions Cup match against Sale with 14-men after hooker Pierre Bourgarit was red-carded on the stroke of halftime for eye-gouging.
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The hooker was spotted grabbing at England flanker Tom Curry’s eyes during a scuffle between the two sides. The TMO reviewed the incident and deemed a red card necessary for the offence.
The visitors were down to 13-men for a further 20-minutes as they were hit with two more yellow cards that could have been more as the French club lost control of their discipline in a wild encounter at AJ Bell Stadium.
With five minutes remaining, centre Geoffrey Doumayrou was seen stomping on an opposition arm at a ruck, pushing his boot into the wrist of a player competing for the ball.
Doumayrou should have seen red for deliberately standing on Webber's hand. Webber should have been binned for refusing to let ball go. But zero action on both is poor refereeing #SALvLAR
— Matt Cassidy (@Cass_maitias) November 24, 2019
— Russ Petty (@rpetty80) November 24, 2019
I guess you can still stamp on people's arms these days and not get a card. Bonkers. #SALvLAR
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) November 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/baileysoverice/status/1198615335391416321
How did La Rochelle's '13' get away with not 1 but 3 clear stamps on the hand of the Sale player? Not surprised when he answered the touch judge back with 'You saw it, do sommat about it then'. They were lucky it was just a penalty reversal!#SALvLAR #HeinekenChampionsCup
— JB (@jrb1103) November 24, 2019
Doumayrou was called over by the refeeree for a talking to after the incident was reviewed by the TMO but no further cards were issued for the act. The French centre was visibly upset at even the penalty, arguing with the referee over the decision.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5RW2HRgkzr/
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La Rochelle’s horrific discipline played an influential part in the match, losing the penalty count by 17-8. They were also outgunned in turnovers, with a Curry-powered Sale winning the turnover battle 10-1.
It was surprising that Sale did not finish with more points given the advantages that La Rochelle gave them, however, the home side missed a couple of penalties and had a length of the field try rubbed out for a forward pass.
https://twitter.com/TNODonoghue/status/1198615731803492358
Sale win but that was a BP butchered. La Rochelle were down to 13 men for 2 periods in that match and the Sharks failed to score a point. Missing out on that point could be crucial. La Rochelle are down for this year's tournament it seems #SALvLAR
— Matt Cassidy (@Cass_maitias) November 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/KevBeirne/status/1198617018813046785
The result effectively puts La Rochelle out of contention following a 31-12 home defeat by Exeter but sets up the Sharks for their home tie against the unbeaten Chiefs in a fortnight’s time.
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The Season with Hamilton Boys High School 1st XV – Episode 3:
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments