ozbash
Referee
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Whats the guts here ? What is the game coming to ?:roll:
Complaining to Paddy about our scrums..
The Springboks have intensified their attack on the All Blacks' scrum, taking their claims of illegal tactics to IRB referees boss Paddy O'Brien.
But New Zealand coach Graham Henry has kept cool ahead of Saturday night's Tri-Nations rematch in Dunedin.
The South Africans will meet with O'Brien in Wellington today although they mightn't get too far there with their suggestions that All Blacks loosehead Tony Woodcock is up to mischief at scrum time.
O'Brien told TV One News that he would listen to the South African concerns but he had viewed the game and "I didn't see anything illegal".
However, he added that if there was legitimacy to the Boks' claims he would "address it with the referee for Saturday and pass the information on to the New Zealand camp because it's all about fairness."
Under new rulings initiated by O'Brien, teams don't get to discuss issues with the match referee in the buildup to tests.
But this is taking things to another level with O'Brien himself involved.
Australian Matt Goddard, who has limited test experience but has been controlling Super 14 matches since 2002, has the whistle for Saturday night's showdown at Carisbrook which promises to have plenty of feeling about it.
Henry has tinkered with his front row for this weekend. But Woodcock stays with the change coming on the other side with John Afoa replacing Greg Somerville at tighthead.
It is a selection that speaks volumes for how the All Blacks don't rate the once-mighty Springboks scrum and the confidence they have in their own set piece.
"We pride ourselves on our scrum, we work very hard on it and that's all I'd like to say, really," Henry said when pressed on Springboks coach Peter De Villiers' claims that Woodcock was allowed to cheat last week.
De Villiers said the All Blacks won the scrum battle because Woodcock stepped out and around the Springboks tighthead, giving him a better angle of attack.
That's illegal, and de Villiers claimed the All Blacks were penalised 21 times in the three tests against Ireland and England for the tactic. All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen said that figure was wrong, but didn't volunteer one of his own.
"Each week we hear people complaining about our scrum," he said.
"We've got a good scrum, we want to scrum and we look forward to scrummaging on Saturday."
The Boks are clearly feeling the heat as they try to live up to their world champion tag in New Zealand where they have not won for 10 years and in Dunedin where they have never tasted victory.
The heat is clearly on de Villiers whose front row selections for the Tri-Nations were questioned even before the Boks headed to New Zealand.
Critics in the republic said the axing of top tighthead prop BJ Botha left the Springboks vulnerable to the All Blacks at scrum time and it looks like it is panning out that way.
Former All Blacks Murray Mexted, now a Sky TV commentator who was at the match in Wellington, and prop Steve McDowell backed the All Blacks scrum and the methods of Woodcock.
The latest developments reflect the traditional intensity that exists when rugby's greatest rivals meet.
It's been a testy week with Henry questioning the Springboks' off-the-ball tactics in New Zealand's 19-8 win over South Africa in Wellington last weekend.
In a hugely physical match the Boks brought their usual aggressive approach to their defensive work.
Not that the All Blacks were angels with lock Brad Thorn banned for one week for "unsporting behaviour" after he dumped Springboks captain John Smit in a tackle the visitors claim led to a groin injury that has now forced their skipper out of the next two matches.
The Boks were unhappy after the match that Australian referee Stuart Dickinson hadn't dealt with the matter better at the time and the then felt the subsequent one-week ban on Thorn was light.
Dickinson has since admitted he should have sin-binned Thorn at the time but said he didn't get a decent view of the controversial incident, nor did his touch judges.
Now we wait to see what the next level of referees have to say about the scrum claims.
Having a go at Dowdy's comments..
The South African Honorary Consul in New Zealand has hit out at former All Black Craig Dowd, who called new Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers a puppet.
Dowd questioned the credentials of de Villiers on Newstalk ZB, saying he had some good staff around him but was merely a "puppet". It was yet to be seen if he knew anything about rugby, he said.
South African Honorary Consul Gregory Fortuin today called on Dowd to apologise for the comment.
Fortuin said he had the utmost respect for Dowd's achievements and ability as an All Black prop, but found his personal attack on the Springbok coach offensive.
It was up to the South African Rugby Union to defend the coach's rugby credentials which included both club and international age-grade success, he said.
Dowd's comments come during a war of words between the All Blacks and Springboks after an at times violent first test in Wellington on Saturday.
-NZPA
and then Smitty's parting shots
An angry and disappointed Springboks captain John Smit has hit out at the All Blacks over the controversial injury which ended his New Zealand tour and suggested world rugby wouldn't tolerate similar treatment to All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
Smit heads back to South Africa today with a groin injury from last weekend's Tri-Nations opener against the All Blacks when he was dumped to the ground in a tackle by New Zealand lock Brad Thorn.
Thorn has been banned from the rematch with the Springboks in Dunedin this weekend after being found guilty of "unsportsmanlike conduct". Smit will also miss that match and next week's clash with the Wallabies in Perth as he rehabilitates his injury
There was bitterness about him when he opened up to the South African media before his departure from Wellington.
The war of words that has raged since last Saturday night shows no signs of easing.
"Just imagine Bakkies Botha doing something similar to Richie McCaw. World rugby would have come to a standstill," Smit was reported as saying on the website of SuperSport, South African rugby's broadcasting partner.
"Yes, I'm angry. I'm really not happy about having to sit in South Africa and watch the Springboks beat the All Blacks in Dunedin."
His bitter comments raised memories of the fallout three years ago when touring British and Irish Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll was ruled out of the series early in the first test at Christchurch courtesy of a lifting tackle.
All Blacks tacklers Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu were never punished, which drew the ire of O'Driscoll and Lions coach Clive Woodward.
The aftermath of the first test has seen both camps fire a few bullets. All Blacks coach Graham Henry questioned some of the Springboks' off the ball tactics where it seemed Dan Carter came in for a bit of special treatment.
The Boks have hit back with allegations of illegal scrum tactics from the All Blacks while they have also questioned the length of Thorn's ban.
Smit continued that when he told SuperSport: "One almost gets the idea that anyone who is not from New Zealand does not have the same rights as someone who plays for the All Blacks.
"I was suspended for six weeks after a test match in France for running into someone with my elbow held in front of me. It was not nearly as nasty as what happened to me last Saturday.
"A few seasons ago, (All Black coach) Graham Henry asked everyone not to tackle Richie McCaw. Now Richie is injured and Henry is asking everyone not to tackle Dan Carter.
"If everyone can only realise no one is above the rugby laws, we can all move forward."
Smit, in the middle of the Boks' front row, said that in his capacity as captain he had repeatedly complained to Australian referee Stuart Dickinson about the All Blacks' scrumming before he was forced off just before halftime with his groin injury.
"I think he (Dickinson) got tired of me saying it all the time and he eventually decided to award a penalty to us."
Smit's dream of being the first Springboks captain in 10 years to win in New Zealand has been shattered. He missed out in the 8-19 loss in Wellington and he won't be in Dunedin.
"It's been a great ambition of mine to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand. Now I have to wait another year. And with two test matches in New Zealand, this was an ideal opportunity (to beat the All Blacks).
"We came here to win both matches; not only to win a test in New Zealand. So far we have failed, but there is another opportunity."
But that opportunity will now be played out against a backdrop of ill-feeling at Carisbrook.
The World Cup winners are clearly under enormous pressure as they try to snatch a rare away win in New Zealand. They appear to be trying to transfer some of that pressure on to the All Blacks.
If the first test appeared brutal, who knows what might happen in Dunedin as the intensity rises off the field ahead of kickoff.
-with NZPA
Complaining to Paddy about our scrums..
The Springboks have intensified their attack on the All Blacks' scrum, taking their claims of illegal tactics to IRB referees boss Paddy O'Brien.
But New Zealand coach Graham Henry has kept cool ahead of Saturday night's Tri-Nations rematch in Dunedin.
The South Africans will meet with O'Brien in Wellington today although they mightn't get too far there with their suggestions that All Blacks loosehead Tony Woodcock is up to mischief at scrum time.
O'Brien told TV One News that he would listen to the South African concerns but he had viewed the game and "I didn't see anything illegal".
However, he added that if there was legitimacy to the Boks' claims he would "address it with the referee for Saturday and pass the information on to the New Zealand camp because it's all about fairness."
Under new rulings initiated by O'Brien, teams don't get to discuss issues with the match referee in the buildup to tests.
But this is taking things to another level with O'Brien himself involved.
Australian Matt Goddard, who has limited test experience but has been controlling Super 14 matches since 2002, has the whistle for Saturday night's showdown at Carisbrook which promises to have plenty of feeling about it.
Henry has tinkered with his front row for this weekend. But Woodcock stays with the change coming on the other side with John Afoa replacing Greg Somerville at tighthead.
It is a selection that speaks volumes for how the All Blacks don't rate the once-mighty Springboks scrum and the confidence they have in their own set piece.
"We pride ourselves on our scrum, we work very hard on it and that's all I'd like to say, really," Henry said when pressed on Springboks coach Peter De Villiers' claims that Woodcock was allowed to cheat last week.
De Villiers said the All Blacks won the scrum battle because Woodcock stepped out and around the Springboks tighthead, giving him a better angle of attack.
That's illegal, and de Villiers claimed the All Blacks were penalised 21 times in the three tests against Ireland and England for the tactic. All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen said that figure was wrong, but didn't volunteer one of his own.
"Each week we hear people complaining about our scrum," he said.
"We've got a good scrum, we want to scrum and we look forward to scrummaging on Saturday."
The Boks are clearly feeling the heat as they try to live up to their world champion tag in New Zealand where they have not won for 10 years and in Dunedin where they have never tasted victory.
The heat is clearly on de Villiers whose front row selections for the Tri-Nations were questioned even before the Boks headed to New Zealand.
Critics in the republic said the axing of top tighthead prop BJ Botha left the Springboks vulnerable to the All Blacks at scrum time and it looks like it is panning out that way.
Former All Blacks Murray Mexted, now a Sky TV commentator who was at the match in Wellington, and prop Steve McDowell backed the All Blacks scrum and the methods of Woodcock.
The latest developments reflect the traditional intensity that exists when rugby's greatest rivals meet.
It's been a testy week with Henry questioning the Springboks' off-the-ball tactics in New Zealand's 19-8 win over South Africa in Wellington last weekend.
In a hugely physical match the Boks brought their usual aggressive approach to their defensive work.
Not that the All Blacks were angels with lock Brad Thorn banned for one week for "unsporting behaviour" after he dumped Springboks captain John Smit in a tackle the visitors claim led to a groin injury that has now forced their skipper out of the next two matches.
The Boks were unhappy after the match that Australian referee Stuart Dickinson hadn't dealt with the matter better at the time and the then felt the subsequent one-week ban on Thorn was light.
Dickinson has since admitted he should have sin-binned Thorn at the time but said he didn't get a decent view of the controversial incident, nor did his touch judges.
Now we wait to see what the next level of referees have to say about the scrum claims.
Having a go at Dowdy's comments..
The South African Honorary Consul in New Zealand has hit out at former All Black Craig Dowd, who called new Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers a puppet.
Dowd questioned the credentials of de Villiers on Newstalk ZB, saying he had some good staff around him but was merely a "puppet". It was yet to be seen if he knew anything about rugby, he said.
South African Honorary Consul Gregory Fortuin today called on Dowd to apologise for the comment.
Fortuin said he had the utmost respect for Dowd's achievements and ability as an All Black prop, but found his personal attack on the Springbok coach offensive.
It was up to the South African Rugby Union to defend the coach's rugby credentials which included both club and international age-grade success, he said.
Dowd's comments come during a war of words between the All Blacks and Springboks after an at times violent first test in Wellington on Saturday.
-NZPA
and then Smitty's parting shots
An angry and disappointed Springboks captain John Smit has hit out at the All Blacks over the controversial injury which ended his New Zealand tour and suggested world rugby wouldn't tolerate similar treatment to All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
Smit heads back to South Africa today with a groin injury from last weekend's Tri-Nations opener against the All Blacks when he was dumped to the ground in a tackle by New Zealand lock Brad Thorn.
Thorn has been banned from the rematch with the Springboks in Dunedin this weekend after being found guilty of "unsportsmanlike conduct". Smit will also miss that match and next week's clash with the Wallabies in Perth as he rehabilitates his injury
There was bitterness about him when he opened up to the South African media before his departure from Wellington.
The war of words that has raged since last Saturday night shows no signs of easing.
"Just imagine Bakkies Botha doing something similar to Richie McCaw. World rugby would have come to a standstill," Smit was reported as saying on the website of SuperSport, South African rugby's broadcasting partner.
"Yes, I'm angry. I'm really not happy about having to sit in South Africa and watch the Springboks beat the All Blacks in Dunedin."
His bitter comments raised memories of the fallout three years ago when touring British and Irish Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll was ruled out of the series early in the first test at Christchurch courtesy of a lifting tackle.
All Blacks tacklers Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu were never punished, which drew the ire of O'Driscoll and Lions coach Clive Woodward.
The aftermath of the first test has seen both camps fire a few bullets. All Blacks coach Graham Henry questioned some of the Springboks' off the ball tactics where it seemed Dan Carter came in for a bit of special treatment.
The Boks have hit back with allegations of illegal scrum tactics from the All Blacks while they have also questioned the length of Thorn's ban.
Smit continued that when he told SuperSport: "One almost gets the idea that anyone who is not from New Zealand does not have the same rights as someone who plays for the All Blacks.
"I was suspended for six weeks after a test match in France for running into someone with my elbow held in front of me. It was not nearly as nasty as what happened to me last Saturday.
"A few seasons ago, (All Black coach) Graham Henry asked everyone not to tackle Richie McCaw. Now Richie is injured and Henry is asking everyone not to tackle Dan Carter.
"If everyone can only realise no one is above the rugby laws, we can all move forward."
Smit, in the middle of the Boks' front row, said that in his capacity as captain he had repeatedly complained to Australian referee Stuart Dickinson about the All Blacks' scrumming before he was forced off just before halftime with his groin injury.
"I think he (Dickinson) got tired of me saying it all the time and he eventually decided to award a penalty to us."
Smit's dream of being the first Springboks captain in 10 years to win in New Zealand has been shattered. He missed out in the 8-19 loss in Wellington and he won't be in Dunedin.
"It's been a great ambition of mine to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand. Now I have to wait another year. And with two test matches in New Zealand, this was an ideal opportunity (to beat the All Blacks).
"We came here to win both matches; not only to win a test in New Zealand. So far we have failed, but there is another opportunity."
But that opportunity will now be played out against a backdrop of ill-feeling at Carisbrook.
The World Cup winners are clearly under enormous pressure as they try to snatch a rare away win in New Zealand. They appear to be trying to transfer some of that pressure on to the All Blacks.
If the first test appeared brutal, who knows what might happen in Dunedin as the intensity rises off the field ahead of kickoff.
-with NZPA
