Hypothetically speaking, I wonder how he'd cope with an Old Firm game. Jet pack from the centre circle as soon as the game kicks off?

Oh what a surprise, World Rugby come out and say it shouldn't have been a penalty. Lets give him the biggest benefit of the doubt possible and not say he's a cheating **** (even though it's what I believe) and just call him an incompetent barsteward.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/34576756

I was thinking the same.

Rugby fans aren't known for generating a hostile atmosphere.

Absolute nonsense, Scotland competed superbly in the scrum with several of our players getting far the better of their opposition numbers. Australia simply didn't expect it and like it up them, one of the reasons it was such a compelling contest.

I was just thinking that reviewing every decision would be far too tedious (other than the current rule of getting foul play and scoring plays right). it just seems dumb that a high leverage decision like that one cannot be reviewed, whilst trying to maintain some balance and game flow.

I could never have believed that there would be any fall out from this game beforehand as I thought we would be soundly beaten. We were seconds away from one of THE greatest Scottish sporting performances of all time, certainly in a team setting. We all would have been dreaming of a World Cup Final for a week with a legitimate opportunity against a very good (their best ever) Argentina team but not one that would be unbeatable. Snatched away from us by a mixture of incompetence of our own making with a disastrous line out (jeez how long will our pack regret that for?) and of a referee who was simply too desperate to get the 'big' team through. Its a heartbreaking defeat and realistically a once in a career opportunity for these players. The improvement is little consolation as the annual 6 Nations pales into all significance in comparison to a World Cup Semi Final (not achieved since 1991) and possible first ever Final.

On reflection I say incompetent with regards Joubert in that respect as I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt as to what he saw and therefore interpreted from the line out. That he was wrong is a true rugby disaster for us. However where there can be no doubt we have been blatantly cheated is the Hogg incident which should now be under far greater scrutiny. It is impossible for this to have been missed by him and his touch judges and especially the TMO. Impossible. Even watching on TV you can audibly here the crowds reaction. In the other quarter final yesterday the exact same thing happens and the Irish player is penalized and that in a game where the result was already certain. It is so obviously a penalty, one which we receive where his kick lands. We then kick deep into the Australia half and even if we make a complete arse of the line out Oz would still need to go 40-50 metres at least to get anywhere near a scoring position. In every likelihood game over. That decision is indefensible and is nothing short of a disgrace.

With refs getting so much respect from rugby players, it's events like this that kind of gets you thinking about it. On the stupid yellow that he gave, Laidlaw was like WTF but then just got on with the game. If he could argue his case and get the replay played in real time or even go up to the ref and say look can you please check and confirm with the TMO. The respect would still be there but at least it'd be clear.

Yeh, i think they've had to come out and say that, there have been just far too many **** ups this world cup.

With all the corruption that's going on in FIFA they're probably trying to stay out the lime light after all their stupid bans for the non elite teams which they quickly changed that due to big names coming out and saying it's one rule for the smaller nations and another for the bigger ones.

Lol at some of your interpretation of the scrum. Just lol. After watching England and Wales get beasted by well timed and coordinated 8 man shoves Scotland figured out that they needed to play silly buggers.

Fair play to them for pulling it off, and after australia trying the same trick for 20 years it's karma for them, but just lol.

Australia were the strongest pack, and should have been given the benifit when going forward at most scrums.

Can't believe they came out to say that the ref was wrong. I mean, that is so bad of them to do that. He had to make a snap, on the spot decision, a decision that absolutely noone watching the game had a problem with when watching in real time, because it looked like a knock on into offside. No need to come back after the game and say he got it wrong, that achieves nothing

What??? The ref was wrong, why would they hide that? It achieves at least a level of transparency for that one incident even though that is of little comfort or consolation to the team who are now out of the World Cup.

Many many people had an immediate problem with it. Many many people knew it was the incorrect call and that it should have been a scrum for Australia and not a penalty to Australia gifting them the match.

Joubert is not the only one to blame. The TMO could easily have assisted him in that vital moment as he could have done seconds before all this by pointing out the blatant infringement against Hogg.

As is our way we contributed to our own downfall at a critical juncture but the reality is we have been cheated out of a WC Semi-Final against Argentina.

Because refs get judgement calls wrong all the time in every game when it comes to rucks and scrums. That was 1 of the least incorrect calls a ref can make. Just because it happened at the end of a close game shouldn't change anything. The penalty has the same worth in the opening minute

They do get judgement calls wrong of course, simply human error. Where you are wrong and what you seem unable or unprepared to grasp is that this is not "every game", it is a World Cup 1/4 in front of a huge crowd and bigger TV audience, a centre piece for world rugby. It is the last minute of an epic match with the game on the line. The resulting "judgment call", a call that is blatantly wrong impacts everything for both sides. It is beyond ridiculous to claim that that it "shouldn't change anything" in such a high profile match at such a critical moment (especially when it is covered by cameras recording from every conceivable angle that could have assisted him).

Regardless of the line out 'incident' he and his cohorts cheated us out of a totally blatant and obvious penalty for a late charge on Hogg just moments before.

Aight, let's start a petition to take every close decision to the TMO in games that are a quarter final or above then.
And if the ref's not sure what constitutes "close" take it to the TMO, too.

Hendricks, you are being ridiculous about the challenge on Hogg. That goes unpunished the vast majority of the time. Even the super slow motion you posted doesn't make it look penalty...

4am start time tomorrow....ABs better win this. Kind of annoying that they aren't playing the matches later, at least like 7pm UK time when ABs were forced to play the final in 2011 at 9pm to suit the UK but bah at least we have a reason to watch I guess.

Just seems like destiny that Aus and NZ will meet for a third world cup final this year. Not 100 per cent on it but I'd pick that final.

Prediction:

We lose at least 3 players to injury for the final

Insane brutal game coming up, waking up at 4am and will love it

Go the ABs!!!!!

That's my hope lol. Who ever wins out of sa and ABs is so trashed they lose to Aus. Extra day of recovery could be crucial.

Doubt they'll lose to the argies.

I'm backing the Boks, obviously. Got a friendly wager going on with one of my kiwi colleagues. Also speculated that the match will turn into a kick fest. 15-12 because Pollard > Carter. (Just like Stransky > Mehrtens back in the day)

If the Boks attempt to out-try the ABs they're more likely to lose. Good thing that rain has been predicted, should make defending easier, or at least a running game less potent.
Major down side from Boks' perspective is that the ABs defense is strongest where we like to move the ball - straight down the middle, ramming style. And while we do have good players out wide, our traditional style doesn't make as much use of them as we'd need versus the ABs.

Meh, time to unsubsrcibe from this thread. The butthurt from last weekend is still too much

Damn Boks looking great early

You little beauty Jerome!!!

Lol Habana, Carters boot is ON!

Dont tell me the refs have decided to be overly officious to keep SA in the game

Sickening

Just tuned in, and I got to say, as much as FIFA is the literal devil of everything ever, I prefer their shirt colour rules over those of whoever the governing body of Rugby Union is.

Anyways...

SUBDUE AND PENETRATE!!!

what's wrong with the shirt colours?

They are both dark. Wouldn't happen at FIFA sanctioned tournaments. (Jesus, I sound like I like those ****s)