Rugby World Cup 2015

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At the end of what has been a great year for rugby union, with the eighth Rugby World Cup, probably the best one yet, having been held in England and raising the profile of the sport around the world, the 134th annual Varsity Match between Oxford University and Cambridge University took place yesterday at Twickenham in London and shown live on BBC Two.

This match has been held every year since 1872 with the exception of the two World Wars and has been held at Twickenham, the home of the sport and the biggest dedicated rugby ground in the world, with a capacity of 82,000, since 1921.

Prior to yesterday, Cambridge led Oxord 61-58 in terms of wins, but yesterday Oxford were hoping to achieve a record sixth Varsity Match victory in a row.

Like the annual University Boat Race, Oxford are the dark blues and Cambridge are the light blues.

Here's the whole match:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFbkOrNML4g

 

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Rugby referee Wayne Barnes shoved by player

Clermont flanker Viktor Kolelishvili could be investigated by rugby authorities after pushing referee Wayne Barnes during Friday’s European Rugby Champions Cup game between Welsh club Ospreys and French club Clermont.

Referee Wayne Barnes was pushed by Clermont Auvergne's Viktor Kolelishvili during a game on Friday night. Photo: Rex Features

The incident occurred in the first-half of his Clermont side’s defeat at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea as Kolelishvili grew frustrated with Barnes’ positioning.

The Georgian then shoved the English official as Ospreys prepared to launch another attack, leading to cries of derision from the crowd.

Kolelishvili may find himself in further trouble with the authorities over the incident

Barnes immediately brought play to a halt but decided against showing Kolelishvili either a yellow or red card, instead only awarding a penalty against him, which was then converted by Dan Biggar.

Barnes later sent Kolelishvili to the sin-bin

Barnes, who refereed the World Cup semi-final between Australia and Argentina last year, also told Kolelishvili: “If I’m standing in your way please just ask me to move.”

The pair then shook hands.

Barnes famously sent-off Dylan Hartley (right) during the 2013 Aviva Premiership Final.

But that may not be enough to save Kolelishvili if he is cited for the incident – although many have praised Barnes for not taking a stricter view of the shove.

“What a nuts thing to do! Fair play to Wayne Barnes for not over-reacting,” tweeted Irish legend Brian O’Driscoll.

Rugby referee Wayne Barnes shoved by player - Telegraph

 

[Ludlow]

NFL playoffs this weekend I'll never understand how anyone can sit through a rugby match without a sleeping pill and a nice soft couch.

 

[Blackleaf]

NFL playoffs this weekend I'll never understand how anyone can sit through a rugby match without a sleeping pill and a nice soft couch.

An NFL fan (a sport whose main event is more renowned for its TV commercials for piles every forty seconds) complaining about rugby being boring. That's like a German saying that the British don't have a sense of humour.

 

[coldstream]

At least Rugby offers a continuity of play.

In the the NFL you get about 10 seconds of actions every 2 minutes... filled with replays of the most mundane activity.. and of course leaving lots of time for commercials. In Rugby everyone gets to play.. er.. touch the ball, attempt to score.. in the NFL only the designated few can aspire to such glory.. everyone esle works in the trenches The NFL is the ulimate commercial sport, packaged for advertising and television.. and maximizing revenue.

And really at best, about one in 4 or 5 NFL games are NOT blowouts or numbingly tedious. But to each his own.

 

[Blackleaf]

Old Mutual Wealth Cup

England 27-13 Wales

England: Tries: Burrell, Watson, Youngs, Clifford, Yarde Con: Ford
Wales: Try: Evans Con: Biggar Pens: Biggar 2

England: Brown, Watson, Joseph, Burrell, Yarde, Ford, Youngs, Mullan, Hartley, Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Harrison, Haskell, Clifford.

Replacements: Daly for Joseph (65), Devoto for Ford (75), Care for Youngs (55), Genge for Mullan (65), Taylor for Hartley (76), Hill for Cole (68 ), Attwood for Lawes (62), Kvesic for Haskell (62).

Scorers: Tries: Burrell, Watson, Youngs, Clifford, Yarde; Conv: Ford

Wales: L. Williams, North, S. Williams, Roberts, Amos, Biggar, Webb, Evans, Baldwin, Lee, Ball, A. Jones, Moriarty, Lydiate, Faletau.

Replacements: Anscombe for S. Williams (55), Priestland for Biggar (55), L. Williams for Webb (65), Jenkins for Evans (55), Dacey for Baldwin (55), R. Jones for Lee (62), Turnbull for A. Jones (57), King for Lydiate (23).

Scorers: Try: Evans; Conv: Biggar; Pens: Biggar (2)

At Twickenham

Attendance: 81,128

Referee: Marius Mitrea

England and captain Dylan Hartley celebrate with the Old Mutual Wealth Cup after victory over Wales

The win was the perfect preparation for England ahead of their three-Test summer tour to Australia

Six Nations champions England have beaten Wales to lift the inaugural Old Mutual Wealth Cup, despite not playing their full-strength side.

As a result, England will go on their summer tour of Australia next month convinced they are heading in the right direction, whereas Wales will go to New Zealand with a sense of foreboding.

Wales led at the break but they were outplayed for 50-60 minutes, despite having most of their leading lights on duty. Losing Dan Lydiate to injury is a hammer blow, but there was plenty more to concern Gatland, such as being seen off in the set-piece and at the breakdown, and seeing the fabled Welsh defence unravel all too often.

England depart on Tuesday for Brisbane. They will fly in hope, given that they were without a dozen key players on Sunday and still won with room to spare.

If Ford had been in prime kicking form, this would have been a rout. In fact, the one major concern for Jones will be what to do with the crucial 10-12 combination for the series opener against the Wallabies on June 11.

ENGLAND TOUR OF AUSTRALIA

June 11: First Test - Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium) 11am BST
June 18: Second Test - Melbourne (AAMI Park) 11am BST
June 25: Third Test - Sydney (Allianz Stadium) 11am BST

Luther Burrell scored England's first try at Twickenham after they had fallen behind to Wales early on

Centre Burrell staked his claim for a place on the tour to Australia with a superb finish in the first-half

Lock Joe Launchbury produced an impressive display in the England pack to be named man of the match ​

Bath winger Anthony Watson on his way to the line for England's second try in the sunshine at Twickenham

Watson escaped the clutches of George North to produce a superb finish and score England's second try

In the second-half Ben Youngs added England's third try as the home side started to get on top of Wales

Youngs dives past the covering Rhys Webb - his opposite number - to put England in control of the game

England celebrate Youngs' effort as they stamped their authority on the game after the break

England were deserved winners with the only downside George Ford's off-day from the kicking tee

Ford missed six of his seven kicks at goal and was even subjected to some boos from the Twickenham crowd

England head coach Eddie Jones saw his side comfortably come out on top against Warren Gatland's Wales

Marland Yarde returned to England duty with a late try as Jones' men proved too much for Wales

Read more: England 27-13 Wales: Eddie Jones' side warm up for Australia tour with impressive five-try victory at Twickenham | Daily Mail Online
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[Blackleaf]

The Scots bottle it. After leading the might of Australia 22-16 at one stage in the match they still end up suffering a defeat. Classic Scotland. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory after leading for the entire match and were playing against 14 men at the end

Meanwhile, Six Nations champions England claim their first victory over South Africa since 2006 and their fourth straight victory over a Southern Hemisphere side:

England 37-21 South Africa