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'I'm a grown ass man' - Fans question why Billy Vunipola wasn't sent off for dissenting spray at Wayne Barnes
Exeter took revenge on arch-rivals Saracens in their first meeting since the salary-cap scandal broke but their 14-7 Gallagher Premiership victory was marred by a late red card for Harry Williams as tempers flared at Sandy Park.
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In an intense defensive battle, the match reached boiling point in the 77th minute when a ferocious brawl broke out on the sideline which saw prop Harry Williams red-carded for joining the scuffle from the bench.
Whilst trying to settle the situation, Saracens’ Number 8 Billy Vunipola had to be dragged away by teammates from referee Wayne Barnes, who issued multiple ‘last chance’ warnings to the England international for backchat.
Vunipola was lucky to not be given his marching orders by the experienced Barnes, with many online viewing his behaviour as deserving of a yellow card.
https://twitter.com/alexhBS3/status/1211330576965349384
Billy Vunipola just said "I'm a grown ass man" to Barnsey. ? being a right twat @bloodandmud
— Phil Roberts (@Philsfirefood) December 29, 2019
https://twitter.com/Jbeardmore/status/1211328419423756288
https://twitter.com/brendanhurley/status/1211328162178764800
https://twitter.com/_Joey_Harvey_/status/1211332638784528386
Barnes should have just sent Billy Vunipola off. He did not walk away on his own volition.
This season has seen a real lack of respect for refs begin to creep in…
— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) December 29, 2019
Billy Vunipola throwing his toys out the pram
— Former Half-Wits Champ (@nigelchivers) December 29, 2019
https://twitter.com/threeredkings/status/1211328600831647745
Vunipola’s display of defiance marred what was an impressive performance for the Saracens’ forward who carried hard and made a truckload of tackles.
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For Exeter, the win avenged a Premiership final defeat last year and furthered their cause this season to claim a title after losing three finals in four years to Saracens. Two of those three defeats were deemed to be made when Saracens were not compliant with the salary cap.
Despite being docked 35 competition points, Saracens have still been one of the best sides in the Premiership with five wins from their opening six matches. Before Sunday’s match, they held a better record than table-toppers Exeter but now both sides are 5-2 despite being at opposite ends of the ladder.
Inside the Barbarians – trailer:
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar 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.
9 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.
35 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
35 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
35 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.
35 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.
35 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.
35 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 commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments