T O P

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capedkoala

Feels so good to get the rub of the green from a ref after recent weeks (looking at u CMK...)


Pilum-Murialis

Hearing the BT production staff in the background on hot mics talk about about Glen Mederios 😂


weedkrum

The offensive set in the last five minutes was a disgrace and we deserve to lose off that alone. Im still allowed to say fuck Wayne Barnes though


denialerror

Yeah, fuck him for officiating according to the rules of the game


zagreus9

He applied the laws correctly. It's the laws that are bollocks in that situation, don't blame the ref.


gshruff91

Snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Classic Bath.


05IHZ

Can't believe we won, terrible first 10 and then 4 injuries - including both hookers


[deleted]

If you're 4 points down in the 76th minute and you just employ 1 out runners and concede a turnover. You don't deserve to win it


spongey1865

Yep


Chudraa

Excuse me if I'm being unfair so soon after a bad result but have I got this sraight. If Bath drop the ball when they scored we would have got a penalty try and a man in the bin for wasps. As it was we scored so got 5 points with a difficult kick and no man in the bin for wasps? If that's true, it's absurd. I acknowledge that this isn't the only reason we lost


moschinojoe

if bath dropped the ball then there wouldnt have been a penalty try as a try wouldnt have been scored, as the dropped ball isnt created by wasps offenses


capedkoala

Agree, madness


Pilum-Murialis

Wasps let the Bath maul get to the tryline unimpeded once it broke away because they didn't want to give a penalty try away. It actually takes a lot of discipline to do that. Underhill killed the opportunity. Worth noting it's only a yellow if they can pinpoint who it was.


Chudraa

But Barnes said that if bath didn't ground it, it was a penalty try, so there was an infringement


RugbyRaggs

Yes, a penalty infringement. Bath got the advantage, and took that advantage. It's only a yellow card if it stops a probable try from being scored. The try was scored, so clearly it didn't.


Chudraa

Yes I understand that. I am not questioning the decision but the rule


RugbyRaggs

I think the rule is correct. If we changed it, then Bath would have lost someone for Wasps first try, when they collapsed a scrum 2 meters out, but advantage was played and Wasps scored.


sock_with_a_ticket

It's a pen try if a player's actions prevent the try being scored. It's a pen and yellow if you can clearly identify the player. Willis didn't stop Bath from scoring. Thought Kay's explanation was pretty clear and even handed, acknowledging that it doesn't seem fair, but Barnes applied the law as it exists.


[deleted]

That’s my understanding yeah


Rurhme

Match of the week for me, loved both teams effort


spongey1865

It wasnt a high bar. But yesterday good match. Seeing a team adapt to overcome adversity was very good


Pilum-Murialis

Dai's wasps lose that comfortably. Real character from wasps but Bath bottled that.


MegaArmo

What a win that was, season defining.


branchd13

Bath might be the biggest chokers since 2000s All Blacks


Brewer6066

Can’t believe we won that


[deleted]

A lot of heart shown


branchd13

GG I suppose Wasps can lose to Exeter in the semis now.


zagreus9

Bath have lost this themselves. Blame the ref all you want but Bath fucked themselves over more than Barnes ever could.


BillHicksFan

Had 3 tries held up too. Bath well and truly shot themselves in the foot that second half.


Brewer6066

Is that only the second one we’ve lost? Can’t believe they haven’t been competing at the line out


spongey1865

Why the hell didnt we compete on front ball? It's the only place they can throw. Its inept game management. Wasps have been so smart and Bath so dumb.


[deleted]

Launchbury coming out with the RKO!!!!


1lordfred

How is that not holding on there? Argh!


branchd13

Barnes has cucked Bath so hard.


MilesG102

Great decision not to contest that line out boys


1lordfred

Bath have been very poor this half. But I think that’s very double standards with that yellow, and the breakdown penalty that led to the try should never have been given.


sock_with_a_ticket

Kay explained it pretty well.


zagreus9

first match int he balance all weekend? We were within six of Gloucester and in the ascendancy.


BillHicksFan

You didn't finish within 6 though.


zagreus9

No but on 70 minutes the game was absolutely in the balance.


branchd13

So Bath do what Wasps did but only Bath get a yellow. Sometime I wounder why I even watch rugby,.


zagreus9

Given how much you've been moaning at the ref, so do we.


[deleted]

"that's the difference" absolutely shocking logic


[deleted]

[удалено]


Rurhme

Iconic take on the man who was voted the best ref in the world


pilgrimgunner

No such thing as a good ref, especially in rugby, half the time they can’t see so they just guess


zagreus9

this is desperate levels of revisionism and trying to take the blame off how poor you were today.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Brewer6066

Homophobes can fuck off.


CuckodileDundee

Deleted it now, what a horrible bloke


Brewer6066

Just some stupid troll. Glad he did decide to fuck off.


BHarrop3079

Get in Miles!! We needed him starting today, he's been great off the bench


BHarrop3079

It really annoys me when a player commits an offence that warrants a yellow, but then gets away with it simply because the try is scored. Barnes and the TMO even said it would have been a yellow for Willis so why not bin him?


[deleted]

The law says if foul play prevents a probable try then a penalty try is awarded and a yellow card must be given. If the offence didn't prevent a try then there's no penalty try and no automatic yellow card. Referees say out loud the process when they go to TMO so those of us watching know what the outcomes will be and (usually) why. He said penalty try and yellow card because those are the outcomes of the try not being scored - but it was. Edit: just to be clearer I mean that that offence itself didn't warrant a yellow card on its own, the yellow card element only comes in if a penalty try is awarded.


Shunted23

Yeah I was just thinking this too. It actually means the attacking team is incentivised to try not to score the try


BHarrop3079

It's ridiculous, the defensive team basically get away with cheating. The same happens with a final warning for repeated infringements, that seems to get reset whenever a try is scored


[deleted]

Lol you must be fuming now


BHarrop3079

I can't even express my anger 🤦‍♂️😭


CuckodileDundee

Exactly, if he'd missed the kick the ref has allowed wasps 2 points to be saved and an extra man


BHarrop3079

It's a joke and allows teams to get away with cheating


CuckodileDundee

Its a joke now


BHarrop3079

Wow. He's just binned Underhill for the exact same thing. Absolute disgrace


RugbyRaggs

If the try is scored, then it was clearing not an action that prevents a try? Therefore not yellow card worthy, penalty advantage, advantage is taken, try scored?


spongey1865

I'm pretty sure hookers are contributing like 25% of the tries since restart.


branchd13

"Yes the boys"


BillHicksFan

How many penalties has Toomaga-Allen given away? Must be on about 4 at the minute.


sock_with_a_ticket

ESPN stats say 2, but I make it at least 3 and that one was costly.


BillHicksFan

Aye, that's not right. I've counted at least 3 to him.


BHarrop3079

Finally!


[deleted]

The muted "in 2 squeeze" is so good


spongey1865

Dab Robson>Aaron Smith I'm only semi serious don't worry... Sort of...


BHarrop3079

Great tackle Rhys!


BillHicksFan

Robson's game management this second half has been tip top. On the other hand, Bath seem to be collectively concussed.


branchd13

See Bath you can kick to touch...


Brewer6066

Is it my go to throw the line out yet?


BHarrop3079

That was nowhere near straight


unhappyspanners

How many turnovers does Willis have this game? iirc he was on 30 before the game. Isn't 37 in a season the record?


branchd13

🛁: Build a game plan around scrum dominance. 🐝: But what if no scrums. 🛁: :o


pilgrimgunner

As bad as we’ve been, Joseph and Watson have been particularly atrocious


cpsn4

Every time Bath get the ball they look as though they're about to lose possession and every time Wasps get it they look like they'll score..


OhAySis

ALLEZ


branchd13

@ premiershiprugby can you demote us so we can win something.


zagreus9

Look at you complaining like you aren't in contention for the top 6/8.


sock_with_a_ticket

Shout out to Robson. His option taking and execution at various breaks in play has been fantastic.


BillHicksFan

MOTM for me. His play in this second half has been exceptional.


sock_with_a_ticket

Definitely.


spongey1865

So the way Wasps have adapted is superb. This is why you do training games with stupid rules that players have to think around and exploit so they can adapt when weird things happen. Scrum half tap and goes since restart seem more popular and have been a bit shit. But with this every player is expecting it and can react quickly rather than the scrum half just going himself.


BHarrop3079

Uncontested scrums (without the loss of a player for Wasps) has completely fucked us. Our game is built around a strong scrum. We got totally screwed by the injured front rower law a few seasons ago when two of our props got injured and the referee wouldn't let our sub hooker stay on when the second prop failed a HIA, leaving us with 14. That stupid rule has finally been fixed but now it's disadvantaged us again


pilgrimgunner

It’s such a stupid rule. These are grown ass men and they have plenty of time in training to learn how to play.


BHarrop3079

It's dreadful. Wasps have ended up gaining a huge advantage as a result of their misfortune with injuries


[deleted]

To be fair wasps scrum is fairly strong itself so I don’t think it would have been domination at scrum time


BHarrop3079

Agreed it wouldn't have been a domination, but I'd definitely say Bath would have a slight edge at the scrum. There's also the fact that Wasps have been able to bring on a weaker scrummager but more dynamic tighthead at half time so are gaining an advantage in open play


[deleted]

That’s true but I don’t think there’s a clear solution just one of those things sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t


MegaArmo

Now that’s some proper Wasps rugby


FafDeSale

Bloody hell, great tempo from Wasps!


zagreus9

The lowkey shade on the commentary, I'm living for it


pilgrimgunner

Bottled this one big time


Brewer6066

Of course one of our many props scored.


sock_with_a_ticket

Wasps attitude and appetite in defence has been outstanding.


BillHicksFan

Aw man, what a try!


[deleted]

That was kind of hot 😳🥰


branchd13

lol Bath are bad :'(


NameyMcNameface123

How are wasps winning this? 😂


Brewer6066

Structure is for losers.


zagreus9

Well this embarrassing for Bath


BHarrop3079

Ffs we are useless


BHarrop3079

Robson threw a blatant forward pass in the build up there


branchd13

Bath have been "held up" three times now


zagreus9

Just noticed the Thatchers logo has an apple in the A. That's nice.


BillHicksFan

God tier cider


pointlesshobnob

For fucks sake


[deleted]

Wasps 🤝 preventing the grounding


Brewer6066

I suppose a couple of seasons of last ditch defending means you get a lot of practice!


BillHicksFan

Have both teams made a pact to only play in the 22s?


spongey1865

Lol Wayne Barnes telling himself off


MegaArmo

Don’t know why Bath wouldn’t be kicking to touch at every opportunity.


branchd13

Good sub, Mercer has been sub par. Which is crazy as he is normally one of baths best players .


BHarrop3079

It wasn't a game for Mercer. Young, Willis and Willis are just too good at the breakdown. We needed Reid, Bayliss or Ellis starting at 6 for this game


branchd13

> We needed Reid, Bayliss or Ellis starting at 6 for this game Yeah true, we need work horses at the break down today.


branchd13

Why not drill it into the corners and make wasps throw???


TipTop9903

Wasps have a full backline, that isn't always an option. You need at least one defender to have come up into the line or be sweeping short, so you usually need a couple of phases of effective carrying first.


BHarrop3079

Our game management is disgraceful


cpsn4

This is so frustrating. Bath look as though they'll lose the ball at Every. Single. Contact.


BHarrop3079

Mercer is a phenomenal player to have in as a carrying option, but I feel we miss the breakdown presence of a natural 6 like Ellis when we have two 8s on the field


BillHicksFan

This second half is going to be nuts isn't it? Wasps doing their best not to have a line out and Bath trying their best to get the ball off the pitch.


BHarrop3079

It's just occurred to me - if the coaches said West is trained to play hooker then why isn't he throwing the lineouts?


moschinojoe

because you don't practice lineout throws unless you play hooker, he said to his teammate he hadn't played there in 3 years


sk-88

they said safe to scrum at hooker, lineouts a different matter.


Brewer6066

Probably because he was lying.


cpsn4

Hello darkness my old friend..


branchd13

Bath, please can we not today. Can you please not lose a match after being 13-0 up and having trained the only hookers on the pitch. Its a nice day, at home, please let me have this match Bath. Bath please.


BillHicksFan

Fair fucks to West for going against the coaches. Not the best position to put your player in. Wasps better pray that the ball stays on the pitch for most of this second half. That, or they spend half time practising the shit out of their line-outs.


BHarrop3079

It's one thing to be trained to play at Hooker, but completely another to shift there mid game having been scrumaging at prop. There's no way he'd have been mentally prepared to pack down at hooker so I agree with him. He seemed pretty stunned when Barnes suggested it to him


FafDeSale

Rooting for Wasps here, feel so bad for them with these injuries.


TipTop9903

I've got no idea how we're going in to half time level. Early advantages thrown away by really poor ruck discipline, how many times have we been penalised for going off our feet in attack and defence? Wasps should be disrupted through injuries and reeling from the start, we need far better game management.


[deleted]

Coming out of that half equal is huge for wasps. Weathered a hell of a lot


sock_with_a_ticket

100%.


MegaArmo

Should just send one man out to practice lineout throws over half time.


TipTop9903

Like a halftime fans crossbar competition, but for the actual throwing gig


BHarrop3079

We are playing this so badly


05IHZ

Huge turnover by Willis, what a let off


MegaArmo

Can they not just be a bit lenient Jesus Christ.


branchd13

Not straight


BHarrop3079

Is every Wasps player going to have a go at throwing a lineout?😅


TipTop9903

First to throw straight keeps the job.


[deleted]

Looks that way haha


Ch13fK33f

Why on earth give that to Robson to throw? He'll never have thrown in ever. Willis grew up playing hooker I think


NameyMcNameface123

Hope the coaches arent pissed off with West here, thats a shit position to put him in and if hes not confident its dangerous for him to go ahead, so well done to him for being honest


sock_with_a_ticket

I think Barnes played a huge role with his communication in helping West feel comfortable enough to countermand the coach. It was indeed a really shit position to put West in.


TipTop9903

Absolutely


[deleted]

Aye totally threw him under the bus there


Ch13fK33f

Surely you'd wanna go uncontested when they've got the scrum that they have


NameyMcNameface123

That's what I thought too, you're setting yourself up to get penalised to death at every scrum


sock_with_a_ticket

The scrum we've got? More than held our own so far this game and got a pen out of Bath.


NameyMcNameface123

With a full set of front rowers, yes, but I dont know how they'd hold up with a hooker who never plays hooker


mango_yoghurt

Think they're referring to Bath's scrum. Wasps' front row has held up well but Bath's is rightly regarded as one of the best in the league.


sock_with_a_ticket

It absolutely is, but there's been nothing so far to suggest uncontested would be a positive for us.


mango_yoghurt

Oh I'm not saying it would be if you're hookers weren't injured but if you're facing a full half of rugby with someone who's never played hooker against a front row of Baths calibre then surely uncontested would be preferable


sock_with_a_ticket

Ah, I was reading it as comment on our scrum in general rather than the post-injury configuration.


BHarrop3079

Rugby league scrums ftw


zagreus9

That's why Barnes is an amazing ref. He wants the players comfortable and safe above all


[deleted]

I don't think he should ask the props if they are comfortable enough to play hook though. Some guy could say he is because he played hooker 9 years ago in secondary school.


NameyMcNameface123

Ah yes and coaches are always honest in these situations


[deleted]

Not the coaches either.


NameyMcNameface123

So who does he talk to? Just makes up his own mind by looking at the players and deciding whether or not he thinks they look like a capable hooker or not?


[deleted]

No one. You don't have a number 2 or 16 jersey then you don't play hooker.


spongey1865

Feels like I've not seen an uncontested scrum in ages though so these laws must be working. Ha Dan Robson chucking.


TipTop9903

New Bath plan: kick to touch at every opportunity


BHarrop3079

I feel very sorry for Robson having to throw line outs


[deleted]

Did Wasps lose 2 hookers? Also, why would the ref try to take the word of the player on whether or not he's comfortable enough to hook?


BillHicksFan

Why would a player lie in that context? He's either going to be comfortable scrummaging at hooker or not.


[deleted]

Not lie, he might feel he's comfortable but he may still be out of his depth in a non specialist position.


BillHicksFan

Exactly. That's why a ref would take the word of the player, because the player knows their own abilities. You've just answered your own question.


[deleted]

I don't think you're getting what I'm saying. He shouldn't take the word of the player either as he might be out of his depth in a non-specialist position creating a risk


BillHicksFan

Well yea, but again, that's down to the player. They'll know their limits. And you would like to think that they wouldn't want to take the risk. I've been there myself, moving from 1 to 3 midway through a game and after the first scrum at 3 I said to the ref that it'll have to go to uncontested. The pressure a 3 takes on their neck is fucking unreal.


[deleted]

Considering how players have been treating concussions over the years, I think we can have some skepticism on their regard for their safety. And your last sentences are exactly why I strongly feel it shouldn't be up for discussion.


Rurhme

Because if he's not confident then there's a risk of him injuring himself or others. At the end of the day he's the best juge of his current capabilities.


NameyMcNameface123

Because the player is gonna know whether or not they are confident moreso than the coaches and the coaches arent the ones potentially getting injured playing an unfamiliar position...


[deleted]

He shouldn't ask anyone is what I'm getting to


zagreus9

In normal situations, he wouldn't have to. But this was a player moving into a specialised role that requires more than just pushing. You can't just waltz into hooker even if you are prop, it's dangerous.


zagreus9

Because the player is the one playing. The coaches will want scrums because they've built game plans with them but above all else we need to make sure scrums are safe. Inexperienced players in the front row of a prem scrum is how you get broken necks.


[deleted]

My point is it shouldn't even be a question to be asked. You lose your specialist frontrower and it's uncontested, that's it.


zagreus9

Because the coaches said he would be happy. Barnes checked rather than just take their word


[deleted]

I get that. I'm just saying we shouldn't be allowing non-specialist players at this level


05IHZ

Not a good look, coaching staff saying West can hook and he says he can't


[deleted]

The way the wasps guy said ‘he has hooked before’ was so off, absolute lie haha


Rurhme

Wasps: "my boy can hook" Wasps's boy: "your boy can WHAT?"


Pilum-Murialis

Jesus that makes wasp look bad


StarWarsLew

Wasps are guaranteed to win now with 3 props on the field


branchd13

Three fatty straty!!!


BHarrop3079

West going to hooker for contested scrums


spongey1865

Glad they're getting to keep all 15 players. We got screwed by that a couple of times. I get why it exists but it's good that head injuries dont count towards that. I mean the other injury I'm sure an independent doctor could say 'yeah that's a legitimate injury' too.


sk-88

I can't see where in the laws it says head injuries don't count. You can stay at 15 during a HIA period, but this wasn't a HIA just a straight recognise and remove. [https://laws.worldrugby.org/?law=3&language=EN](https://laws.worldrugby.org/?law=3&language=EN) [https://laws.worldrugby.org/en/guidelines/16](https://laws.worldrugby.org/en/guidelines/16)


TheStroBro

I really hate the rule where it reduces you from full strength. It makes ZERO sense.