BB Ratings

[Neils]

'Worrying trait': Wasps player ratings from Leicester Tigers loss

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/leicester-tigers-v-wasps-ratings-19878509#ICID=Android_CoventryTelegraphNewsApp_AppShare

[Shugs]

Shields was definitely our best player. Must admit I didn't see a lot of Minozzi "faring well" under the high ball.

[Peej]

I'd knock 1.5-2 off most of those.

[Covkid40]

Apart from shields didn’t think anyone shone. Atkinson did ok with poor ball and got stuck into the defensive side of his job as did fakitoa. Really surprised to read the comments about JU he looked frightened, even in commentary they mentioned it looked like he was committed. Is it just me thinking he put to much on the cross field kick to ZK which forced him to close to the touch line?

[Mellie]

Is it just me thinking he put to much on the cross field kick to ZK which forced him to close to the touch line?

It's just you.

Zac got the ball fine and was away but only stopped by a brilliant last gasp tap tackle from which he was as far away from as possible at the start given the kick was so close to the touchline.

Very good play by both Jacob and Zac. No fault there. Credit the Leicester tackler for stopping a certain try.

[Neils]

Tap tackling is a rare beast.  You do wish some of those failing chasers you see in most matches would have the confidence to throw themselves at players heels. That tackle was a try saver- unfortunately.

[Shugs]

I'm fairly certain Kibirige had feet in touch before the tap anyway. It wasn't checked as he rolled there after the tap.

[Peej]

You're right, Shugs

[Mellie]

There was a replay from behind and he definitely didn't have feet in touch. I looked for it because on the live angle I thought he probably would have done.

[Rossm]

There was a replay from behind and he definitely didn't have feet in touch. I looked for it because on the live angle I thought he probably would have done.

I'm pretty sure Zach was OK until tap tackled.

[hookender]

I thought he did touch the line beforehand. Wasn’t really looked at because replays looked at kick and then tap tackle. But if he had got through I think they would have reviewed it .

Failing that bet CMK would have looked to see if Zach was offside.

[Mellie]

I have reviewed the incident several times in slow mo where Umaga put in the kick at 69:05 on the match clock.

It is obvious that Zac is onside. Umaga is 2 or 3 meters beyond the 5m line while Zac is behind it by quite a bit 15m from touch.

From the camera behind you can see the ball lands in the middle of the tramlines 2.5m from touch and bounces directly upwards and Zac catches that far from the touchline. So unquestionably the kick was spot on.

The Leicester player is covering across from about 10m in front of Zac and about 10m further infield, giving him an advantage of distance to where the ball lands. If the ball lands further from the touchline he will probably get it first and would be 1 on 1 to get a try himself.

Zac swerves nearer to the touchline on catching the ball to evade the Leicester player and nearly succeeds. However, his left foot just clips the touchline by a couple of cms  a split second before the Leicester player makes the tap tackle and the touch judge, who is right behind the action, raises his flag.

Hope that clears up any confusion or misconceptions.