Reds v Highlanders

[Stargazer]

Nil all after 15 minutes. Not the best of games thus far. Reds have had a few more chances, but managed to butcher them all by themselves.

[Stargazer]

Mikaele-Tu'u seems a lot bigger than last year.

[Nepia]

Awful pass from Sopoaga, blew a try.

[Stargazer]

Lentjes off for a HIA.

[Stargazer]

Bugger.

[ShadowTrooper]

WTF has happened to the Landers in recent weeks? Their scrum and set piece have turned to mush

[Stargazer]

@shadowtrooper Not sure. Too many changes in the line-up?

[Tordah]

Rashivenge is such a shit ref, same as he was in Sevens.

[Siam]

You get sinbinned for an intentional knock on 45 metres out but Higgenfuckwit takes out a half back 1 metre out and penalty only?
Fuck off

[Tordah]

5 penalties in the red zone and not even a talking to. Rasta can fuck right off back to sevens. Or under-7s

[Smuts]

@siam but that penalty is nonsense. Highlanders had under resourced the ruck - in any fair world it is play on Reds ball.

[Tordah]

Buckman that was shit

[Damo]

Naholo has been very average tonight.

[Siam]

@smuts What? Taking out the halfback?

That's a penalty all day

[Stargazer]

Take the points!

[Stargazer]

I can't help thinking that the Landers are not as good as last year. That's a bit unexpected, as last year they had an awful lot of injuries and this year they have not.

[Tordah]

Well, I saw today why DLB was not on the AB's radar. Many, many missed tackles and getting partially dominated by a fat kid that looks barely out of puberty

[Siam]

@stargazer

Yeah last year they coped remarkably well with many injuries, a bit like the Chiefs this year, but the game plan demands high accuracy on attack which was lacking tonight.

Certainly a few creaks and leaks there now

But

With key players rested I'll fucken take that win!

Reds kicking the ball away with 5 to go was flabbergasting.

We're playing ugly but a win away and a break.

Should have scored a try in the last 15 or so

Smith was class. Made the win happen

Ref is an example of how inconsistent law interpretations between refs is frustrating. Many base of the ruck turnovers were just players coming in from and up the side according to most interpretations

Reds blew it really, and that's always funny

[pukunui]

Is that 42:1?

[Smuts]

@siam you’re right most refs would call it. But they’d be wrong. Genuine question: which rule applies?

Those reds were attempting to win the ruck, Smith is the only Highlander on his feet over the ball - why can’t they play him?