ROVING REPORT: SOUTH AFRICA V NEW ZEALAND

Roving OATH Reporter: Richard "Media" Houghton

First half saw All Blacks with 72% of the territory but leaving the field down 7 - 12 to South Africa and Kaino in the bin. SA defending well and NZ kicking a lot of ball away, maybe the nerves are showing. Plus, a couple of unnecessary England style penalties given away by NZ gives SA upper hand at end of 40 minutes. Was there forward pass in build up to NZ try?

Second half, first ten minutes Carter drop goal energised AB's. Try at 51 minutes by Barrett after great work by Nonu took score to 15 - 13 despite solid SA defence. Habana sin binned for deliberate knock-on. Carter conversion takes score to 17-15. After a series of scrums SA took 3 points from a penalty taking score to 15-17 to AB. Instant AB reply with 3 points from penalty from SA being off feet in ruck. At 67 minutes SA penalty for another AB's offside. 18-20 to AB's! Five minuets to go and SA fluff easy kick and AB's line out in SA half. On 79 minutes and AB's knock on for SA scrum 10 metres out from SA try line. Solid AB attack halts SA attempts to break out their 25 and game over.

NZ march on after business like performance against Bokke

PREMIERSHIP CLOAK OF SECRECY

I know I am digressing away from RWC to matters closer to home, but would be interested in anyone's view on this important issue. Inevitably, with England out of its own tournament, the country v club issue has reared its head, with Premiership Rugby announcing that it has reached confidential agreements with some clubs over salary cap issues. It has not obviously named any clubs, and a few have already stepped forward to deny their inclusion on this list. There have been rumours for years of the larger, more successful clubs getting around the existing cap, so buying success, and causing a huge gulf between them and the likes of London Welsh playing in the same league. Like in France (and Premiership soccer), wealthy millionaires pour huge piles of cash into a rugby club expecting instant success. What I fail to understand is that in terms of individual wealth, the chap who runs Worcester appears to have more more money than any of the other owners, but insists on running his club on sensible commercial terms, producing good homegrown talent, attracting good crowds and engaging with their local community. He may not have won much, but he has the respect of neutrals who love the game and still remember its amateur values - respect sir! What really annoys me about these big Premiership Clubs, who have been somehow getting around the current salary cap, is (apart from their ego) that most of them continue to invest little of their cash piles in developing their own, but instead plunder other club's younger players who have emerged from their academies. Hopefully, part of the RFU review over England's woeful performance will focus on ensuring the bigger Premiership clubs are forced to produce more homegrown talent at the expense of some gravy train seeking Southern Hemisphere journeyman.

SEMI FINAL REVIEW: SOUTH AFRICA V NEW ZEALAND

I will be brief. This will be a marvellous contrast between a direct, brutal, relentless forward onslaught and complete 15 man rugby trying to score from every phase and putting width on the ball. To successfully achieve the latter, you need the individual handling skills, discipline and ability to play with your head up and take the right decision based on what's in front of you. This NZ team pass the ball like no other, not just shipping the ball on down the line, easily defended by the opposition, but always attacking the space, moving at least one defender to create space and putting a fellow player in the resulting hole. Just watch them and see how many passes they deliver in a game. The game of rugby is about getting over the gainline and outnumbering the last line of defence, then executing the final pass under pressure. NZ is pretty good at this, that is why they have only lost three games since the last RWC. To beat them SA has to deny them quick ball and not allow their backs the space they need to wreak havoc. And SA has to retain the ball and not allow it to be turned over, as NZ score more tries on the counter attack than any other.

Prediction: NZ by 10

SIX NATIONS BECKONS

The first weekend of the much anticipated 2016 Six Nations will feature France v Italy, Scotland v England and Ireland v Wales. The second weekend features France v Ireland, Wales v Scotland (in the newly named Principality Stadium - is nothing sacred?) and Italy v England. In days of old, you would think France should win both home games, but after their RWC debacle, neither game is guaranteed, and also, that England should easily overcome the Six Nations whipping boys, regardless of venue, but BT Murrayfield (I know, I know) and Rome will be harder tests than in previous seasons. Wales may still have a number of players returning from RWC injury, as may Ireland who will be facing life post Paul O'Connell. It could be the most even (exciting) tournament for years.

LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN

I predicted in OATH that World Rugby wanted an Australia v New Zealand final, as soon as England were knocked out of their own tournament a few weeks back. I mean who would want to watch a Scotland v Wales final? Lucky for WRIT (World Rugby Incompetent T*****) that both Scotland and Wales were conveniently eased out at the QF stage in the last few minutes of their respective games. Credit to both Tier 2 teams, and to Argentina for rocking the cosy Tier 1 establishment. Having Japan beating SA was great for WRIT and awareness of the tournament, and the image of the game, especially as it was in the Group stages, and has had no bearing on the latter stages - losing South Africa, as well as the hosts, would have been too much.

The Tier 2 nations have had to put up with a lot, from outdated group seedings based on form in 2013, to poor match scheduling, to unfair treatment from referees on the pitch and citing officers off the pitch. It hasn't helped that WRIT has continually undermined the authority of the referee, sometimes ignoring their opinion completely (in the citing of two Scottish players against Samoa). Also, their treatment of Craig Joubert has been disgraceful.

Everyone is looking after their own, from the English, Australian and Kiwi press comment that Scotland were served justice on Sunday, as Laidlaw knocked the ball on against Samoa (and got away with it) so they should never have been in the QF anyway. As I said in OATH earlier in the week, who knows what would have happened in that game of only an Australian scrum been given instead of a penalty - the same applies to the Samoa game, where let's not forget, Scotland were in the lead, and five metres from Samoa's line, so had they stayed there would have won the game anyway. The thought that Scotland should have won that game, and that Wales were so close to winning theirs with a patched up team scares the Tier 1 elite greatly (oh no, they are getting better, and with a fraction of the money that we invest). Great coaching, team spirit and pride in the badge count for a lot.

Ireland, Wales and Scotland are improving, as they have adopted the centrally contracted player model of the Southern Hemisphere, whereas France and England are in a mess as the clubs control the players and call the shots. The decision by the English RFU (every country has an RFU) to not select players outside of England is clearly club influenced, as they don't want their best players plying their trade en France. It appears the scope of the English RFU inquest will not cover this, so will probably be as effective as a chocolate teapot. Any review panel that consists of those blokes who had an influence on either the coach's or each other's selection is doomed to failure (Ritchie and McGeechan appointed Lancaster, Metcalfe helped appoint Ritchie). So, until these two marvellous rugby nations put country before club, nothing will change. You can have the most registered rugby players in the world, and the best Youth development system, but if you do not have the ability to identify, select and coach your best 31 man squad at RWC 2019, you will get the same result.

Even the re-negotiated terms of the European Rugby Cup smack of looking after your own, as those elite English and French clubs who consider themselves "considerably richer than yao", carved out a bigger share of the loot for themselves at the expense of the clubs in Tier 2 nations in Italy, Scotland and Wales. Good business strategy, to remove any potential new competitive threat - the only thing is that history showed in Scotland that watching Celtic v Rangers (read Bath v Northampton, Leicester v Toulon) every week got a little boring for the customer and they voted with their feet.

I think that WRIT should split the RWC going forward into Tier 1 and Tier 2 nations, with Australia v NZ being one final, and a choice of Fiji/Samoa/Japan v Scotland/Wales/Georgia being the other. I know which one I would pay to watch. But then, when did the paying customer matter to idiot administrators/egotistical club owners only concerned with their own self preservation/world domination?

IT'S ALL IN THE PAST NOW

Those days are passed now and in the past they must remain, so go the words of Flower of Scotland. The organisers, World Rugby, has hung the ref out to dry and declared that the Australian penalty should have in fact been a scrum. So what, the results stands and Scotland were possibly denied a semi final place for the first time since 1991. I still think Oz may have got close enough in the time remaining to drop a goal, but hey, who cares..

On watching a great match through once again, I noticed several things - one was Joubert's unwillingness to ping Australia for constantly failing to roll away from the tackle so slowing down Scottish ball, and the second was Australia's streetwise'ness (cynical gamesmanship, call it whatever), demonstrated by Genia deliberately throwing the ball at a retreating Bennett, when he was not blocking the pass to Foley to earn a penalty, and, worst of all was Phipps, his replacement, shouting for a penalty at the end, knowing he had scooped the ball backwards with his hand. The booing of the ref and the Australia kicker was not pleasant but understandable, and wouldn't have bothered the Aussies at all. They are used to playing in New Zealand where crowds jeer all the time. Last but not least, Cheika's seizure of the moral high ground is amusing - I assume he would have taken the injustice on the chin if the boot had been on the other foot...

Sir, he has caught my pass in open play, how illegal...

ROVING REPORT: ARGENTINA v IRELAND

Roving OATH Reporter: Dan McGuinness

Frustration that there seemed to be more TV coverage of injured players in the stands than action on the pitch. With Argentina much improved, especially out wide and Ireland missing key players in key positions (O'Connell, Sexton, O'Brien, O'Mahoney, etc) this was always going to be a bigger challenge than everyone previously thought. In the end, Ireland were in the game for 68 minutes, only for Argentina to score two great late tries to seal the win. Tommy Bowe leaving the pitch early and the lack of a second yellow card for the mad Argie prop, who seemed to want to get sent off, were key moments. Argentina have obviously benefitted from playing in the Championship and were worthy winners against a patched up Irish team.

ROVING REPORT: SOUTH AFRICA V WALES

Roving OATH Reporter: Mark "Trebanos" Jones

Valiant losers again but at least we know the squad could give no more. If only that early pass had gone to Morgan’s hands. Too many penalties kept the Springboks ahead until Biggar’s moment of magic raised hopes. Endless Springbok attacks were soaked up and we thought its Ireland again. But it was not to be. Maybe we could have defended that final scrum better, especially Cuthbert, who was sucked into making an unnecessary tackle, maybe Habana could have been pinged for offside before? But the dream was over. Wales seemed to have little in the tank to get that vital two score lead but they can hold their heads high.

ROVING REPORT: AUSTRALIA V SCOTLAND

Roving OATH reporter Alistair "Gutted" Buckle

Scotland fans hearts had just recovered from the last gasp win against Samoa so yesterday's cliffhanger against Australia was not good for the health. Having read all the press comment and let the emotion die down a wee bit, it is clear that the ref Craig Joubert made an error, but it was also clear that Australia, having scored five tries (with a two further disallowed), were the better team and deserved the win. Yes, as a Scots fan I would have loved to have watched them play in a RWC semi-final just down the road from where I live, but had they sneaked a win it would have been daylight robbery.

Scotland were magnificent, and refused to lie down, despite being behind on the scoreboard most of the game, but they stuck in there and never let Australia get ore than two scores ahead. Bernard McFoley, who had a shocker (apart from that last great kick), helped their cause by missing three conversions, and having a kick charged down by Russell for Scotland's second try. Their front five was immense, especially in the first half where Nel and Dickinson destroyed their Australian counterparts (who had dominated England and Wales up front). The back row, especially Cowan and Denton, competed with the great Hooper and Fardy at the breakdown, and got Scotland on the front foot. The Scottish backs, especially Bennett looked sharp and got over the gainline continually, and Laidlaw, again kicked his goals and showed strong leadership and cool temperament under pressure. The ref was harsh on them, from the card for Maitland for the attempted intercept, to the lack of card for the Australian Fardy for cynically killing the ball five metres out (is it any less of an offence early in the game?), and for Drew Mitchell for shoulder charging Hogg late in the game.

However, Australia always looked dangerous with ball in hand, with Giteau, Beale and Ashley-Cooper a constant threat, forcing Scotland to make 117 tackles. Scotland's inability to catch the ball from kick offs put them under constant pressure, especially after their last try (which indirectly contributed to the infamous penalty). They conceded five tries, with two further disallowed, although Kuridrani's effort looked a double movement. And in the last 10 minutes, they tried to play too much rugby in their own half, rather than kicking it deep into Australian territory to relieve pressure and nullify the opportunity for a match winning penalty or drop goal. Last but not least, they failed to catch the last lineout cleanly, leaving the ball to inevitably bounce off a few players, and the controversial penalty for accidental offside (when it apparently came off Phipps). It appears Joubert could not consult the TMO, but he could have watched it himself on the big screen a few times with the assistance of his touch judges, but he chose not to do so. Unfortunately, controversy follows him, as he was very harsh on France in the RWC 2011 final, and more recently, on the NSA Waratahs in the Super 15 final against the Highlanders. He won't be getting any Xmas tablet from north of the border, that is for sure. I was there, I booed him, but would never have thrown a bottle at him as he ran off the pitch. I did throw my empty cup high into the South stand, when Bennett went over under the posts with five minutes to go. I hope it didn't hit anyone, and that they got the pound back.

Ref makes final decision before changing identity and heading off to Bolivia

Great game, great occasion and great advert for the game...even some cynical English neutrals found themselves cheering quietly for their Northern hemisphere colleagues.

TWO MINUTES FROM GLORY

Still reviewing this morning's coverage from the weekend rugby fest, but both Wales and Scotland had victory in their sights only to let it slip. My initial feeling about Scotland is, if they had caught the line out, no penalty debate would have been necessary. That is a coaches view. As a fan, it was a tough call, as was the the late hit on Hogg and the yellow card on Maitland. But hey, all history now 😢