Tip tackle and the feckin ref wasn't going to call it until the TJ did.

DISGRACE

Are the Samoans gonna be able to field a side in the QFs if they all get put on report tonight?

For those not watching, Samoa have had one in the bin and have 3 on report.

That was poor from the officials. Take a report if you don't see it ref. on report is such a massive cop out

He's going to bruise his forearms if he keeps putting people on report.

Looks like he's advertising the X Factor.

huit metres forward, v funny

It's going to take a player getting paralyzed/killed before referees grow a pair and start making decisions not cop outs.

If someone get's badly injured, it's on your head parranara (however you spell his name).

Why has agar stuck with Baille?

Glad the officials went off after the teams and the crowd made it very clear what they thought of them.

If France play the conditions better in the second half they've got a chance...

World cup semi finals and onwards to be reffed by snakes as no backbone is required to get the plum ties. Imagine Aus v Eng in the final. Which impartial referee would get that gig?

Clue: He's reffing tonight.

What a bunch of hypocrites the scummy Samoans are. All that praying before and after the game then they act like a team of thugs. Wouldn't be so bad if it was big blokes on big blokes. Cowardly attacks, Kick them out of the comp, along with this idiot of a ref

Poor refereeing, seems to be a running theme.

Love seeing hard shots and biff, but this is ridiculous. Poor technique and a week late, France's discipline is brilliant considering, the crowd was silent untill that first late hit, Samoa England/Fiji will be fireworks!!

Jesus Christ, over reaction or what. Whilst Samoa have been the worst offenders, both teams have been guilty of poor shots this half. I'm enjoying it, great game for the neutrals.

I'm hoping france win so we can end the plastic samoans in the qf.

Oh, i'm enjoying it, likewise probably everyone else, however the referee needs sending home on this first half performance alone.

I didn't realise there had been 4 deliberate late hits on the samoan 6 and 7 with a spear tackle thrown in for good measure.

Excuse me JG, but the outrage bus is on tour and tonight's game is fully deserving of it. The discipline seen in this world cup, until this game, has been excellent.

You might like the cheap shots but when Hock is costing us three or four pens and a sin binning per game next season you will not be too happy mate.

It might look good but tonight it has been cheap and very late and quite possibly dangerous as that pitch seems quite hard (the ball is certainly bouncing) and some of the snaps have been side on so the hit player has either landed on his head (tip tackle) or had his head bounce on the deck after the body thuds down and if it hits hard enough the player won't be getting back up.

We all love tough fair rugby league...

May I suggest some people on this thread follow knitting or ballet and leave the rest of us to watch the mans game we have always enjoyed. Thanks

This thread proves just how soft the game has got these days

Milford is one of the players of the tournament for me.

Even before the ban on the shoulder charge this season it was easy to differentiate between a great hit and a late hit. Tonight they have bee late hits and on the half backs, not a forward smashing another forward. The game hasn't gone soft it has removed a tackling technique that was brilliant when done properly but was often used as an excuse by thugs for cheap shots.

I miss a fair shoulder challenge but I don't miss the cheap shot merchants and they are being found out now as they don't know how to tackle (Hock? (why have we signed this penalty giver?)) and that is a good thing.

Well said. Anyone know where the football forum is for these lot?

Samoa are looking stronger now and French are losing far too much ball. Think the French are done and the score should start picking up now.

Escare is quite superb tonight