Leicester vs Scarlets - Friday 16th Jan, 19:45

First topic message reminder :

Leicester Tigers (v Scarlets, Welford Road, Friday 7.45pm)
15 Mathew Tait
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Seremaia Bai
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs (c)
1 Michele Rizzo
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Brad Thorn
5 Geoff Parling
6 Tom Croft
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 Tom Youngs
17 Marcos Ayerza
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Robert Barbieri
21 Sam Harrison
22 Owen Williams
23 Matt Smith

Scarlets: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Regan King, 1 2 Scott Williams (c), 11 Hadleigh Parkes, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Aled Davies; 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 4 Jake Ball, 5 George Earle, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 John Barclay, 8 Rob McCusker
Replacements: 16 Darran Harris, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Peter Edwards, 19 Lewis Rawlins, 20 James Davies, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Rory Pitman

I thought the Ref was pretty lax at the ruck. Didn't require tacklers to release before competing, offsides, going for the ball after the ruck has formed, etc. but it was pretty even for each side I thought. Tigers were just more blatant in the first half.

As per the thread gets degenerated by English moaning about the ref and supposed play-acting; some things will never change.

We all know for a fact that if a Welsh player made that swinging arm this forum would be absolutely littered with posts calling for his head. Just imagine if Liam Williams or Mike Phillips did it, these English wouldn't be satisfied even if they were castrated as punishment. I seem to remember Parrisse play acting when a welsh player half his size apparently took him out in the air. It was the correct decision back then, conveniently... No mention at all of the play acting .

Get a grip Saint.

There's no reaction to the swinging arm as currently there's no footage available to the public only an accusation. There was, however, several angles of Shingler going down like he'd been shot under a tackle which only hit the ball. Not a great deal of contact on the ball either.

formerly known as Sam wrote:There's no reaction to the swinging arm as currently there's no footage available to the public only an accusation. There was, however, several angles of Shingler going down like he'd been shot under a tackle which only hit the ball. Not a great deal of contact on the ball either.

Does anyone have an idea when the Munipola and Shingler incidents happened? I was in and out whilst the match was on and didn't see either one (or didn't think anything of them). Would like to take a look.

Logovi'i Mulipola will probably get cited for his stamp as well.

John Barclay has apparently a burst ear drum from the other incident. Hopefully the guilty player will also get a citing.

Depends how he burst the ear drum. If it's from a forearm or punch to the head then there should definitely be a ban. Stamp I doubt will get looked at otherwise I think a couple of Scarlets players will be nervous as they were very shoey and not always near the ball. That's what happens when the ref let's players flop over the ball though.

The Shingler assassination came after he made a break midway through the second half just outside the Tigers 22.

The Mulipola/Barclay incident was around 55 minutes. Barclay was on the ground and it looked to me as though LM hit him twice. First on the side of the head and then swung his arm into Barclay's throat.

As someone at the ground I can honestly say I was completely unaware of any incident between Logo and Barclay. Certainly there was nothing on big screen and nothing from ref.

With the Steve Shingle tumble - it was funny more than anything and was right in front of me.

Pointless anyone moaning about the ref. Scarlets were very good at slowing down the ball but in a way the ref was happy with. We however comitted the same offence 5 times in a row. We were warned twice but did not learn. Serious lack of brains by our forwards.

Scarlets took good advantage of the man extra to bring it back to 14-11 and we were on the rack. They could/should have taken the lead but completely butchered two separate 5m lineouts.

Now some questions:

Do Scarlets fans often sing "Flower of Scotland"?
What role does the blonde female coach have? She was in charge of the replacements as they warmed up just in front of me, looks like she may play as well.
For the second week in a row just a metre or so from the opposition line a BY pass has bulleted to Logo with no chance of being caught. To me both, but certainly yesterdays, looked as though the pass was intended for a wider man. Dit it look that way on TV or was it just a horrific pass?


Finally I really hope that the players and coaches look at the Scarlets running lines. In attack our backs still tend to run diagonally making it easier for a drift defence to cover. For both Robinson's tries Scarlets ran straight - committing defenders and moved the ball slickly.

The Great Aukster wrote:The Mulipola/Barclay incident was around 55 minutes. Barclay was on the ground and it looked to me as though LM hit him twice. First on the side of the head and then swung his arm into Barclay's throat.

Just had a chance to review the incident with Mulipola and Barclay.  Happens at approximately 54:45.  

As I saw it:
1. A Leicester player gets tackled from behind by Barclay who ended on the ground behind the ball carrier
2. Barclay starts to get up to his feet and was bent forwards trying to play the ball as soon as he was fully on his feet (as he is entitled to do)
3. To clear out Barclay, Mulipola appears to grab Barclay from slightly to the right of straight behind (Is that positioning legal?)
4. Mulipola's right arm swings but I cannot see if he hit him in the face or was part of the attempt to grab and wrestle Barclay off the ball
5. Ends up with Mulipola almost straight behind Barclay with both arms wrapped around Barclay's neck in a bear hug.  
6. He proceeds to wrestle Barclay to the ground with that seeming bear hug/choke hold around the neck.

After the incident play continues.  At the next stoppage, there is an attempt to review the recent sequence with the TMO.  I do not know if this was initiated by the referee, assistant referee, or the TMO, nor do I know if this was the incident being reviewed, though I suspect it is.  Either way, the replay did not work and the referee did not want to dither with a non-functional replay and he called play on.  Mulipola was pulled off and replaced at this stoppage.

To me, wrestling someone to the ground with arms around the neck is against the laws and should be penalised.  Probably Yellow, possible Red.  I think we have seen other players receive Red for less.

Conclusions:  
To me, this was against the laws and should have been penalised
Until or unless other information comes to light, after reviewing play in the same sequence of play, I believe this was the incident being reviewed
The lack of a functional replay prevented the review
A later citing should be considered, at least the incident should be reviewed further

https://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Frugby.delfan.co.uk%2Frugby%2F2014-2015%2FEPC%2FRound5%2FLeicester_v_Scarlets%2FMulipolaHitOnBarclaySlow.gif&h=MAQELngja&enc=AZOoTayigGe3TAVHA8XPbQWdstjy9vTlO3kJYf4cEvpaEeXwJWaqKjudXH2ns3cTnPM&s=1

Hope that link works. Shamelessly nicked from 606 Facebook.

Barclay is offside by a country mile. Tackler or not the ruck has beaten him to the ball. He's then smashed by Mulipola who hits him side on. Right arm makes contact with the head in a grappling challenge. Not unusual for for a ruck clear out these days but it is dangerous. Never seen a ref ping a clear out like that previously though I think they should as too many clear outs are around the neck/head. It's not a swinging arm as the Scarlets management claim it is a clumsy and dangerous tackle.

Yellow card very low end punishment. As he's a PI international and the Scarlets have kicked off expect a large ban though.

For me there is a bit of a swinging arm, but it hits him around the top of the shoulders. Not sure what he's doing near the back of the ruck on our side mind you.

A bit of a swinging arm. Blinking heck mun

Silly one-eyed Leicester fans. Couldn't be more of a swinging arm if Mulipola tried.

Well it could. He could have not wrapped around. Bad timing by the prop there, walking across the camera shot.

Edit: got a bit of the Botha incident with the Lions in 2009. Illegal, dangerous play, that happens all the time and usually not penalised.

nathan wrote:

For me there is a bit of a swinging arm, but it hits him around the top of the shoulders. Not sure what he's doing near the back of the ruck on our side mind you.

He hits him on the sid of the head. Is that what you mean by "around the top of the shoulders"....?

In the laws of rugby it doesn't matter where you are. Illegal violence is still just that. There is no excuse.

That's a red card offense if i ever saw one.

Would like to get a replay of his stamp too.

If that's a red card no question then you're going see a lot of cards at the breakdown in every game. Barclay is bent over the ball and Mulipola does wrap both arms. If you're aiming for a cheap swinging arm you don't bother that much with the rest of the tackle. Anyway as I said it was dangerous.

Typical welsh fans!

Welly wrote:Typical welsh fans!

Please explain...!

No need to!!!!!!!

 

Welly wrote:No need to!!!!!!!

 

Yes there is...!

maestegmafia wrote:

Welly wrote:No need to!!!!!!!

 

Yes there is...!

I would prefer to consider what you meant us that it is the good natured Welsh fans who stand up against unnecessary violence on the pitch, rather than just think you are a xenophobic Little p r I c k..

Go on Maes, let it all flow free. Your complete Hatred of all things english. Your thinly masks posts are seen straight through by 99% of folks on here

maestegmafia wrote:

nathan wrote:

For me there is a bit of a swinging arm, but it hits him around the top of the shoulders. Not sure what he's doing near the back of the ruck on our side mind you.

He hits him on the sid of the head. Is that what you mean by "around the top of the shoulders"....?

In the laws of rugby it doesn't matter where you are. Illegal violence is still just that. There is no excuse.

And who was providing an excuse?

That clip looks bad. But it is too short to tell the whole story. I need to see where Mulipola arrives from. If he runs in and attempts to clear a man out - then it looks clumsy and usually would be only penalised. If he is stood still and then swings the arm, well then it is foul play and deserves a sanction.

I would rather see the whole picture before either condemning or excusing the player.

Sadly some fans, of all clubs, are often too quick to excuse their guys, while some posters delight in slagging off players and teams not their own.

It isn't clumsy. If he wanted to clear him out, he can clear out in a normal manner, particularly if he ran in.

There's no real need for anybody to generalise or use banned words on this thread. Most people who are saying it's foul play are at least neutral.

Risca Rev wrote:It isn't clumsy. If he wanted to clear him out, he can clear out in a normal manner, particularly if he ran in.

There's no real need for anybody to generalise or use banned words on this thread. Most people who are saying it's foul play are at least neutral.

I agree, like with Andrew Hores attack on Brad Davies. There was no need to do that. It is just unnecesary and therefor inexcusable when it happens.

Well the "normal" manner is almost a flying headbutt.

Purely based on that clip it looks bad, and illegal, and deserving of a sanction. I still state that clip is of insufficient length for me it to be definitive however.

The citing officer will have looked at it, and by 22:00 tonight we will know his decision. If he is cited and banned he will have deserved it. If not well it obviously was not as bad is it appears in that 2 second clip. If a hearing and ban is held this week, Tigers will struggle to put out a full bench next week - which will be interesting.

As Pivac said, it was a cheap shot, nothing less and should be deal with accordingly.

VinceWLB wrote:As Pivac said, it was a cheap shot, nothing less and should be deal with accordingly.

If the citing officer decides not too will you accept his decision or scream foul?

It would mean they have closed their eyes as the evidences are right there. They know what they were doing when they said replay wasn't available during the game.

I'm pretty sure he wont get away with it, hopefully.

I think that's the second option then LT.

I can see why some Welsh/Scarlets supporters would be frustrated with this, especially when Liam Williams usually gets a good lambasting from all corners for something like technical offences. I'd like to see this cited for consistency purposes, and because it was dangerous, not because Mulipola is a Tiger. Some fans on here should open their bloody eyes when something this blatant is smacking them across the face, kind of like Barclay got smacked across the face.

The Saint wrote:I can see why some Welsh/Scarlets supporters would be frustrated with this, especially when Liam Williams usually gets a good lambasting from all corners for something like technical offences. I'd like to see this cited for consistency purposes, and because it was dangerous, not because Mulipola is a Tiger. Some fans on here should open their bloody eyes when something this blatant is smacking them across the face, kind of like Barclay got smacked across the face.

Mate, your the first person in line who should be taking your own advice. Also please stop with this whole "we Welsh ar hard done by", it's pathetic and getting pretty boring now.

Wondered how long it would be until Liam Williams was mentioned. It's the 606 version of Godwin's.

Fuzzy Dunlop wrote:Wondered how long it would be until Liam Williams was mentioned. It's the 606 version of Godwin's.

He's just one of the most recent examples. To be honest you can insert the name of any Welsh player and it wouldn't make a difference.

Citing commissioner: John Cole (Ireland)

The Saint wrote:

Fuzzy Dunlop wrote:Wondered how long it would be until Liam Williams was mentioned. It's the 606 version of Godwin's.

He's just one of the most recent examples. To be honest you can insert the name of any Welsh player and it wouldn't make a difference.

How's that tin foil hat working for you?