Clermont Auvergne - Ulster (21/01/2012, 16:40)

[oldscumbagonian]

Ulster well ahead on possession and territory - and should be in front. One missed penalty and a cocked-up three-man overlap could yet cost them dear.

And lo, it came to pass.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Really enjoyed the game. The first 60 minutes everything went bad for ASM then the ref changed his mind. Well deserved victory

 

[m0rris]

Most blatant obstruction for the Clermont try and Dave Pearson behaving like a petulant little child 'cause a player feels a bit wound up in the heat of the moment and tells him what he saw. Should have seen Sivivatu's obstruction in the 1st half as well!

Quality effort by Ulster though, with a bit more composure (or a better ref) they could have won that!

Indeed, Pearson seemed to want to make his own impact on the game and decided to start screwing around to make himself more prominent in the game... I suppose that's the nature of "celebrity" refs.

Clermont fought long and hard for that one and it is a shame Ulster cou;dn't have won it but they are playing like beasts and the moment and could yet go far.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Pearson was well within his right to reverse the freekick to a Clermont penalty for that - I wish more referees would do that when players start shouting at them.
Accept it and move on, he's not going to change his mind because you'e screaming in his face.

 

[big ginger 8]

Was wrong for James' obvious knock down though Muller is the captain has every right to ask.

 

[SelimNiai]

Most blatant obstruction for the Clermont try and Dave Pearson behaving like a petulant little child 'cause a player feels a bit wound up in the heat of the moment and tells him what he saw. Should have seen Sivivatu's obstruction in the 1st half as well!

Quality effort by Ulster though, with a bit more composure (or a better ref) they could have won that!

Actually I thought Pearson did ok. The offence to which you call him "petulant" was an Ulster player blatantly showing dissent do he penalised him for it. This isn't football, if you show dissent you are going to get punished for it.

The Lino is more at fault for Sivivatu's obstruction considering he had to dodge them to keep up with play

 

[racingmetrofan]

Actually I thought Pearson did ok. The offence to which you call him "petulant" was an Ulster player blatantly showing dissent do he penalised him for it. This isn't football, if you show dissent you are going to get punished for it.

The Lino is more at fault for Sivivatu's obstruction considering he had to dodge them to keep up with play

He is the captain. It isn't dissent as far as I know. Admittedly Muller was not the most calm about it - but it doesn't excuse the ref, who is meant to transcend the atmosphere, from getting involved and acting petulantly. Even if the ref did find it that bad, he didn't even issue a warning - just a straight penalty.

 

[SelimNiai]

Captain can ask why penalty had been given once. Not keep on telling him he is wrong which is most likley what occurred. No need to warn, Muller should know this anyway

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He doesn't have to, if the referee is spoken to like that it is up to him whether to act on it: he decided to.
He wasn't acting petulant, if anything it was Muller acting petulant towards Sir because of the decision.

 

[Peat]

Didn't see the incident as I haven't watched it yet but you're taking risks hastling the ref. My friends have suggested there will be comments about the ref but ultimately you play the ref you're given and its up to be good enough. We weren't, but only barely, and that's as much as any bugger has done in Clermont for a long time. We've got a quarter-final to look forwards to and the knowledge we can threaten any side in Europe anywhere

That's a good result even if I had wished for more.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Debaty was better than Faure in the loose, but worse in the scrums, Ric couldn't be called up "instead of" Debaty as they play different sides, you would have to drop either Mas or Ducalcon if you wanted him in the squad

I didn't mention Faure. I think a thid hooker would make more sense than a fifth prop. And in case you take a fifth prop, Ric is still a better TH than he is a LH, but is still a better LH than Debaty (he has played LHP this year because DEbaty can't hold his side). And, anyway, Ducalcon is not good imo. If he keeps being crap for France, this 6N should be his last call up.

 

[jaunard06]

I already saw better refereeing from Pearson, would he have sanctioned continuous infrigements of Ulster in the rucks, especially hand tackling from players on the ground, Clermont would have won with a 10 points margin.
I thought like I was looking at the WC final once again, what a nightmare...

Credit to the jaunards though, they deserved that win, but I'm afraid that the quarter finals will be the same old story as ever.

 

[Peat]

I already saw better refereeing from Pearson, would he have sanctioned continuous infrigements of Ulster in the rucks, especially hand tackling from players on the ground, Clermont would have won with a 10 points margin.
I thought like I was looking at the WC final once again, what a nightmare...

Credit to the jaunards though, they deserved that win, but I'm afraid that the quarter finals will be the same old story as ever.

And from an Ulster PoV your try featured the most blatant example of blocking seen this year, he missed a big deliberate knock on and should have issued a yellow to you lot - swings and roundabouts.

You won, congratulations and good luck for the rest of the tournament, but trying showing a bit more grace and a lot less whining.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Obstruction on the try is blatant for sure
I also found that ref was very laxist on rucks with Ulter, and Sivivatu tackled 3 times without ball (maybe explain why he also did it one after realizing no reaction from any ref, even the line out ones).

To resume, poor ref for both teams, despite this these one had an excellent spirit on what could have badly turn into a dirty match.