Dingbatt:

 

I’m glad Nigel Owens was the ref, but I’m not sure what was going on with the yellow card. Todd was clearly behind the goal line until the ball was picked up, he stopped the attacker’s progress and ended up on the ground facing away from the tackled player wedged against the goalpost. At the time the attacker had himself turned away from the goal line to present the ball for the next phase. Perhaps Owens had just got fed up with repeated infringements in the red zone, so Todd copped it. I had to smile when the Irish rushed the conversion. I wasn’t sure if it was to get on with the game or to solidify the try. Either way, my understanding is a penalty try doesn’t need to be converted.

 

Its hard to single out any particular player for the ABs, they all played their part, but I think Read had his best game in a long time.

 

I found it confusing that Todd got a card for breaking no rule whatsoever yet the first half Irish high neck-roll which was penalised as a head-high was apparently fine? I'm unsure how that could have been any less than a red.

Reid had a stormer. On the front foot, no more dropsies and led from the front. 

https://twitter.com/DanSloan/status/1185781144798650369

Todd now out for next week's game with a shoulder injury. 

A good and comprehensive summary of the two games, and the NZ vs ENG clash

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/116731068/all-blacks-v-england-rugby-world-cup-semifinal-pits-sides-at-peak-of-powers

Michael Cheika has resigned.

well i was happy to be proven wrong then came the idiot who deserved the red card.

Great game. Wales incredibly lucky, France played really well but then a moment of madness.

Gatland kind of said it all in the aftermatch interview when his opening comment was that the best team lost.

But for an impulsive (and really dumb) act by the French lock, the Welsh were not in the game. Still it’s not as if the red card was even contentious. A true act of foul play. I wonder if it would have been picked up if the host broadcaster hadn’t replayed it (possibly the TMO asked for it).

Settling down to watch Japan vs SA. While I hope the “Brave Blossoms” can pull off a miracle, I think they are going to get bullied off the park.

all good games to watch, finally

referees, not so much. a lot of lazy ruck infringements not punished

Lovely to watch our game without tension!

Wonder if anyone is speaking to the French idiot? Single-handed he got them sent home. Funnily, before the 'incident', I asked my wife what happened to the French eye gouging and biting? My question was answered.

I couldn't or wouldn't have dare dreamed of such a scoreline against Ireland. As Handle said, if we front up like that two more times, I expect us to be very good odds to lift for a third time.

Steve Hansens call to drop Franks was a good one, I watched Franks in Semi for Canterbury, he's hardly moving. Compare that to the carrying of the forwards in the QF it was chalk and cheese.

SA did what I expected, the only thing was that Japan held on for 40 minutes. SA were brutal those last 40, it's a bit of a worry lol. I am a bit worried about our lineout and scrum as well. They have a lot of threats across the park and de Clerk's kicking was much better than it was against us in the opening game. 

It's hard to judge England entirely based on thier game against Australia because they just didn't really seriously look like a threat much at all. I am surprised the scoreline wasn't higher.

I feel the hate towards Chieka is absoloutely foul and ridicoulous. The guy had one of the hardest in rugby given he got next to no support until ultimately it was really too late. His relationship with I think it's a pretty decent coach, but a horrible selector and the structures put in place to help him were a year too late. I think he gave everything he had. He looked as broken as anyone I've seen in recent times. He was right to ask for compassion, and right to resign. Dave Rennie is heir apparent, but I wonder about Jamie Joseph being a possibility if he misses out on the AB's job. I couldn't see him being that happy as an assistant coach for the AB's either.

That lock almost certainly cost France the QF, they looked excellent until then.  They did try afterward but the numerical advantage was just too much in the end. Wales looked totally bereft ideas almost the entire game. Kicking away possession like that seemed so odd. Territory is important, but wow, they took it to a new level of obsession. For my money the strip that led to the Welsh try definitely went forward. 

Thankfully, the Semis are at a decent time, I haven't had much sleep! My wife is a very understanding woman!