"No clear head contact"

[Shugs]

Yes. Neither really seemed to be looked at.

[hopwood]

I share same views as Nigel Owens.
Two English tries should have been disallowed.
Shocking afternoon by TMO.
If that had been England on the receiving end, all sorts of complaints would be flying in.
I feel for Italy....they got the rough end of the stick, yet again. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-9257545/NIGEL-OWENS-Owen-Farrell-needs-stop-chat-referee-never-did-me.html

[Wombles]

Farrell plays on the edge and has a very physical style. The problem is that he is struggling to keep controlled ferocity and seemingly is not improving his tackle technique. He looks under pressure and certainly talks as a player under pressure.
I think we can safely say he is not captain material as when the heat is on he is getting more inflammed. Look at the best leaders like Johnson. When the pressure came on he became so much cooler, so controlled yet had a seething ferocity that intimidated opponents. It would be better he is managed rather than manages.

[wasps]

Part of the problem may be that over so many years he has been lauded for those big physical tackles and for his strong mentality.
He's gotten away with so many poor tackles that there's never really been any incentive to change.... And it's probably too late now.

He can likely improve his conscious tackle technique, but when the heat is on, when he's a bit tired and needs to make a split second tackle, it will come down to instinct rather than conscious decisions.... And his instincts will be to tackle hard and high

[Shugs]

It would be interesting to see if that was say and Eng v Wales or Ireland etc whether those two incidents would have been looked at. I do get the impression that even if it's only a sub-conscious thing there is a bit of "it's only Italy" mentality. Agreed the TMO had a shocker but both the knock on and the forward pass should have been seen and referred upstairs by the referee. Italy were badly let down on the day.

[petros]

And May's jumping to avoid a tackle is not allowed!

[Shugs]

Not anywhere else on the pitch but it is now allowed if you're scoring (or attempting) to score a try. It's an interesting law change in itself. The athleticism of it is rightly lauded. But I think it's created a serious injury waiting to happen. Since its introduction I'm amazed defenders having started taking people out mid air - what else could they do - to try and stop the score. Not a good change for me.

[wycombewasp]

+1 a stupid law change, it's like smart motorways, an accident waiting to happen, in the motorway case it already has and the highways agency could be facing manslaughter charges, quiet rightly so, that should make the law makers think twice, but maybe they don't think at all.

[Rossm]

And just what would have happened if the Italian defender had got to May and tackled him in mid-air, into touch?

[Neils]

And just what would have happened if the Italian defender had got to May and tackled him in mid-air, into touch?

This struck me as I watched it. Could he have been done for tackling in the air? If it is illegal elsewhere on the pitch it should be here.

[Rossm]

Reading this weekend. Jonathan Kaplan said that May's try was perfectly OK. Elsewhere, Nigel Owens said the try was illegal and he wouldn't have allowed it.

[Rossm]

BTW: separately,  The Guardian's player ratings gave Youngs a 5 and Dobby an 8. Will mental Eddie take the slightest notice - doubt it.

[andermt]

On Mays try, from what I have read on comments etc, is that diving for a try is allowed, but what May did was more of a jump than a dive.
I've had a look but can't find any reference in the new world rugby laws app to diving or jumping for a try, unless I've missed it.

[mike909]

On Mays try, from what I have read on comments etc, is that diving for a try is allowed, but what May did was more of a jump than a dive.
I've had a look but can't find any reference in the new world rugby laws app to diving or jumping for a try, unless I've missed it.

I had a look too and failed. If the tackler had been more upright (and only a little) May would have booted him in the head. I thought it dangerous play and agree with Nigel.

[wycombewasp]

regarding dobby, England only started to fizz a bit when he came on, but I  doubt whether that will change Eddy's mind, after all he did make a solo brake to the try line AGAINST ORDERS, HE SHOULD HAVE KICKED IT.