Ashton breaks Scottish hearts
1 Oct 2011
Chris Ashton scored a late try to give England a 16-12 win against Scotland in Auckland.
With three minutes remaining, England put a kickable penalty into touch and won the lineout. Their forwards set up the driving maul, before the ball was sent wide to replacement flyhalf Toby Flood, whose perfectly-timed double-skip pass put Ashton over in the right-hand corner.
It was a heart-breaking moment for the Scots, who had needed to win this game by eight points or more and deny England a bonus point in order to leapfrog their arch-rivals on the Pool C log. They now need Georgia to upset Argentina on Sunday, which is unlikely.
There may have only been one try, but this was a gripping encounter.
Scotland suffered an early setback when flyhalf Ruaridh Jackson limped off with a hamstring injury, but it proved to be a blessing. The kicking game of his replacement, Dan Parks, was ideal for the wet and windy conditions and he controlled the game well.
It was Parks who kicked a long-range penalty into the wind to give Scotland a 6-0 lead, following an earlier strike from Chris Paterson.
Jonny Wilkinson came into this match with a 50% goal-kicking success rate in the tournament and missed his first three penalty attempts. He finally found the target with his fourth, but a Parks drop goal gave Scotland a 9-3 lead at the break.
The Scots dominated the set pieces in the first half, winning four scrums against the feed (with Euan Murray embarrassing Matt Stevens) and stealing three opposition lineout throws. They also didn’t miss a single tackle in 40 minutes, while England slipped six.
When the second half kicked off, the wind had dropped and the rain had stopped. England played with a lot more urgency and their pack regained some confidence when they won a tighthead with a solid hit.
The Scots, though, briefly regained the ascendancy and almost scored when left wing Simon Danielli kicked into the England 22. Fullback Ben Foden knocked the ball back and Scotland replacement Nick de Luca failed to collect it with the tryline in sight.
Scotland then won yet another scrum penalty, which Paterson kicked to make it 12-3, but they crucially failed to deal with the restart and Wilkinson slotted a drop goal with his right foot (having missed one with his left from in front earlier in the half).
The England flyhalf added a penalty at the start of the final quarter to reduce the deficit to three, but his following attempt fell short.
It didn’t matter, though, as Ashton’s try snatched the win and set up an England-France quarter-final.
By Simon Borchardt
340 Comments
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1 Oct 2011, 12:56 pm
In a few decades new rugby powers will be USA, Russia and Georgia. Wonder how much of a vote they will have.
1 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-250:
IRB voting rights govern our game.
England, Scotland. Wales, Ireland have one each.
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have none between them.
1 Oct 2011, 13:07 pm
@Brads(Brads)-252: Yes, but the rules are the same for all.
Maybe if Samoa had a vote we would have RugbyBoxing, an exciting new sport.
1 Oct 2011, 13:08 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-251:
There should be federations like FIFA.
It is scandalous that the IRB clutch onto the last remnants of the amatuer era with this stanglehold on the governance of the sport.
1 Oct 2011, 13:15 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-253:
What are you saying here?
The King on the hill dictates? The hoi polloi should accept his commands?
The King knows best and the ignorant peasant is only there for his amusement?
1 Oct 2011, 13:17 pm
@Brads(Brads)-255: What changes would you like then?
And if you must know, in my experience the majority are too stupid to know what’s good for them, they should be lead by wiser, educated people
1 Oct 2011, 13:17 pm
I am also asking what the problem is, the rules are the same for all
1 Oct 2011, 13:20 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-256:
So, as one of the majority, who would you choose as your leader?
1 Oct 2011, 13:22 pm
Look now at big bad brad banging the table, how amusing… *Yawn and scratching my balls at the same time*
1 Oct 2011, 13:26 pm
@David(David)-258: Me of course.
1 Oct 2011, 13:27 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-257:
My opinion is not the point.
After all, as a Kiwi I get a vote and as such the world is sweet.
What say Fiji, Samoa, Tonga or Namibia? No idea.
All I do know is they piss and moan about the unfairness of it all and we all tut tut and agree in principle and somehow expect through some form of osmosis this will change the opinions of the IRB.
1 Oct 2011, 13:28 pm
NZ analyabuse the pacific islanders, Samoa, Fiji and Tonga are bend over a pole with NZ standing behind and making turns like inky pinky ponky and now NZ are saying the islanders need more power.
Take your d!ck out of the islanders and they will be more competitive
1 Oct 2011, 13:30 pm
@Brads(Brads)-261: I’d say that those that rule should be those that bring in the cash. As a kiwi you are lucky to get a vote
As for Fiji, Tonga and Namibia, why give them equal voice when they bring in nothing? As far as I understand it, the Samoans had to raise money to come to the RWC as did that powerhouse Namibia.
Life isn’t fair and besides, what exactly do they want a vote for, to change what?
1 Oct 2011, 13:31 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-262: so true
1 Oct 2011, 13:37 pm
Just to get this clear.
What you are saying is that now that the game is professional. unless you can add money to the pot, you should have no input into how it is goverened.
Is that about it?
1 Oct 2011, 13:42 pm
@Brads(Brads)-254:
yes, but fifa is a similar stitch up.
vote rigging and elite interests have been the order of the day since forever.
they also have a groups of nations with some kind of veto power or other plus extra benefits, i think it ws the founder members which gives them votes of some sort.
both systems could do with some more transparency and democracy introduced i suppose.
1 Oct 2011, 13:43 pm
@Brads(Brads)-265: That is exactly right. Professional. It is not a game it is Sport’s Entertainment.
I want entertainment and I want to see the best. I don’t care where you buy the best from, I just want to see them on the field when I go to my seat that I pay for or turn on my TV subscription.
Money makes the spectacle better, it enables the establishment of better clinics and academies, allows for the recognition at an earlier age of talent and helps transform lives of people with talent but who come from poorer backgrounds.
It is not 1976, it is not amateur hour and the world has changed. Rugby folks would do well to realise this.
1 Oct 2011, 13:45 pm
Why give minnows control over governance when their input in rugby is minimum? They don’t have the same challenges as the tier 1 nations
Mate, are in you in NZ because its late and you obviously tired
1 Oct 2011, 13:46 pm
The so called unfairness in the game schedules of the “minnows”, is actually part of a compromise to avoid reducing the number of teams in the competition. It isn’t that unfair as it only applies to teams who have to qualify and none of the first 3 in each pool need to prequalify for the next WC. So a team like Samoa wil have the same schedule as NZ, SA etc.
1 Oct 2011, 13:48 pm
Very disappointed in Scotland to be honest, this has been a poor poor world cup for us. Scoring 4 tries in all is just not good enough! Not scoring any vs Georgia is totally unnaceptable. Truth is we didnt deserve to progress
1 Oct 2011, 13:48 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-267:
Well then, I assume you advocate the RWC be limited to a round robin of 8 teams.
That would make all games supposedly competitive, that would show the best..
1 Oct 2011, 13:50 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-268:
No one suggests they should get control, but no input at all????
1 Oct 2011, 13:52 pm
@Brads(Brads)-271: To be honest a RWC doesn’t tell the story. You, as a kiwi should recognise how the tag of World Champs doesn’t go with the best team.
A SuperRugby competition is harder and longer and the teams play better to be honest, they are together for longer.
They could quite easily not have a RWC for all I care and play an expended 4 Nations, 5 Nations, 6 or 7 or not have national teams at all and just player SuperRugby. It’s where the money is anyway.
6 wins, a dodgy draw and you are champs of the world… hardly a fair reflection is it
1 Oct 2011, 13:54 pm
@David(David)-269:
I don’t quite get that?
Are you saying it was the luck of the draw that the AB are playing only on the weekends?
1 Oct 2011, 13:56 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-262:
Sounds like you have shite for brains.
Care to explain any of your comment?
1 Oct 2011, 14:00 pm
@Brads(Brads)-274:
No, but the top seeded teams (prequalified) get the better time/day slots when the schedules are drawn up. That’s why this year, teams like Samoa get the short end of the stick with rest days. They have to fit in with the seeded teams schedules.
1 Oct 2011, 14:03 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-262:
I am going to assume that your accusations stem from a psychological condition that you have with small children and the fact that therapy is not going well.
Easy to make mindless offensive accusations isn’t it.
1 Oct 2011, 14:03 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-273:
RWC is not the argument. It is here to stay and more power to it.
This discussion started over the definition of tier 1 and tier 2 etc nations. Everyone was rabbiting on about some vague on field performance.
I simply pointed out that the tier rating is based on IRB voting rights, and it had nothing to do with team performance.
1 Oct 2011, 14:11 pm
@Brads(Brads)-278: So what would you suggest then, strong teams play twice a week, they have to play in skirts. Dan Carter must kick for Samoa, what?
1 Oct 2011, 14:12 pm
@dquinn25(dquinn25)-270:
I hate to kick a wounded man, but I agree.
Tonight was frustrating.
Scotland had the game in the bag, but some one, I can’t recall, kicked a hugh up an under from his own 22.
Any half brained apprentice could have told him to boot the bloody ball way down town, but no, he tried some miricle play none of his team had asked for. England snaped up the woosy ildiercted punt, game over.
1 Oct 2011, 14:15 pm
It is odd the argument about big teams playing on weekends to get full stadiums. If Eden Park was not in such a **** location you would think we would fill stadiums for big games anyway.
I would say that it is more to do with the amount of money the IRB gets for TV coverage.
If it was all about NZ then we would be playing playoffs on Friday and Saturday nights and not Saturday and Sunday nights. All seems to be about the TV coverage.
1 Oct 2011, 14:18 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-279:
You continue to miss the point.
I typed, then erased an abusive adjective for you. It wouldn’t really have been me or added to the conversation, other than in a negative way.
1 Oct 2011, 14:22 pm
@chch(chch)-281:
If it was all about filling stadiums, then all the games would be at local friendly times.
That would be 2.30pm for all major games.
No issue filling stadiums that time of day.
1 Oct 2011, 14:22 pm
@chch(chch)-281: You are right. It’s great going to the games in NZ but man it’s a long way from anywhere, distance and timezones.
Now back in SA it’s hardly the same watching a game at 8:30 am instead of 3pm.
The other thing I realised while back in NZ is that, although kiwis like rugby, South Africans are rugby mad. All stadiums would be full, all restaurants and all bars would be chocker with locals and tourists. In New Zealand, between games, the crowds disappear. During the RWC here, and the SWC people were everywhere, all the time.
No disrespect to NZ, I love the place and the people are the friendliest on earth, it’s just a bit sad in a way.
1 Oct 2011, 14:24 pm
@Brads(Brads)-282: Your point is, it isn’t fair. And that not the ‘top teams’ but top tier get preferential treatment.
Life is tough.
1 Oct 2011, 14:26 pm
@Brads(Brads)-283: 2:30pm is 3:30am in SA and 2:30am in the UK. Hardly great for TV ratings.
It’s all about the money.
1 Oct 2011, 14:27 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-284:
No offence taken.
Every Sunday night where I live a party goes on in pubs to 3am after the Sunday games. They are all foreigners as the locals have work the next day. It is odd.
Rugby crowds in NZ are poor. I wish we had your ticket prices.
1 Oct 2011, 14:27 pm
Well the “haves” do have a responsibility to grow the game for the “have nots”. It’s not about self-interest all the time.
The game has a lot more potential with more competitive teams.
Pacific Islands
Japan
Russia
USA
Georgia
Canada
The game needs growth and this means it needs the minnows to get better.
1 Oct 2011, 14:29 pm
Yeah, but it is what pays the bills.
1 Oct 2011, 14:31 pm
From a New Zealand point of view finances in rugby are tighter than ever. The NZRU are much to blame for that.
We could do with some cash from World Cups.
1 Oct 2011, 14:32 pm
@chch(chch)-287: Flip the prices for the games I watched were $250!!! (250×6.5 for rands = R1625
My Sharks Season Ticket, with ALL Super Rugby, Semis and final, all Currie Cup, Semis and Final and a Trinations test and in the Western Lower Gold Zone is R1500.
The only thing I had to pay for was the Lions’ series, which was a disappointment and R1200!
Normal tests, without Season Tickets are ±350 I think
1 Oct 2011, 14:34 pm
@chch(chch)-290: Seems in NZ finances are tight all around.
Things are EXPENSIVE. I couldn’t believe it.
1 Oct 2011, 14:37 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-291:
Super 15 games here are way too expensive for all but wealthy families to be able to attend. The whole culture of going to big games as a kid has become an elitist thing. Each generation has less people attending games.
I don’t think anything has recovered since GH took players out of the S14 for the previous WC.
The NZRU are stupid.
1 Oct 2011, 14:39 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-285:
No, my point is the governance of the game has not changed since 1950 or when ever it was that France were granted a vote.
For goodness sakes, SA used to limit decision making to the white section of the population only but have thankfully moved on.
Why cant the IRB do something similar!
1 Oct 2011, 14:40 pm
@chch(chch)-293: What are ticket prices? And I went to the Cake Tin and had to walk half way around the stadium from my box (not catered) to get a beer. And then only 4 at a time. Not handy when the party was 6.
Incredibly inefficient and just plain stupid with that 4 beer rule. And all for only $12 each!!!! Madness
1 Oct 2011, 14:42 pm
@Brads(Brads)-280:
Same rubbish Scotland have been doing for years – garryowens to nowhere against teams with a more than capable fullback. Sprinkle in a dash of grubber kicks when they’re not on, kicking when you should be running, running when you should be kicking, and finish off with an unhealthy dollop of terrible decisions in the oppositions 22.
Might have gotten away with it all as well if Nick De Luca was not the walking definition of “tits for hands”.
The game today was tight, but purely because both teams exposed all their weaknesses and neither converted pressure to tries until the final 5min.
1 Oct 2011, 14:43 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-295:
I was normally paying about $50 for Crusaders tickets.
1 Oct 2011, 14:44 pm
WTF $949 for a season ticket like mine, thats 6500 bucks!!!!!
http://www.wrfu.co.nz/membership/pricing
1 Oct 2011, 14:48 pm
@chch(chch)-297: Makes no sense. Sharks game walk up tickets are R80 I think. All Unions pay the same fees to host a Super Team. Dollar is stronger.
NZRU is indeed pathetic then. That’s R350, same as a test match.
And I can but as many beers as I like, which are the handsome price of R12.
And the weather is fantastic, (going to watch the Sharks now actually).
No wonder there are no fans at Super games
1 Oct 2011, 14:54 pm
@Tartan(Tartan)-296:
What ever way you paint it, the English were deperate and facing defeat but that idiot kick was a god send for them.
Donald did something similar in Hong Kong and killed off a sure fire World Record winning streak by the AB’s
Coaches just don’t have the skills to train idiot out of the players.
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