Comments on: Best of the Weekend: Leicester and Saracens to meet in the final http://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final Rugby Union opinion and discussion, for the fans, by the fans. Sun, 12 Jul 2015 22:28:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 By: Justinhttp://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24358 Thu, 19 May 2011 09:53:36 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24358 Agree with you jimmy on the need for new refs that have played the game at a decent level, know the tricks, and apply the rules sensibly. I haven’t watched mutch Super rugby but saw Jackson ref one match and he was superb.

]]> By: jimmymc1http://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24332 Wed, 18 May 2011 10:14:02 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24332 the point here seems to be that “losing your rag” will always be part of rugby,given a part of ones make up has to be slightly bonkers to play the game.

and, as long as the players are happy with each other and receive the appropriate punishment (bans for a few games for manu) we shouldnt gripe too much.

There are 2 more worring issues that have come from this:
1) coaches behaviour – bringing our game into disrepute
2) inept officials – consistently bad decisions which incorrectly affect outcomes

as anyone seen glen Jackson (ex sarries) as a touch judge in super rugby? hasnt made a bad decision yet. we need younger ex rugger players who watch and understand the game

rant over

]]> By: Moggyhttp://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24329 Wed, 18 May 2011 09:20:21 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24329 Although I am not a fan of Ashton I do concede that after the needless push he was actually very much the bigger man and didn’t let the whole affair become an all out brawl. The question I ask is after the uninspiring performances of Tindall, Hape and Banahan in the centres for England in the six nations can they afford to leave someone so exciting out for the world cup? But that’s a whole different discussion for a whole other time.

]]> By: Stuarthttp://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24327 Wed, 18 May 2011 08:59:59 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24327 I completely agree that it doesn’t matter who the player is but disagree on some of you other points. Firstly, Manu’s tackle was worse than those on Flood. The ones on Flood would have been legal had he had the ball. Manu’s tackle would have been illegal anyway because he didn’t use his arms so it was bad on 2 counts. Ashton was also on the wrong end of one from Alessana Tuilagi but that’s by the by.

Ashton’s reaction was completely understandable in my book. Probably shouldn’t have done it but Flood’s reaction to Hartley’s late tackle was far worse and nobody’s bothered about that. You appear to not be a big fan of Ashton but as you yourself say, the identity of the player involved should not be an issue.

And personally, I don’t think Tuilagi should be left out because of damage to team morale after what he did to Ashton. They should all be bigger than that. He should be left out until the coaches are convinced that he can handle the pressure of a big game without losing his rag at the slightest provocation. His non-selection would not be a punishment, it would be because he is too much of a risk. It has been suggested that Ashton must have said something offensive to him but given that Tuilagi gave him a hug at the end I think we can rule that out.

And just a final point on that. On Sky, they said Tuilagi showed great sportsmanship shaking Ashton by the hand. What a complete load of nonsense. The sportsmanship was by Ashton, not Tuilagi. Ashton would have been well within his rights to tell him to sod off. But fortunately rugby is better than that.

]]> By: Stuarthttp://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24328 Wed, 18 May 2011 08:59:59 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24328 I completely agree that it doesn’t matter who the player is but disagree on some of you other points. Firstly, Manu’s tackle was worse than those on Flood. The ones on Flood would have been legal had he had the ball. Manu’s tackle would have been illegal anyway because he didn’t use his arms so it was bad on 2 counts. Ashton was also on the wrong end of one from Alessana Tuilagi but that’s by the by.

Ashton’s reaction was completely understandable in my book. Probably shouldn’t have done it but Flood’s reaction to Hartley’s late tackle was far worse and nobody’s bothered about that. You appear to not be a big fan of Ashton but as you yourself say, the identity of the player involved should not be an issue.

And personally, I don’t think Tuilagi should be left out because of damage to team morale after what he did to Ashton. They should all be bigger than that. He should be left out until the coaches are convinced that he can handle the pressure of a big game without losing his rag at the slightest provocation. His non-selection would not be a punishment, it would be because he is too much of a risk. It has been suggested that Ashton must have said something offensive to him but given that Tuilagi gave him a hug at the end I think we can rule that out.

And just a final point on that. On Sky, they said Tuilagi showed great sportsmanship shaking Ashton by the hand. What a complete load of nonsense. The sportsmanship was by Ashton, not Tuilagi. Ashton would have been well within his rights to tell him to sod off. But fortunately rugby is better than that.

]]> By: Moggyhttp://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24326 Wed, 18 May 2011 08:15:28 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24326 The punches were bad. Very bad and he should get some sort of a ban. I just want to say that before I carry on with what will undoubtedly be an unpopular opinion. It is irrelevant who he punched (people seem to be implying because of it being Ashton that his punishment should be worse). I think the fact it was Ashton to me makes perfect sense. Ashton seems to be an abrasive and cocky player (especially when things aren’t going his way). I give you the scuffle with ROG at the end of the six nations Ireland game as a prime example. So the game is going on and Northampton are fairly ruthlessly targeting Toby Flood and hit him with a couple of late tackles and get nothing much but a slap on the wrist as punishment. Leicester are understandably a bit peeved of so Manu hits hard and early on a tackle on Ashton (one of the Northampton talismans) which is no worse than the late tackles on Flood. Ashton being the consummate professional and grown up that he is pushes him in the back of the head. Manu, being still an incredibly young player, retaliates.

I’m not saying it was the right thing to do. I am saying it was understandable. I’d quite like to punch Ashton 3 times in the face and I only watch the games. Manu should not be left out of the England squad because of it. He is young he’ll get more mature as he goes along. Draw a line under it and carry on. As far as I can see from the pictures Manu and Ashton have.

]]> By: jimmymc1http://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24325 Wed, 18 May 2011 07:58:41 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24325 Cockerills behaviour was a la football manager and theres no room in our game for that.

]]> By: Benhttp://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24323 Wed, 18 May 2011 07:26:49 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24323 Andy Manu scoring will be slightly problematic as there’s more chance of Cockerill playing in the match than him! We’ll see how long a ban he gets today!

]]> By: Benhttp://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24324 Wed, 18 May 2011 07:26:49 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24324 Andy Manu scoring will be slightly problematic as there’s more chance of Cockerill playing in the match than him! We’ll see how long a ban he gets today!

]]> By: Andyhttp://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24321 Tue, 17 May 2011 20:11:04 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24321 Manu is a talent, no doubt in that. It really seemed as though he might have a chance of playing for England at the RWC, and rightly so. But throwing three punches like that, with intent, especially at one of England’s best players Ashton is totally unacceptable. It’s difficult though, maybe training in the England camp will iron out his creases as it did with Hartley. I have to say, the antics of Cockerill are the most annoying. I mean, look who Manu has got to luck up to. Sort it out!

For that reason, as a neutral, I hope Sarries win the final. But Manu to score, just so he ends the season on the right note, one he deserves after all his good play.

]]> By: Andyhttp://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24322 Tue, 17 May 2011 20:11:04 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24322 Manu is a talent, no doubt in that. It really seemed as though he might have a chance of playing for England at the RWC, and rightly so. But throwing three punches like that, with intent, especially at one of England’s best players Ashton is totally unacceptable. It’s difficult though, maybe training in the England camp will iron out his creases as it did with Hartley. I have to say, the antics of Cockerill are the most annoying. I mean, look who Manu has got to luck up to. Sort it out!

For that reason, as a neutral, I hope Sarries win the final. But Manu to score, just so he ends the season on the right note, one he deserves after all his good play.

]]> By: Markhttp://www.therugbyblog.com/best-of-the-weekend-leicester-and-saracens-to-meet-in-the-final#comment-24317 Tue, 17 May 2011 13:11:48 +0000 http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/?p=9565#comment-24317 The push came from a high tackle off the ball.

]]>