Front row worries for All Blacks
By Chris Barclay, 9 Nov 2010 Chris Barclay is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Ben Franks, Keven Mealamu, Rugby Union
The All Blacks are facing front row issues heading into the second Test of their rugby grand slam quest against Scotland.
The opening 26-16 win over England at Twickenham has come at a price with hooker Keven Mealamu cited for an alleged headbutt on English skipper Lewis Moody.
Adding to coach Graham Henry’s concerns, prop Ben Franks is heading home after it was decided a bulging disc which forced him out of the England match with back spasms wouldn’t allow him to play until the tour finale against Wales at best.
International Rugby Board citing commissioner John West charged 82-cap veteran Mealamu with dangerous play after replays suggested he’d deliberately made contact with the back of Moody’s head at a breakdown.
Mealamu will face an IRB judiciary in Edinburgh – possibly on Tuesday – and risks a significant suspension unless television angles of the incident posted on the internet are misleading.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he was “surprised” to learn Mealamu had been cited.
“He’s probably the cleanest player in the world isn’t he? It was purely accidental as far as I know,” he said.
Ominously for the All Blacks, South African lock Bakkies Botha copped a nine-week ban in July for headbutting Jimmy Cowan – also from behind – during the Tri-Nations Test at Eden Park.
Mealamu does not have a list of prior convictions to rival Botha, though it could prove difficult for the 31-year-old to avoid a tour-ending punishment.
Should that scenario unfold Andrew Hore, the All Blacks starting hooker in 2009, faces a tougher reintroduction to Test rugby than might have been anticipated after a five-month lay-off.
Hore, who has not played since popping a shoulder during the final round of the Super 14 regular season in May, was taken on this five-Test tour to complete his rehabilitation.
Henry said it was always envisaged Hore would be in the 22-man squad for Saturday’s assignment at Murrayfield.
The Scottish Test could also be a watershed moment for Hika Elliot, after four Tests sitting on the bench as Mealamu’s understudy he can finally expect to make his debut if the Aucklander is banned.
With Mealamu’s fate yet to be determined, Henry has not had to ponder summoning a replacement hooker – probably the Chiefs’ Aled de Malmanche.
The decision to replace Franks with Neemia Tialata needed little consideration.
His ability to play both sides of the scrum facilitated his recall ahead of Wyatt Crockett and Jamie Mackintosh.
Scotland, considered the weakest of the Home Unions, have been a convenient opposition to blood new All Blacks during the Henry reign.
But the head coach denied a second string lineup would necessarily be revealed on Wednesday.
“We’ll try and pick the best team available probably, within reason,” he said.
“It’ll be pretty close to the top team again.”
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- All Blacks, Ben Franks, Keven Mealamu, Rugby Union
November 9th 2010 @ 5:16am
Jerry said | November 9th 2010 @ 5:16am | Report comment
Mealamu will spend some time at home for this, as he probably should.
However, it’s kind of a joke that Hartley got away scot free for his forearm to McCaw’s face. It was with more force and more likely to cause injury than Mealamu’s headbutt (though headbutt’s are always treated worse by the judiciary).
November 9th 2010 @ 5:51am
Viscount Crouchback said | November 9th 2010 @ 5:51am | Report comment
Hartley also deserved a citing, no doubt, but I’m baffled that anyone can think his action was worse than Mealamu’s barbarous behaviour. The fellow literally propelled himself head-first at the back of Moody’s head. The Englishman is lucky he didn’t suffer permanent brain damage. Hartley flopping onto McCaw with a meaty forearm is pretty small beer in comparison. I’d give Mealamu 2 months and Hartley 2 weeks.
Henry’s reaction is also very disappointing, especially after the verbal kicking he gave Botha a few months ago.
November 9th 2010 @ 6:27am
Ben S said | November 9th 2010 @ 6:27am | Report comment
The response from the NZ media has been disappointing, VC. In fact I was deeply unimpressed with the guff parading as journalism prior to the Test match. I only expected such low rent jingoistic tabloid nonsense from the Australian media.
November 10th 2010 @ 11:55am
zhenry said | November 10th 2010 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Remind you that the New Zealand and Australian rugby media are both owned by Australian Fairfax and Murdoch. There are other AU inputs in AU but not so for NZ the complete media is mostly AU owned; there are a couple of small inputs from UK and US. Journalists come well down in the power scheme of things. But your right the corporate media is guff (for the advertisers) and in NZ the public media is right down there with it.
November 9th 2010 @ 6:33am
Jerry said | November 9th 2010 @ 6:33am | Report comment
I didn’t say it was worse, I just meant it was with more force in that he was coming from a position on his feet to the ground whereas Mealamu was on the ground driving into Moody.
Both were bloody awful to be honest, and I’m not meaning to make excuses but I think two months is a bit much given serial offender Bakkies Botha got the same sentence for his headbutt on Cowan.
One thing I’d take exception to though, VC, is your slightly hysterical tone of “he could have suffered brain damage”! Ignoring the fact that “Mad Dog” almost certainly has some brain damage already, it’s kind of disingenuous to raise that point in the case of an international rugby forward who takes nasty head knocks day in day out.
Yeah, it’s illegal, yeah it’s got no place, but let’s not start acting as if Lewis Moody – who has made a career out of throwing his body into contact with no regard for his own safety – is suddenly some sort of porcelain doll.
November 10th 2010 @ 8:00am
jeremy said | November 10th 2010 @ 8:00am | Report comment
VC, I agree, deliberate contact to the head is utterly unwarranted in any situation, especially so when the man is on the ground and facing the other way.
Rugby players more than anyone should know the extreme dangers of headbutting and Mealamu’s actions cannot be condoned. His 4 weeks is deserved.
I think Hartley should’ve been warned as well though. While not the same degree of danger, it’s still not sporting, and is entirely intentional. The ref was right there though so really he should’ve been carded and sent off at the time (as should Mealamu).
November 10th 2010 @ 10:08am
Jason said | November 10th 2010 @ 10:08am | Report comment
barbarous behaviour [...]The Englishman is lucky he didn’t suffer permanent brain damage,/i>
Good grief. Could you get more hysterical?
Hartley flopping onto McCaw
Nothing screams unobjective more than this.
November 9th 2010 @ 6:49am
Katzilla said | November 9th 2010 @ 6:49am | Report comment
I think about 6 weeks would be fair, considering a lack of previous convictions and the price paid by Bakkies for something similar.
JusticeforKev!
But really it was a pretty low move, Hartleys was a shocker too but if he got away with it then so be it.
–
Comment left via The Roar’s iPhone app. Download The Roar’s iPhone App in the App Store here.
November 9th 2010 @ 6:57am
katzilla said | November 9th 2010 @ 6:57am | Report comment
There’s no way Mealamu will get more then 6-7 weeks. If he does then something is seriously wrong considering Bakkies history and subsequent punishment for the same act.
It was horrible though and he should definately serve a suspension for it.
JusticeforKev
November 9th 2010 @ 7:52am
Ben S said | November 9th 2010 @ 7:52am | Report comment
I think you mean Justice2Kev… Get it?
November 9th 2010 @ 12:27pm
Amateur Hour said | November 9th 2010 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
Boom tish.
November 9th 2010 @ 7:27am
TembaVJ said | November 9th 2010 @ 7:27am | Report comment
A bit of thugby as Spiro would say, good to see its not only South Africans that play dirty. He will get no more then 2 weeks, he is an All Black.
November 10th 2010 @ 10:09am
Jason said | November 10th 2010 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Four weeks. How are those apples?
November 9th 2010 @ 4:34pm
Docker from the Hills said | November 9th 2010 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
Why not put SBW in the front row?
–
Comment left via The Roar’s iPhone app. Download The Roar’s iPhone App in the App Store here.
November 10th 2010 @ 12:28am
Mike said | November 10th 2010 @ 12:28am | Report comment
I really like the Scottish side but let’s be honest, a Mealamu ban isn’t going to give the Scots a shread of hope. Neither will it for Wales or Ireland. These teams are to mentally scarred to beat the AB’s. Call it presumptious but a 105 year win streak against 2 of these sides along with the 57 years since Wales stood up screams volumes.
Also, where the hell is Harteys citing? This makes the 2nd week in a row that someone has unprovokingly attacked McCaw on the ground with no punishement. I know the rest of the world seethes in jelousy and anger over his abilities but this has got to stop. Credit to him for not whining like a little bitch about it though.
November 10th 2010 @ 3:18am
Frank O'Keeffe said | November 10th 2010 @ 3:18am | Report comment
Fortunate for New Zealand they’re playing Scotland and not England again.
For all the talk about this being a great New Zealand side, they haven’t played to the standard they’re capable of in the last three Tests. In fact they we could have easily had a tied Blesidloe series this year 2-2. That’s not denying New Zealand are a better side than the Wallabies. They flogged Australia twice, and the last two games were close (it could have been 4-0). But in the last few recent games they haven’t been great.
I think given one or two more bites at the cherry England could have beaten the All Blacks.
November 10th 2010 @ 6:07am
Bayboy said | November 10th 2010 @ 6:07am | Report comment
The only ones saying this All Black team is great are foreigners. I don’t see the NZ media or fans saying they are great.
November 10th 2010 @ 9:19am
Darwin Stubbie said | November 10th 2010 @ 9:19am | Report comment
would need to be a pretty big cherry …
4 weeks seems about right – it’ll be interesting to see if they call fora back up …. Rutlidge surely must be the next cab off the rank if they do – or will they try out Afoa … my guess is the latter – if Afoa proves a decent stop gap measure – it’ll open up all sorts of possibilites with the bench next year – Weepu could cover 9/10 and Afoa prop / hooker … gives them room then to carry more potential fire power elsewhere
Scotland’s only hope of keeping the scoreboard in check will be the weather … if it’s dry it’ll be a 20 point margin
November 10th 2010 @ 4:13am
Ben S said | November 10th 2010 @ 4:13am | Report comment
Whatever front row New Zealand select they’ll be facing a superior scrummaging unit in Jacobsen-Ford- Murray than they faced last Saturday.
November 10th 2010 @ 7:51am
jeremy said | November 10th 2010 @ 7:51am | Report comment
Mealamu will get 4 weeks.
November 10th 2010 @ 9:19am
Jerry said | November 10th 2010 @ 9:19am | Report comment
It’s largely academic, cause anything from 3 weeks to 3 months (or however long it is till the S14 starts) is essentially the same sentence.
November 10th 2010 @ 9:26am
allblackfan said | November 10th 2010 @ 9:26am | Report comment
I’ve seen the footage. I’m not even sure their heads connected. It looked like Kevin’s shoulder ran into Moody.
But then that is the English way — if you can’t man up and beat your opposition, whinge to the citing panel until they do something! Speaks volumes about the English character that they rely on their officials to give them a competitive edge.
November 10th 2010 @ 9:46am
Bayboy said | November 10th 2010 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Yes and stay very tight lipped about their own acts of thuggery in the same match.
Just gives more weight to the term whinging Pomme.
Don’t get me wrong what Kevin did deserves punishment but the fact Hartleys act was blatantly over looked speaks volumes about targeting one team and one team only.
November 10th 2010 @ 10:00am
Jerry said | November 10th 2010 @ 10:00am | Report comment
Course their heads connected, you reckon Moody has eyes in the back of his head or just Daredevil like sonar? How come his head snaps forward at the exact moment Mealamu’s head passes him?
November 10th 2010 @ 10:16am
Jason said | November 10th 2010 @ 10:16am | Report comment
To me it looks like Mealamu has gone to pile drive his shoulder into Moody’s back for coming in the side of the ruck, laying on the wrong side and playing the ball on the ground, but he’s stuffed it up and a head clash has resulted. For those who think it was deliberate, then Mealamu has made a right hash of it considering he used the top of his head and not his forehead and there are easier ways to meter out some extra judicial judgement against flankers..
I’ve no problem with the ban; it fits Law 10.4 (a) perfectly. Just as Hartley’s does I might add, who should consider himself very fortunate he didn’t receive the same punishment.
November 10th 2010 @ 9:26pm
Ben S said | November 10th 2010 @ 9:26pm | Report comment
‘then Mealamu has made a right hash of it considering he used the top of his head and not his forehead and there are easier ways to meter out some extra judicial judgement against flankers..’
Of course he would use his head and not his forehead. The forehead has more nerve endings.
Have you even watched a replay of this incident?
Love all these whinging poms comments, btw. Oustandingly witty, and also pretty heartbreaking to see some people using such childish boring and outdated sterotypes.
November 10th 2010 @ 10:44am
Pajovic_ said | November 10th 2010 @ 10:44am | Report comment
Television footage of the incident showed Mealamu grabbing Moody by the jersey and then diving forward, making contact with the back of the England captain’s head. It’s pretty undisputable, even for the most one eyed of supporters. Hika Elliot was on the bench at Twickenham. The other hooker option is Andrew Hore, this can’t help things at front row, especially after the tasty performance England put in at the weekend. Hore was one of three men convicted and fined for shooting and killing a protected fur seal in New Zealand – more front row thuggery alas! Could strike fear into the hears of the Scots though.
As for Hartley, he did some terrific things off the bench against the All Blacks, his ‘cheap shot’ was exactly that, uncouth,but hardly merited anything other than a yellow, or cited a two week lay-off. Mealamu’s actions, were on the other hand worrying and the sort of thoughtless rage that has little place in the modern game.
As for ‘england whinging to the citing panel’ players can be cited regardless of whether or not anyone whinges. There was no escaping the inevitability here allblackfan.
November 10th 2010 @ 10:50am
Jason said | November 10th 2010 @ 10:50am | Report comment
his ‘cheap shot’ was exactly that, uncouth,but hardly merited anything other than a yellow, or cited a two week lay-off. Mealamu’s actions, were on the other hand worrying and the sort of thoughtless rage that has little place in the modern game.
The laws of the game disagree with you:
Punching or striking. A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).
Sanction: Penalty kick
November 10th 2010 @ 10:53am
Bayboy said | November 10th 2010 @ 10:53am | Report comment
I don’t how you can even try to justify what Hartley did. It was illegal and unsportsmanlike and basically a pre meditated act of thuggery as was Mealamu’s
Hartley should have been cited end of story the severity of the punishment handed out is not the issue but the fact he got away scot free says a lot about the citing process and the inadequacies on all fronts.
November 10th 2010 @ 11:33am
allblackfan said | November 10th 2010 @ 11:33am | Report comment
Given the calibre of the referee, there certainly was not, Pajovic.
They have a clip of this incident on utube and the more u see it, from different angles, the more u have to ask what part of Kevin’s body hit Lewis “The Wuss” Moody.
Never mind; better team still won the game. All of England’s whinging will not save them from future losses.
November 10th 2010 @ 3:31pm
allblackfan said | November 10th 2010 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Having had another look at the Kev footage, I’m will concede that perhaps he did headbutt Moody.
Then I saw Hartley’s hit on McCaw.
@^$%^$%
What a goddamn thug. Thorn should have done more than just clip him around the shoulder.
Once again, poor refereeing from the match officials.
November 10th 2010 @ 9:51pm
Pajovic_ said | November 10th 2010 @ 9:51pm | Report comment
When McCaw stays on his feet and stops his persistent cheating then I might have some sympathy for him. Great player obviously, but when you are a master of the dark arts, expect a few cheap shots. Some get punished, some don’t, he needs to learn to deal with that.
Romain Poite is an adept referee, besides, the tri-nations were officated with NH referees so I just don’t see the validity of blaming the ref. Objectively, it works both ways.
@ Jason, so, head butt = free kick – period. is that your point?
November 10th 2010 @ 10:04pm
ohtani's jacket said | November 10th 2010 @ 10:04pm | Report comment
Following that logic, Moody deserves a headbutt in every game.
November 10th 2010 @ 10:51pm
Pajovic_ said | November 10th 2010 @ 10:51pm | Report comment
I wouldn’t disagree there Ohtani’s jacket. Moody deserves what he gets. But who’s making the song and dance of it? The precious ‘don’t disrect our Haka’ 15 as usual.
November 11th 2010 @ 12:11am
Pajovic_ said | November 11th 2010 @ 12:11am | Report comment
No comparison.