SIX NATIONS COMPLETE

That's it for another year. Well done Ireland, the best rugby nation by a healthy margin, France - yes, they deserve second spot and Scotland in third was correct.
The teams had a natural split; two great teams, one good team and the rest, although Italy are fast improving while Wales and England are slipping downwards.
I read that many pundits don't agree with Stewart's red carding - well it was an elbow in the Irish lads face. Definite sending off.
It's been a decent few weeks of rugby.

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Mathers · 61-69

The red card was a farce. Anyone could see it was an accidental collision as Stewart was trying to pull out of contact. Anyone who has actually pkayed the game knows that. Of course the ref wanted to make a name for himself so he chose to ruin the game as a contest heedless of the fact that thousands of people had shelled out good money to watch it. This sort of thing is killing rugby as a spectacle and the law makers need to do something about it. The problem is it not only spoiled England’s chances but it took the gloss of Ireland’s victory.

helensusanswift · 31-35, F

@Mathers The English guy rammed his elbow into the Irish lad's head - the Irishman had concussion. Absolutely a red card.
If it had been an Irishman with the red card, I doubt there would be any English punters complaining.

Mathers · 61-69

He didn’t. Look at the replay. He was trying to avoid contact. The Irishman actually ran into him. @helensusanswift

helensusanswift · 31-35, F

@Mathers And the English guy rammed an elbow into his face. Dangerous play; red card; off.
In Rugby, we were taught to respect the referee's decision, even if it went against our team.

Mathers · 61-69

Yes but that is not to say the ref’s decision was right. He ruined the match by his incompetence not being able to distinguish accident from intent. @helensusanswift

helensusanswift · 31-35, F

@Mathers He was correct. The English lad deserved to get sent off. The ref won't alter the laws merely to help England.

Mathers · 61-69

Interesting that every pundit apart from the Irish consider he was wrong@helensusanswift

helensusanswift · 31-35, F

@Mathers Interesting that the English pundits complain about the laws when they go against England and accept them when they are in England's favour. Just more examples of the Anglocentric media coverage.

Mathers · 61-69

Not at all. Both the TV pundits - Scottish and Welsh - said the ref got it wrong. Just about every comment in the media has said that the ref got it wrong@helensusanswift

Mathers · 61-69

And I note the red card has now been rescinded by the reviewing panel@Mathers

helensusanswift · 31-35, F

@Mathers makes rather a mockery of the referee's authority then. Bowing to pressure from the English Rugby Union- that's a bad precedent after a perfectly correct decision by the referee.

helensusanswift · 31-35, F

@Mathers Now that is a farce. Don't agree with the referee? Whine about it. Rugby is getting as bad as football for wimpy behaviour.

Mathers · 61-69

Funny that the reviewing panel did not agree with the decision@helensusanswift

helensusanswift · 31-35, F

@Mathers Yes- who put pressure on them? The spirit of the game was (I use the past tense) to accept the referee's decision without question. That's evidently gone now, and it's about who can whine the most. England are ahead in the whining stakes, it seems. It's a pity, because I used to enjoy the genuine sportsmanship.

Mathers · 61-69

No one put pressure on the review panel. That’s what they’re there for. I assume you would say the same if it was a Scotsman sent off?@helensusanswift

helensusanswift · 31-35, F

@Mathers Indeed - the sport of Rugby is the loser here. The sport is above any national interest - usually, Evidently the English Rugby Union doesn't see it that way.

Mathers · 61-69

It wasn’t the English RU that made the decision. Rugby was the loser when the ref sent him off@helensusanswift

helensusanswift · 31-35, F

@Mathers No - they made the complaint when the ref obeyed the laws. Their whining has devalued the entire sport.

Mathers · 61-69

The review board always reviews red cards . It is independent. @helensusanswift

helensusanswift · 31-35, F

@Mathers And responded to the host of complaints about the poor Englishman who gave the Irishman concussion.