Premiership Semi: Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints

[dullonien]

In fairness a punch is a punch...he didn't go out of his way to do something sly or cowardly like a gouge or a stamp..I hope if he gets banned it wont be anything more than 2 weeks or so

Yeh that's a good point.

 

[lifeanddeath]

In fairness a punch is a punch...he didn't go out of his way to do something sly or cowardly like a gouge or a stamp..I hope if he gets banned it wont be anything more than 2 weeks or so

I'd say it's cowardly and sly when you know the other guy can't/won't punch you back as he's got a Heinekin cup final next week and can't afford to get cited. Ashton didn't hit back at all, just tried to push him away and Manu kept on hitting him, and the intent was obviously to injure and knock him out - when you're that big, you've punched a guy twice and he's just trying to move you away, and you smack him like that, that is totally malicious and intenting real harm.

Dunno how much you know about punches and the human body, but getting punched that hard in the head could do some very serious damage.

Personally I hope his ban is such that he can't play any part in England's games until after the world cup.

 

[lucky number 7]

I'd say it's cowardly when you know the other guy can't/won't punch you back as he's got a Heinekin cup final next week and .

Have you ever taken a punch before? Unless the guy properly makes mush of you as Manu did , you are going to absolutely go spare ..I have a good temper for the most part but once someone has a dig , it doesnt matter whats coming next week really :/

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'd say it's cowardly and sly when you know the other guy can't/won't punch you back as he's got a Heinekin cup final next week and can't afford to get cited.

I doubt that even came close to going through his mind,
Probably more along the lines of "what the f...OUCH....wait why...OUCH....ARGH"

 

[lifeanddeath]

Have you ever taken a punch before? Unless the guy properly makes mush of you as Manu did , you are going to absolutely go spare ..I have a good temper for the most part but once someone has a dig , it doesnt matter whats coming next week really :/

The only times I haven't walked away from a fight, even after being punched, was one where there were three guys and one me, and I had no where to go. And that's off the pitch as well as on.

 

[lucky number 7]

The only times I haven't walked away from a fight, even after being punched, was one where there were three guys and one me, and I had no where to go. And that's off the pitch as well as on.

You're a better man than I in that case sir.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

I'd say it's cowardly and sly when you know the other guy can't/won't punch you back as he's got a Heinekin cup final next week and can't afford to get cited. Ashton didn't hit back at all, just tried to push him away and Manu kept on hitting him, and the intent was obviously to injure and knock him out - when you're that big, you've punched a guy twice and he's just trying to move you away, and you smack him like that, that is totally malicious and intenting real harm.

Dunno how much you know about punches and the human body, but getting punched that hard in the head could do some very serious damage.

Personally I hope his ban is such that he can't play any part in England's games until after the world cup.

Over analyzing what was going thru the players heads. You sound like Stuart Barnes!


Manu's actions were pretty shocking but maybe it'll teach Ashton to stop acting like a little mouthy chav

 

[gingergenius]

cracking game, despite the scoreline. the physicality and intensity was awesome.

on the manu incident... I've never seen a combo like that on a rugby field. ashton may **** off a lot more people in the rest of his career, but i don't think he'll ever be ******** himself like that again. Should have been a straight red, but I don't think there should be a long ban... between 2-4 weeks would be fair. Either way, Leicester deserved to win the game.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Completely outrageous. I recon the ref should review all card decisions at half time and be able to amend them accordingly. Leicester won because the tj screwed Northampton over, sent one of their players off and didn't make sure Leicester didn't have 14 men for the rest of the match. Also Ashton seemed to be suffering from that punch all through the game, so Manu basically put one of their best players out as well. Absolutely disgusting.

.

Saints didnt lose because Tuilagi wasnt set off, its just that they probably wouldnt have if he had been. It doesnt make leicesters victory in any way invalid, both teams still played the game in front of them. That said I agree Manu should definitely have gone offAshton was probably being more cowardly by mouthing off(assuming he was) and hiding behind the law. Don't ban manu for too long though, we may need him!

If I was a saints fan I'd be pretty annoyed about Myler's pass that was judged forward though. referees are only human, but that was a great bit of play that wasnt forward that seemed to open up a great opportunity for ahston. that coudl have changed things abit.

we know how promising manu tuilagi is but pleassssssssssse lets get allen into the england set up. so much better than hape its insane

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Agree completely about Allen
Seems that his previous form in a white shirt is keeping him out despite him being a bjillion times better now

and he's only 24! Though he was late 20s at least!
He must've been in his teens when he got his cap(s?)

 

[lucky number 7]

The whole punch scenario has got me thinking...if we saw more punches and rowing openly as we did today do you think it would lead to a decrease in the more sickening and sly bits of foul play ? On one hand you could argue that if people had a row they could settle it right there as opposed to seeing (or worse not seeing) a gouge or headbut in a ruck , while on the other if punching was dealt with more leniently you could see the emergence of each team having a designated "brawler" much like NHL which would not be good...for little people like me anyway.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Agree completely about Allen
Seems that his previous form in a white shirt is keeping him out despite him being a bjillion times better now

and he's only 24! Though he was late 20s at least!
He must've been in his teens when he got his cap(s?)

Thats awesome, didint know he was that young either. and by the same token i only found out the other day that delon armitage is like 28 whereas i thought he was early twenties! Ergo we can be shot of him wayyy soooner!!!

 

[King_D'Arcy]

I think the strongest England backline would be

9. Youngs
10. Wilko
11. Cueto
12. Allen
13. Tuilagi
14. Ashton
15. Foden

That would be a sweet backline. Forget about Hapless and Bana-sham

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

And Tinsell... Oh wait that doesn't work. :huh:

 

[lucky number 7]

Pop David Haye in No.8 and they are sorted

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Trace the Klitschko brother families to find an English grandparent and have them on the flanks

 

[lucky number 7]

Pop Audley Harrison in 2nd row.....wait...He wouldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag lately

 

[Peat]

Agree completely about Allen
Seems that his previous form in a white shirt is keeping him out despite him being a bjillion times better now

and he's only 24! Though he was late 20s at least!
He must've been in his teens when he got his cap(s?)

We all know previous form in an England shirt has little impact to Johnno.

He likes size and hates Glaws. That is enough

 

[Teh Mite]

Pop Audley Harrison in 2nd row.....wait...He wouldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag lately

What do you mean "Lately"?


In other news... Cock.

 

[shtove]

Great match first half, but Saints were hopeless in the second.

Really enjoyed all the crunch defence.

Tuilagi jnr - what a prick. He basically assaulted Ashton four times - vicious high tackle off the ball, two jabs to the jaw, and a haymaker to the forehead. Watch that last punch in slomo - he was looking for the kill and should be banned for a year. But Ashton got the same punishment as him! At least it showed Ashton's maturity, even his reaction to the yellow, which means he's got a good head on him, even after someone tried to remove it.

Tuilagi snr's try was a great example of how matches turn, and deserved to be the winning score. Dumbass still can't sidestep.

Youngs and Allen were poor. Flood was OK. Laws was brilliant in the first half, but I guess he couldn't carry the pack for the whole match.

ps. Geraghty to come on at 60 mins against Leinster.