Fri 18 Nov: Wheelchair World Cup Final: France v England KO 7.30pm

[Damien]

Just now, jacksy said:

Oh dear for all the good bbc have done nothing on the news about the WC Final win.

Yeah, I couldn't believe that really.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Padge said:

You seem to fail to understand how vindictive the RFU are about the use of the word rugby by Ruby League. The minute it gets its head above the local no sales press they want to kill it.

100 per cent.

[JohnM]

1 hour ago, Leonard said:

Makes the win better though !

Makes the wine better, though?

[north yorks trinity]

9 minutes ago, Jughead said:

Not in Wheelchair RL. There’s been four Wheelchair World Cup’s, England have now won two and it’s still going. 

Not yet but it's never been as much in the spotlight before and that's going to bring all of RU's insecurities to the fore.

[Gerrumonside ref]

Congratulations England on a fantastic win!

[Leyther_Matt]

One of the most intense - and enjoyable - games I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending. It had absolutely everything. Fantastic atmosphere too. Loved how the early French penalty was taken to silence but by the second half everyone had got in to it and in true RL fashion was trying to put the kicker off.

That French liner though…!

[Futtocks]

Mentioned just now, as well as the PDRL World Cup, on Channel 4's The Last Leg.

[WN83]

Feel privileged to have been there tonight. The venue, the atmosphere, the game, the French loon and the win. It must’ve been so emotional for the players to see the place packed out and both sides served up an absolute treat. 
 

Here’s to the the future of the sport. 

[Adelaide Tiger]

Just watched the game.  An absolutely fantastic experience.  I had tears running down my face during the last minute.  I wish I had a vocabulary like Stephen Fry so I could find the appropriate words to sum it all up.  

[Whippet13]

Just got back from Manchester, my first wheelchair game and it was a thriller. Great venue, great crowd, great atmosphere and 2 great teams who went at it non stop for 80 minutes. Yes, it really was that great.

The French referee was appauling throughout giving everything against England, some fans got on his back in the 2nd half and he completely lost it in the last 15, I have never seen anything like it. The 5th official came on at one point and spoke directly to him.

Delighted I got to finally see England Rugby League win a world cup in my lifetime, it may not happen again so a special evening.

[WN83]

1 minute ago, Whippet13 said:

Just got back from Manchester, my first wheelchair game and it was a thriller. Great venue, great crowd, great atmosphere and 2 great teams who went at it non stop for 80 minutes. Yes, it really was that great.

The French referee was appauling throughout giving everything against England, some fans got on his back in the 2nd half and he completely lost it in the last 15, I have never seen anything like it. The 5th official came on at one point and spoke directly to him.

Delighted I got to finally see England Rugby League win a world cup in my lifetime, it may not happen again so a special evening.

I watch many sports and have done for 30+ years and I’ve never seen anything like it. What a disgraceful bloke he was. He shouid not be allowed near the sport again. I thought he was really disrespectful to both sets of players because they don’t deserve antics like that, at a time when they’re finally in the spotlight and their sport is being lauded. 

[The Masked Poster]

As I've probably already indicated, I'm not averse to criticising RL where I feel it's warranted. It makes lots of predicable and avoidable mistakes.

But by the same token of honesty, this was a genuine fantastic event - by any comparison you might want to think of. It looked for all the world like a proper important occasion.

Huge kudos to everyone involved and just shows you what can happen if you believe in something. (I don't include myself in that, I'm a moaning git) 

[Whippet13]

12 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

One of the most intense - and enjoyable - games I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending. It had absolutely everything. Fantastic atmosphere too. Loved how the early French penalty was taken to silence but by the second half everyone had got in to it and in true RL fashion was trying to put the kicker off.

That French liner though…!

A great cheer too when they missed with their final penalty attempt.

[Whippet13]

1 minute ago, WN83 said:

I watch many sports and have done for 30+ years and I’ve never seen anything like it. What a disgraceful bloke he was. He shouid not be allowed near the sport again. I thought he was really disrespectful to both sets of players because they don’t deserve antics like that, at a time when they’re finally in the spotlight and their sport is being lauded. 

I doubt he'll be officiating at another WC game ever, it added to the entertainment in the end but he could have robbed England of the WC.

He was the defending ref but was still calling decisions against Englands attack. I think even the attacking Aussie ref on the other side got fed up with him in the end and was giving borderline decisions to England, including awarding our penultimate try when the French ref was saying it was no try.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Whippet13 said:

I doubt he'll be officiating at another WC game ever, it added to the entertainment in the end but he could have robbed England of the WC.

He was the defending ref but was still calling decisions against Englands attack. I think even the attacking Aussie ref on the other side got fed up with him in the end and was giving borderline decisions to England, including awarding our penultimate try when the French ref was saying it was no try.

Any idea why he was saying no try? Seemed clear as day.

[bratman]

1 minute ago, Whippet13 said:

I doubt he'll be officiating at another WC game ever, it added to the entertainment in the end but he could have robbed England of the WC.

He was the defending ref but was still calling decisions against Englands attack. I think even the attacking Aussie ref on the other side got fed up with him in the end and was giving borderline decisions to England, including awarding our penultimate try when the French ref was saying it was no try.

I couldn't see anything contentious about that try whatsoever. He really did seem to just lose the plot and/or actual bias. The craziest thing I've ever seen on a rugby pitch I think.

[Dave T]

 

 

[Futtocks]

I think Wheelchair RL's still a fair way off from having officials that are anything other than volunteer amateurs.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Dave T said:

 

 

T20 world cup, Wheelchair WC.....things come in threes. 

[tim2]

10 minutes ago, The Masked Poster said:

As I've probably already indicated, I'm not averse to criticising RL where I feel it's warranted. It makes lots of predicable and avoidable mistakes.

But by the same token of honesty, this was a genuine fantastic event - by any comparison you might want to think of. It looked for all the world like a proper important occasion.

Huge kudos to everyone involved and just shows you what can happen if you believe in something. (I don't include myself in that, I'm a moaning git) 

Also, the BBC presentation of it was first class, although I think they should just use Wheelchair RL pundits next time - nothing against JJB and Amor but the wheelchair guys have a better grasp of that form of the game. The RFL should be arranging internationals and cutting a deal with the BBC ASAP to show England, some of the SL games and the Celtic Cup. It'll pay for itself in increased participation and funding. It ticks massive boxes for funding, assuming the criteria haven't changed since I was doing fund applications for clubs/leagues etc.

Also, Clare Balding is a legend.

[Alan Robertson]

Well done to England, an outstanding result!

Edited November 18, 2022 by Alan Robertson

[Futtocks]

2 minutes ago, tim2 said:

It ticks massive boxes for funding

It misses out on disability sport funding, because it isn't exclusively for disabled athletes.

[Dave T]

https://twitter.com/RLWC2021/status/1593724776308264962?t=eqrtlAZLvK6SI7o8S97CaQ&s=19

 

[Leyther_Matt]

Just now, Futtocks said:

It misses out on disability sport funding, because it isn't exclusively for disabled athletes.

I would say it’s quite possibly the most inclusive sport in the world in that sense. All genders, all abilities sharing one pitch. And yet you’re absolutely correct that it somehow fails to tick the right boxes!

[tim2]

3 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

I think Wheelchair RL's still a fair way off from having officials that are anything other than volunteer amateurs.

I'm not sure that's strictly true, as I think they'll have been paid for tonight. They aren't full-time, obviously, but they will have reffed Wheelchair SL (or equivalent) and have officiated high level community or pro running games as well. 

The contentious stuff is pretty similar to the real game - strip or knock on, illegal contact or not, tackle complete before a try. And it's happening super fast, with no video ref. I wonder if they'll get video ref in 2025?