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A French player tried to eye-gouge All Blacks captain Richie McCaw towards the end of the Rugby World Cup final, says veteran commentator Keith Quinn.
Quinn, citing information from “within the New Zealand camp”, says the incident was why the sides did not embrace at the end of the match and the All Blacks made “little or no mention” of the French team in post-match speeches.
“It was clearly seen on TV. McCaw needed attention from medical staff,” he told Radio New Zealand.
Quinn said French captain Thierry Dusautoir – who was on Monday night named International Rugby Board player of the year – was close to the ruck incident, although the footage did not show clearly who may have allegedly been trying to eye-gouge McCaw.
Dusautoir made no attempt to offer consolation to McCaw.
“I think more needs to be investigated about the incident as, of course, the illustrious award of player of the year surely involves elements of fair play.”
New Zealand team management were not available to immediately comment on the claims.
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October 25th 2011 @ 9:33am
Stin said | October 25th 2011 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Absolutely! Did you see McCaw’s face?
October 25th 2011 @ 9:47am
Happy Hooker said | October 25th 2011 @ 9:47am | Report comment
Wouldn’t have happened had Richie come from an onside position
October 25th 2011 @ 9:58am
thurl said | October 25th 2011 @ 9:58am | Report comment
He must have been onside…he wasn’t penalised..
October 25th 2011 @ 10:31am
Bazza All Black said | October 25th 2011 @ 10:31am | Report comment
So if a player infringes it is ok to blind him?
Frenchies playing dirty…shocker…
In that case the Surrender Monkies got what they deserved…
October 25th 2011 @ 10:41pm
sledgeandhammer said | October 25th 2011 @ 10:41pm | Report comment
French Surrender monkeys? That’s nice coming from a nation of green pacifists.
October 25th 2011 @ 9:56am
Pillock said | October 25th 2011 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Is anyone surprised?
October 25th 2011 @ 10:47am
Jiggles said | October 25th 2011 @ 10:47am | Report comment
Not Sir Richie!!!!! Lynch the P#$%
October 25th 2011 @ 12:30pm
jeremy said | October 25th 2011 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
Don’t joke about Sir Richie, Jiggles, I would be surprised if he’s *not* knighted…
October 25th 2011 @ 10:38pm
Sandy B said | October 25th 2011 @ 10:38pm | Report comment
I thought he was a saint
October 25th 2011 @ 12:30pm
Jokerman said | October 25th 2011 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
The French lose, they deserve to. Ugly behaviour, little wonder they have been in 3 finals and lost. Then they blame the Ref, poor losers.
October 25th 2011 @ 1:08pm
Pete said | October 25th 2011 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
We clearly saw his knee into Parra’s head too but the French aren’t bleating about that! What terrible winners!
October 25th 2011 @ 5:47pm
Bazza All Black said | October 25th 2011 @ 5:47pm | Report comment
Winners, that is the operative word…WBs better enjoy that Tri Nations cup…for all it is worth…
October 26th 2011 @ 11:15pm
Mike said | October 26th 2011 @ 11:15pm | Report comment
Quite a lot, thanks, Bazza. We are the 3N champions and remain so until next year, just as you are RWC champions!
October 25th 2011 @ 1:31pm
zhenry said | October 25th 2011 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
Why don’t NZers grow up. They did it in 1995 and put the poisoning incident under the carpet, and so it appears that NZ will put an eye gauging incident in 2011 WC final also under the carpet. NZers have to confront whats in front of them; whats on the rugby field and everything else. They can start off by having a media that confronts what is happening in NZ day to day; as it stands it is an appalling model that cant inspire anyone. As for some of the AU comments on here there is no hope.
October 25th 2011 @ 3:55pm
AndyS said | October 25th 2011 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
I don’t know if there is much the IRB can do about it now, but there must be more footage than was shown on TV. One would hope they at least try and find out one way or another and take action if they can put a name to the act.
October 25th 2011 @ 4:55pm
johnny said | October 25th 2011 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
was he gouged before or after he made face pudding out of Morgan Parra, who was already down and off the ball completely?
And they whinge?………”Pot, Kettle, All Black”
October 25th 2011 @ 5:48pm
Bazza All Black said | October 25th 2011 @ 5:48pm | Report comment
Insert reply here
Four more years
We are the World Champions
Ozzie cheat way into playing all blacks
Ozzie collapse
etc etc
October 25th 2011 @ 7:20pm
sturugbymad said | October 25th 2011 @ 7:20pm | Report comment
I was absolutely stunned on Monday to find that the French captain was named IRB player of the year……what a joke! . On Total Rugby John Eales said that the the year was broken into percentages as to the performance of the player with the world cup taking center stage , and especially the semi and finals which would deem who scored highest.So ….
1. the French were rubbish in the 6 nations and did nothing of note.
2. the team behaved liked amateurs in the tournament , spoilt babies that should have been captained on and off the field by a proper leader not disrespecting their coach.They are supposed to set an example to young kids around the globe!
3.And once again the dirty play thing raises it ugly head with the French.Doesn’t anyone remember John Eales face after the 1999 final ? That year I lost all respect for French rugby .They are poor losers and for their captain to have a go at McCaw in his side and again with the knee was disgraceful.
So how does he get more points than Pocock or McCaw.
As a leader of men on the field , to set an example of ethics , fair play and team cohesion and sportmanship he doesn’t deserve the title of IRB player of the year .
The incident with Parra was accidental and McCaw is not a dirty player who has lead his team with distinction this year (with a lot of pain) and is an example to all of how to play the game.
October 26th 2011 @ 3:25am
Ben S said | October 26th 2011 @ 3:25am | Report comment
How many times has Dusautoir been cited for foul play in his career?
October 25th 2011 @ 8:05pm
Wazza said | October 25th 2011 @ 8:05pm | Report comment
Just saw the footage on Reunion (rugby show here in NZ). MCCaw was at the bottom of the ruck – prone – and Rougerie dives in head first, and head butts McCaw. He then eye-gouges McCaw, raking his fingers across McCaw’s eyes. Malicious intent and cowardly. To NZ management’s credit, they didn’t want to take the shine off the victory, and didn’t cite him.
As for Parra, he’s picking his head up after a tackle and McCaw is the arriving player, trying to remove Dusautoir, who is over the ball. No intent from McCaw (his eyes are on Dusautoir, not Parra) just the wrong place at the wrong time.
October 25th 2011 @ 10:42pm
Sandy B said | October 25th 2011 @ 10:42pm | Report comment
So Saint Ritchie is in the clear again. Well what about when he deliberatly head butted Quade Cooper’s knee – LOL
October 26th 2011 @ 1:39am
BennO said | October 26th 2011 @ 1:39am | Report comment
LOL? There’s no LOL in that incident. Quade is now on crutches….with a bung knee. How “sir” Ritchie got away with that one is a disgrace.
er, lol?
October 26th 2011 @ 4:41pm
katzilla said | October 26th 2011 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
Touche,
The slow disintegration of the knee joint through a previous knock.
Richie made a mistake though, it lasted a week longer then expected.