Archive for Tri-Nations
Rattue shows once again, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about
Posted by: | CommentsNew Zealand Herald columnist Chris Rattue has posted his weekly rant on sport, this time focusing on the refereeing of the first Bledisloe Cup test and once again shows he’s either completely ignorant of the laws of the game, or a professional troll. I suspect it’s the former.
Within the first paragraph, Rattue makes reference to the clip being on YouTube as fans were not shown the incident during the live broadcast but then fail to provide a link to said clip. Bad online journalism there, if you’re going to reference a source of material, at the very least link to it.
Here’s the clip
As you can see, Drew Mitchell hits Richie McCaw without the ball and was flagged for this by assistant referee Jonothan Kaplan who then recommended a yellow card. Rattue takes issue with this, labeling it “soft” and claiming that “rugby is stark raving bonkers to send blokes off in test matches for such innocuous incidents.”
But let’s take a closer look and examine the basis of Kaplan’s recommendation: the laws of the game. Clearly the tackle is off the ball which falls under law 10.4 (e): A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.
Alright, under that law Kaplan was right to flag Mitchell but if that was his only offense then surely a penalty would have sufficed. However watch Mitchell’s arms, he extends them out in a pushing motion, at no time does he attempt to wrap up or grasp McCaw. Is this a legal tackling technique?
Law 10.4 (g) states: A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without trying to grasp that player. The last three words are the key here. While Kaplan’s wording when reporting the incident, “late and no arms” may seem wrong to the casual observer, under the laws of the game he is correct as he is stating the tackle was late, which is was, and the tackler did not use his arms legally.
Many referees use a “double whammy” standard where if a player commits two penalty offenses at the same time, then a yellow card will result. For example a late shoulder charge or an intentional knock on while standing offside. This seems to be an accepted refereeing standard to apply at all levels.
Rattue then goes on to focus on the second yellow picked up by Mitchell.
Mitchell perhaps got what he deserved – under the dubious current rules – when he prevented Conrad Smith from taking a quick lineout throw later on and was red-carded for a second yellow card offence.
The Wallabies knew both teams were on a final warning for obstruction, and rugby is wise to stamp out sneaky delaying tactics.
Looking at the forest rather than the trees, though, Mitchell’s sending off was a nonsense.
Here’s where I utterly disagree with Rattue. Having dished out a warning for delaying the play, referee Joubert was left with no option but to yellow card the next player who did it, and to give Mitchell a free pass because he was already on a yellow card would be nonsense.
Watch a football game where a player gets yellow carded, he will tone down his play and try to avoid situations where another yellow is possible, Mitchell did quite the opposite of this and put himself in a situation where a second yellow was a near certainty.
The red card is, I believe, not used often enough in rugby because from that point on the game is over as a contest. 14 men simply cannot beat 15, and for that reason referees are loathe to use it, in fact not a single player was red carded during this year’s Super 14.
But in situations where the referee is left with little choice, such as Joubert was with Mitchell and Wayne Barnes was with Jamie Heslop, we as fans need to support the referees and realize that they are only reacting to what the players have done. There was a chain of events which led to Mitchell’s dismissal, all of which were in the players’ hands.
Finally there’s something of a hot button issue I want to comment on. The IRB is trying to eliminate shoulder charges and tip tackles from the game entirely. This is why referees seem to be so harsh on these, it’s not a case of sanitising the game, it’s a case of trying to make the game safer for all players. I personally know of two amateur referees who had their playing careers ended by tip tackles.
Once players realize that these two types of foul play will not be tolerated by referees or judicial panels, they will become a rarity on the field and we will have a safer game at all levels. Until then referees will continue to be put in a difficult situations and clueless columnists will have fodder for their ill-informed rants.
Hear hear Mr Joubert
Posted by: | CommentsDrew Mitchell now holds a place in history as the first Wallaby to be sent off against the All Blacks after receiving two yellow cards in the 28-44 loss to the All Blacks on Saturday night.
It will be argued by many Australian media and supported (yes GreenAndGoldRugby.com, I’m looking at you) that Mitchell was hard done by, but it was actually the result of some good refereeing and Craig Joubert being unafraid to make the tough call.
Mitchell’s first yellow card is indisputable, especially when viewed after Owen Franks’s yellow card for a similar infringement earlier. It’s one of those silly shoulder charges which happens occasionally and gets dealt with appropriately.
Late in the first half referee Joubert called out both captains and explained to them that both teams were interfering with players attempting to take quick taps from penalties and asked that both teams cut it out. “I will escalate to yellow cards if I have to,” was Joubert’s parting words.
Fast forward to the second half and Conrad Smith attempts to take a quick lineout, only to have the ball slapped out of his hands by Mitchell. Clearly the referee’s patience had run out with this sort of play and he called Mitchell and the captain over for a chat.
Here is where a lesser referee would have chickened out and not issued Mitchell his second yellow card and given another warning which would have made a farce of his earlier warning. Referees are loath to bring out their red card, but to not yellow card a player simply because he has already seen one is highly damaging to a referee’s credibility.
Instead Joubert told Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom and Mitchell that he took “no responsibility for how this decision affects the outcome of the game”, showed Mitchell a yellow card, followed by the red. And the referee should not have to take responsibility for that, as both incidents view in isolation are clearly worth a yellow card, and both required Mitchell to first put himself in a situation where a yellow card was likely.
So congratulations to referee Joubert for having the testicular fortitude to produce a red card in a situation where far too many referees would wimp out. There should be no difference between what is required to receive a first, or second yellow card and tonight Joubert proved himself capable of doing just that.
The fallout from the headbutt
Posted by: | CommentsAfter yet another on-field indiscretion, Springbok lock Bakkies Botha has been suspended for the rest of the Tri-Nations for his head-butt on Jimmy Cowan. But the fallout from his actions, and his long list of previous suspensions for acts of thuggery has led to many questioning whether he has an international career left.
My own view is that a nine week ban is long enough, only because it covers the rest of the Tri-Nations, which is probably why the number was chosen. I also think that the head-butt contributed to Botha’s yellow card after 13 for a professional foul, neither the referee nor his assistants saw the head-butt but it was replayed a number of times on the big screen and they would have certainly been aware of it.
First my arch-nemesis Chris Rattue from the New Zealand Herald.
Nine weeks sounds like a long rugby ban.
In the case of Bakkies Botha it isn’t long enough.
Botha should have got a year for what he did to Jimmy Cowan at Eden Park, also taking into account his history of thuggery.
Why a year? Well, I’ve plucked that figure out of the air, but it sounds about right, and much more right than nine weeks.
And to a point, he has it right. Botha is, in many respects, a throwback to the days when players meted out justice on the field but with more than 20 cameras pointed at the game, those days are long gone.
The Press rugby writer Richard Knowler labels Botha a ‘nutter’ and chronicles his many suspensions.
This incident was the latest in a raft of nasty incidents that have blighted Botha’s career and it is not only international opponents who have felt his wrath. Crusaders fans might recall he was rubbed out of the Bulls’ Super 14 semifinal in Soweto because he had been suspended for smashing Stormers fullback Gio Aplon in a ruck cleanout.
Last year Botha copped a three-week rest for belting Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh and was later controversially banned for two weeks for a dangerous charge on British and Irish Lions prop Adam Jones. Ironically, Botha was innocent on that occasion, with even Jones stating the suspension was unwarranted. Yet many people felt it was karma catching up with him.
In late 2002, Botha announced his arrival on the international circuit by being yellow-carded for stomping in his test debut against France and the following year he received an eight-week holiday for attacking the face of Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon.
TVNZ’s John McBeth even said before the game that he hoped Botha would not stoop to his notorious illegal play. Unfortunately he did.
I didn’t mention anything about the forward play or tactics or the like. I simply stated that I hoped Bakkies Botha would play the game cleanly and not sink to his notorious low standards of illegal play.
Sadly, Botha let himself and his team down- yet again.
The reaction in the Republic has been largely the same as here in New Zealand, why did he do it? Independent Online’s Peter Bills also asks if Botha should be selected again for the Springboks given his appalling disciplinary record.
How much longer can South Africa afford Bakkies Botha and his crass indiscipline?
How can Springbok coach Peter de Villiers keep choosing Botha when he clearly cannot rely on him to keep his discipline?
Fans over at the Time Online comments say Botha is an embarrassment to the Springboks and his actions contributed to the loss.
The final word goes to my friends over at Ruggaworld, an excellent South African rugby blog, where one of their regular commenters had this to say:
They should have banned him for 12 months…….Boks need to send him packing until he sort out his kak. Danie (Rossouw) is playing much better than him in anyway.
Interesting conversation I had with the TV
Posted by: | CommentsSettling in on Saturday night to watch the opening test of the 2010 Tri-Nations I had this exchange with Grant Nisbett via the TV.
Grant: Tonight’s referee is Alan Lewis from Ireland
Me: Oh shit!
Grant: Assisted by Alain Rolland from Ireland and Stu Dickinson from Australia
Me: I guess it could be worse, he could get injured…
First Bledisloe Cup test in depth preview
Posted by: | CommentsBoth sides have finished up their appetisers and are headed on to the main course of the international rugby season, the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup. Even though both teams are coming off uninspiring wins over Northern Hemisphere opponents, this is a rivalry that goes back 106 years and these two teams always bring out the best in each other.
The All Blacks’ coaching debate, the rebuilding of the Wallabies all bring extra spice to this dish as Sports After Dark takes an in depth look at the teams and how they match up ahead of their first meeting in Auckland on Saturday.
Back three (Fullback and wingers)
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Lauchie Turner
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Corey Jane, Sitiveni Sivivatu
On of the things that immediately catches my eye here is all three New Zealand players are very capable fullbacks so should be very safe if the Australians try to use the high ball. Sivivatu was in wonderful form in the Super 14 before his injury in the semi final and should be back to his elusive try scoring best for this game, while the Aussies have an elusive try scorer of their own in Mitchell.
Overall this area is very close but I have to give the All Blacks a slight edge here due to their experience at this level.
Midfield (Centres)
Australia: Stirling Mortlock, Berrick Barnes
New Zealand: Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu
Again, this is a very even match up with both teams picking centres whose style of play compliments each other. In my view teams should have a centre who can beat the line with speed or skill and a centre who can bust through with power and in this respect both teams have that. Where they differ is Barnes gives the Wallabies a second kicking option in the back line, while Nonu, who is a good kicker, doesn’t like to kick.
Advantage Australia here.
Halves (Fly half and halfback)
Australia: Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess
New Zealand: Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan
Without Dan Carter the number 10 jersey has become a massive headache for the All Blacks’ coaching staff with neither Donald or Luke McAlister really claiming the jersey as their own, while Giteau has gone from strength to strength in this position and is arguably the best fly half in the world playing right now. At halfback both teams have a good pass and a threat to run from the base of the ruck, but in this position you would have to give the edge to Cowan provided he keeps his temper under control.
Australia have the better fly half, New Zealand the better half back so it’s a tie here.
Loose forwards
Australia: Wyclif Palu, George Smith, Richard Brown
New Zealand: Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino
Here is where the test match could be won and lost. The return of So’oialo and McCaw will greatly boost the All Blacks who have struggled to dominate the breakdown so far this season, while the hard running of Palu and Brown could provide headaches for All Black defenders in midfield. McCaw and Smith once again go head to head in the fetcher role, but provided McCaw lasts 80 minutes he will give his side the edge here as Smith has never really dominated McCaw in past meetings.
New Zealand have a clear edge here if McCaw and So’oialo can last at least 60 minutes.
Locks
Australia: Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill
New Zealand: Brad Thorn, Isaac Ross
An epic collision between man mountains who can not only do the hard yards but can be devastating if they get the ball in a little space. This will not be a test where you will see Ross charging down the sideline like a winger or Horwill busting through the midfield like a centre, this will be trench warfare and all the locks will have their heads down.
Australia with a slight edge only because Sharpe is a proven ball stealer at lineout time, something Thorn does not do often and Ross is yet to do at this level.
Front row (Props and hooker)
Australia: Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson
New Zealand: Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock
Much like the locks, the front rowers will have little choice but to dive into the trenches and go to war. While Robinson and Hore can be a threat with ball in hand, don’t expect to see them do it too often. The first scrum will be intense as two skilled front row attempt to see who can gain the ascendency in this good old fashioned forward battle.
Calling this one a draw.
Bench
Australia: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Will Genia, James O’Connor
New Zealand: Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Jason Eaton, Kieran Read, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Joe Rokocoko
Here’s where I’m a little confused, why has Robbie Deans picked five forwards on the bench for the Wallabies? I think perhaps his plan is to let Palu run himself ragged for 60 minutes then move Brown to the back of the scrum and Pocock on in a dual openside role with Smith or Waugh when he comes on. However Genia is a specialist halfback leaving O’Connor to cover the rest of the backline, in fact two backline injuries could make life very interesting for the Wallabies’ bench.
The All Blacks have gone with a traditional four forwards, three backs split. The three back reserves, Weepu, McAlister and Rokocoko, cover every position in the back line except fullback, and as mentioned earlier both starting wingers are capable fullbacks. An interesting selection is Owen Franks who only broke into the Super 14 last season, how he plays off the bench could prove pivotal for the All Blacks’ forward effort in the final stages of the game.
Finally there’s some history to be looked at here. Eden Park has been a very happy hunting ground for the All Blacks against the Wallabies, having only lost there four times in over 70 years and their last loss came in 1986. The All Blacks have also won nine of their last eleven meetings with the Wallabies and have held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003. The Wallabies will need to win three of their four meetings with the All Blacks this year to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup.
While many fans feel that this could be the Wallabies’ year with Robbie Deans’s influence starting to show through in the team, coupled with the All Blacks’ poor early season form I don’t think it’s all that clear cut. Do the Wallabies have an advantage on paper? Quite possibly, but this is an All Blacks’ team who embarrassed themselves against Italy and France, and will be looking to redeem themselves.
Whichever way this result goes, and my prediction is it will be close, this will an absolute cracker of a game and I for one can’t wait!
