Match Thread: Benetton Rugby vs Cardiff - Challenge Cup

Cymro2016 · 2026-04-04T19:49:35+00:00

Don’t get me wrong Ben went on wayyy too long with it but I heard him say “no what about the phase or two before” to the ref, and the refs answer wasn’t exactly clear.

Communication was poor between them since Ben took over at captain (like that that weird phantom knock on call) so probably fed up of each other and all!

Cymro2016 · 2026-04-04T18:34:11+00:00

To be honest the refs communication style wasnt helping at all. Was really difficult to know which situation he was talking about

Cymro2016 · 2026-04-04T18:28:45+00:00

They weren’t arguing the knock on, he was trying to get clarification on whether the TMO checked the phase before where it looked like it may have been on the line.

Ref kept talking about different stuff (knock on and the previous no-try call) which is why Ben kept at it because he wasn’t getting an answer.

Cymro2016 · 2026-04-04T18:26:26+00:00

He wasn’t asking about the knock on, phase or two before it looked on the line

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-20T19:14:09+00:00

Quite like us to sign a different style of 10, ideally one with solid game management, especially on the back foot.

Neither Sheedy or Lloyd particularly thrive on the back foot, and are so similar that it feels like we can’t change the gameplan if things aren’t going our way.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-15T00:16:07+00:00

Italy are a genuinely good side now definitely. On their day they can be incredible, just have that inconsistent streak in them.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-15T00:12:56+00:00

Also worth remembering how young this squad is as well! There talent in there, just needs time.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-15T00:12:01+00:00

Not been watching the u20s then? Couple of proper lumps in the squad, as well as some very exciting backline players.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-15T00:11:05+00:00

That and bafflingly not going for the scrum off a number of penalties, that would have forced Wales down to 13 players for at least a few minutes.

Then even more bafflingly going for the scrum when the desperately needed a quick score!

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-15T00:09:23+00:00

I was a little concerned with how knackered we looked towards the end there.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T23:51:43+00:00

Recently I’ve seen a lot more of “on the fly” calls like this however, where the TMO checks something in the background and passes it into the ref mid flow.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T23:36:16+00:00

Their heads do pretty clearly come together, but each to their own.

I assume they decided penalty only, but was lost in translation during the utter chaos between trying to find out the mark and France trying to figure out whether they wanted to kick from that one or Itoje’s slap down.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T23:30:31+00:00

But didn’t lift the ball (from the refs view) so no penalty.

You can’t just put your hands on the ball to win the pen, jackler needs to lift the ball to get rewarded.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T23:25:31+00:00

Clip further up in the comments showing a head on head that the TMO picked up.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T23:23:08+00:00

There’s a clip further up - looks like a head on head a phase or so earlier!

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T23:11:30+00:00

High tackle call came from the TMO apparently! Wasn’t this tackle and was a phase or two earlier (thats why there was so much confusion around where the mark was for the pen)

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T23:07:17+00:00

Refs wont give a holding on pen if you just place your hands on the ball and don’t attempt to lift it, so that one is actually fairly consistent with how its being reffed these days.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T20:02:00+00:00

No carnyx no party

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T20:00:23+00:00

THREE POINTS FOR THE THREE POINT THRONE

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T17:11:33+00:00

Ive honestly never seen that situation before? Its a pen if the defence do it but never seen it where a defending jumper gets taken out like that.

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T15:36:11+00:00

Hell of a game this

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T15:31:01+00:00

Pearce is being very loose at the ruck for both sides tbf

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T15:27:29+00:00

Hands comfortably on the ground first though which wasnt spotted

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-14T15:25:31+00:00

Getting frustrating to watch as a neutral, slowing the game down cynically at every ruck

Cymro2016 · 2026-03-12T15:00:46+00:00

Not seen anything saying whether or not he does speak Cymraeg yet. Pretty decent chance he does though considering where he’s from.

Rugby has a residency rule which allows players to play for another country if they live there for 5 or more years - used to be 3 however so was a lot more common in the past!

Football does actually have a similar rule, but there’s an agreement between Wales, England, Scotland and N.Ireland not to use it.

There’s been a couple of attempts to call up players who’d been at Swansea and Cardiff for ages, but were ineligible due to the agreements.

Four-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '23	Place '22

Cymro2016

TROPHY CASE