The International Rubbish Board get it wrong again
Columnist By David Lord, 26 Oct 2011 David Lord is a Roar Expert
167 Have your say
New Zealand's Piri Weepu (centre) stands as he leads the Haka before the start of the match. AAP Photos
Former Italian coach Nick Mallett summed up the International Rugby Board succinctly at a packed corporate luncheon in Auckland yesterday: “They couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery.”
Brilliant Nick. Damn it. I wish I’d thought of that line.
Mallett was referring to the IRB fining France $15,000 for advancing on the All Blacks’ pre-match haka.
The IRB is so out-of-touch with not only the state of the sport, the standard of referees, and what the long-suffering rugby fans want to see, the fine came as no surprise.
In fact, it was par for their pathetic course.
The IRB argument? It was confrontational to the All Blacks; not showing respect to their opponents.
What utter bollocks.
For starters, there’s nothing more confrontational than the haka. That’s exactly what it’s supposed to be, and always will be for as long as the men-in-black play.
It’s cemented in rugby folklore, and long may it survive.
But the IRB want opponents to stand there like stuffed dummies until the haka is completed. How rivetting of the governing body. What great PR for the code.
France’s advancing arrow-head formation was their silent way of accepting the All Black challenge, and the packed house loved every second of it.
It set the scene for what was the closest and most fiercely contested of the seven RWC finals to date.
But the kill-joys based in Dublin – the International Rubbish Board – who meet only twice a year, were in “fine them” mode.
Laughable.
On a serious note, what did the IRB do about All Black skipper Richie McCaw’s claim he was eye-gouged by his opposite number Thierry Dusautoir?
Nothing, absolutely nothing.
Less than 24 hours later, the IRB named Dusautoir as the International Player-of-the-Year, beating Wallabies David Pocock and Will Genia, and All Blacks Jerome Kaino, Piri Weepu, and Ma’a Nonu, for the honour.
Ask the average rugby fan how they rated the French captain on the world stage over the last 12 month, and he’d finish sixth in the six-man race.
Either Kaino or Pocock would have been popular picks, with Pocock constantly outstanding in a poorly-performed pack.
Which begs the question: was the selection of Dusautoir the IRB’s way of thanking France for making the decider so memorable?
Who knows.
What we do know is the IRB is a toothless organisation, not worthy of the responsibility of promoting the game they play in heaven.
It’s well worth repeating: “They couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery”.
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October 26th 2011 @ 6:09am
thurl said | October 26th 2011 @ 6:09am | Report comment
The eye gouging is irrelevant. Nobody complained within the citing period so there is nothing they can do. And besides it looks like it was Aurelien Rougerie, not Dusautoir
October 26th 2011 @ 7:43am
Harryonthecoast said | October 26th 2011 @ 7:43am | Report comment
Eye gouging irrelelvant? Amazing. What next ? Knuckle dusters?
October 26th 2011 @ 11:32am
thurl said | October 26th 2011 @ 11:32am | Report comment
Put it away Harry, its irrelevant to the fact that Dusautoir won the IRB player of the year
October 26th 2011 @ 7:45am
Moaman said | October 26th 2011 @ 7:45am | Report comment
It DEFINITELY was ROUGERIE and NOT Dusautoir. He even threw in a headbutt for good measure. I think it wasn’t a bad thing the ABs decided not to cite him.Would have put another dampener on the RWC as a whole and taken a measure of the gloss off the victory.However,that gouge,and the one by Parra on Woodcock in 2009, will be filed away I’m sure.
October 26th 2011 @ 8:11am
Hoy said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:11am | Report comment
It is well known that in 99, Eales threatened to take the team off the park if the ref didn’t stop the French foul play.
Not saying it was or wasn’t intentional, but all this talk about it reminds me…
October 26th 2011 @ 9:25am
Moaman said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:25am | Report comment
They showed some damning looking footage on Re;Union last night Hoy.
October 26th 2011 @ 2:30pm
Hoy said | October 26th 2011 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
I didn’t want to say the team had form Moaman. That is just mean…
October 26th 2011 @ 6:17am
cinematic said | October 26th 2011 @ 6:17am | Report comment
France knew and understood the rules. Broke the rules. And now will pay the price. There’s no point in having rules and not enforcing them.
If the IRB didn’t enforce the tournament rules they’d be labelled ‘toothless’. Although you appear to be labeling them as toothless in any case. It’s a no win.
October 26th 2011 @ 6:42am
Who Needs Melon said | October 26th 2011 @ 6:42am | Report comment
By that logic I should never have to hear the words “hands off, seven” again. Why would a referee issue a warning or instruction like that? Number 7 knows the rules. If he breaks the rules, the ref should blow his whistle for a penalty. Simple!
Obviously I’m being sarcastic. Don’t we all prefer a ref that ‘manages’ a game and the players? There are other ways the IRB could have ‘managed’ this.
October 26th 2011 @ 6:48am
Ash said | October 26th 2011 @ 6:48am | Report comment
True mate. There’s heaps wrong with the game at the moment. Dodgy refereeing and the IRB are a joke.
I wonder who’s suddenly got a big cash bonus after the final?
October 26th 2011 @ 6:49am
Jerry said | October 26th 2011 @ 6:49am | Report comment
This wasn’t a case of the French mistakenly overstepping, it was a pre-planned orchestrated breach of the rules.
And the French no doubt knew they’d be fined and did it anyway because:
a) they thought the benefits would outweigh the cost; and
b) cause the cost is chump change for them.
According to the media, the French players were each paid a 140,000 Euro bonus for making the finals, so basically any of those players could pay the fine and still have enough to buy a new Ferrari.
October 26th 2011 @ 7:16am
Who Needs Melon said | October 26th 2011 @ 7:16am | Report comment
I am struggling to imagine the scene where the french players, talking to themselves before the game, decide “hey, let’s step OVER the line” but, regardless, (and I know I’m repeating myself) there are other ways the IRB could have ‘managed’ this.
October 26th 2011 @ 7:26am
Jerry said | October 26th 2011 @ 7:26am | Report comment
I think they probably said something like “We’ll all advance on them en masse” at which point it’s pretty inconceivable someone wouldn’t have been aware of the protocols and probably mentioned it.
And then someone probably said “Bof” and stubbed out his cigarette before finishing his cafe au lait and eating his pain au chocolat while cheating on his wife or something.
October 26th 2011 @ 9:08am
Who Needs Melon said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Ah! Now you’ve made me spill my coffee!
October 26th 2011 @ 8:44am
steve said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Why is there a line, the all blacks were so protected this world no wonder they won. If the Haka cant be contested then there should be no Haka because the ethos of the game is that at every aspect of the game there should be the potential to contest.
October 26th 2011 @ 9:02am
Jerry said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:02am | Report comment
The All Blacks aren’t protected, the IRB simply doesn’t like the idea (or even suggestion) of potential physical conflict prior to kick-off. I’ve seen it happen in age group tournaments and, while it’s very unlikely at senior level, obviously the IRB thinks it’s a risk to be avoided.
I don’t actually agree with the rule, but that’s no doubt the reasoning behind it.
October 26th 2011 @ 9:23am
Galaxy Hop said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:23am | Report comment
There have been a handful of times this season where I have noticed Ali Williams going over the All Black’s demarcation when he was getting carried away with the haka. Where’s the fine there?
October 26th 2011 @ 7:10am
David said | October 26th 2011 @ 7:10am | Report comment
Why out of all thing Maori do the All Blacks pick the Haka?
Why not the Titi Torea, it is more inclusive as both women and men dance it?
They use the Haka because it gives them advantages, it fires them up, and it gives them a late warm-up after standing for the anthems.
Of the 1st tier Rugby nations, why are the All Blacks the only ones given this advantage, and why can’t other teams reply in any manner they choose?
Is the IRB worried that challenges to the Haka could result in a pitched battle on the field?
October 26th 2011 @ 8:01am
jeremy said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:01am | Report comment
first tier Rugby nations
When Australia get beaten by a supposed ‘second tier’ nation (Samoa) and the French get beaten by a supposed ‘second tier’ nation at the RWC I would say the tiers are closer together than you’d think, so…you’re splitting hairs.
October 26th 2011 @ 5:30pm
Mike said | October 26th 2011 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
Splitting tiers?
October 26th 2011 @ 8:37am
Kuruki said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:37am | Report comment
They can reply in any manner they choose aslong as they do not cross their side of half way and it is the same for the All Blacks. Just because your teams choose not to do anything or showcase any part of their culture does not mean they are not permitted to do so. It makes you sound like whingeing babies when your own teams lack of effort is blamed on somebody else.
October 26th 2011 @ 9:31am
Galaxy Hop said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Australia used to do a war dance but then decided it was inconsiderate to make everybody wait for redundant crap when they game to watch a game. That’s why we’re good enough to only sing one verse of our horrible national anthem. We both have abhorrent anthems so for the love of the God defending you, please choose which language you’d like to sing it in and keep the torture concise.
October 26th 2011 @ 7:23am
Betty B said | October 26th 2011 @ 7:23am | Report comment
yeah – either make the haka pre-match enertainment and have them face the crowd a-la the anthems, or let the opposing team react a-la the French. Not sure it’s so easy to organise a booze up in a brewery these days though, oh&s and all that, but good point Lordy.
October 26th 2011 @ 7:31am
Jadeous said | October 26th 2011 @ 7:31am | Report comment
The way the French approached the haka was correct and is welcomed by Kiwis. The French were respectful and accepted the challenge. Maybe the rule could be changed to the opposing team facing the haka can proceed up to the half way line?
I know a lot of Australians disagree with NZ allowed to do the haka and take the piss out of it, but almost every other country loves it and embraces it as a fantastic edition to the game. I know that Australians have a terrible relationship with their Indigenous people(the UN says the worst of any Westernized country) but try to understand someone’s culture.
Standing facing the haka mouthing obscenities is not what I call respectful. The French got it right and accepted the challenge. Both teams had their opportunity to prepare for the game. The Kiwis did their haka and the French showed unity in embracing and approaching. Great stuff!!!
I do know a lot of Australians who do love it too! Maybe it’s time that all the haters(bob Dwyer included) try to understand a people’s culture before offering an opinion on it. Actually, go to South Auckland and shout out what you think of the haka. Let me know what happens? You should always be prepared to stand up for what you are saying.
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October 26th 2011 @ 8:02am
jeremy said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:02am | Report comment
Great post Jadeous!
October 26th 2011 @ 10:00am
Seiran said | October 26th 2011 @ 10:00am | Report comment
The Haka is cultural, I can agree with that. But how is performing the haka prior to a rugby union match cultural? Even calling it traditional is a bit of a stretch when it hasn’t actually been performed before every test for all that long.
And please, leave out the ‘Australians have a terrible relationship with their Indigenous people’. Australians as whole do not have a terrible relationship. Some Australians do and some Australians do not. Just bundling us all up in one big bag, slaps of biggotry, and indicates you do not in fact ‘know’ about our relationships and I’ll bet my bottom dollar all you actually ‘know’ about our affairs is what you see on current affair programs and have never actually experienced any first hand Australian cultural experiences with our Indigenous peoples.
I suggest you also take abit of your own advice and ‘try to understand a people’s culture before offering an opinion on it.’
October 26th 2011 @ 11:45am
jeremy said | October 26th 2011 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Seiran,
Agreed, this isn’t a debate for this forum, but here’s a couple of things off the top of my uneducated unaware New Zealand head that doesn’t understand Australian culture.
Can you name another country in the world that classified and legislated its indigenous human population as flora and fauna until less than 50 years ago? Not even *people*, Seiran – they weren’t recognised as human beings by the country of Australia.
Onto the current point in time: can you name another country where the government exempted itself from the Racial Discrimination Act in order to pass what presumably is a racially discriminatory law in a nationally-administered territory under the guise of a condescendingly-labelled ‘Intervention’? This policy is still in place, and noone talks about it, yet it places massive restrictions on the freedoms of a select group of people solely based on their race. This is in every way, shape and form government-sponsored and government-mandated racial discrimination.
These policies are and were put in place by your elected officials, who are representative of the public. Few elected officials – if any – are indigenous; certainly there are none in the lower or upper house. So yes – it is a reflection upon Australia as a whole.
October 26th 2011 @ 12:35pm
Seiran said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
No Jeremy it doesn’t. If it was voted for by all political representatives then you could say it is a reflection upon Australia as a whole. But thank god we are not all so narrow minded and have political parties such as the Green party who are willing to vote against such policies and speak for us Australians who are not represented by the two largest parties.
You’re point about classifications are historical and not current Jeremy. What point are you trying to make Jeremy? This policy has long been changed for the better and has no bearing on current politics or policies. Digging up historical points makes no sense at all. It’s like bringing up past South African, US or European policies which have long since changed for the better.
And the Intervention, again Jeremy was put in place by a political party, that not everyone voted for and is still being supported by a political party, that again, not everyone voted for. They do not represent my views, and there will be many millions of Australians with the same view.
I do not have ‘a terrible relationship with their Indigenous people’ as has been stated above. I have Indigenous friends and colleagues, and I find it completely offensive for people who think it’s ok to simply wrap everyone up in one package and think they’re all the same.
But you are right about one thing Jeremy. This is a sport website, it is not the place for this type of discussion.
October 26th 2011 @ 4:00pm
jeremy said | October 26th 2011 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
But you are right about one thing Jeremy. This is a sport website, it is not the place for this type of discussion.
Agreed. So it will end here.
October 27th 2011 @ 8:33pm
Sage said | October 27th 2011 @ 8:33pm | Report comment
Presuming you have, as you’ve said “an uneducated unaware New Zealand head” it’s interesting you’ve decided to disect a very complicated intervention I suggest you know very little about, on a rugby site. Please explain.
October 28th 2011 @ 6:28pm
sk said | October 28th 2011 @ 6:28pm | Report comment
he was being sarcastic
October 26th 2011 @ 12:36pm
Adams said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
We said sorry for that whole fauna thing. Rudd did. I saw him on TV.
As to the rest if you had ever been to an outback community you would understand.
October 26th 2011 @ 10:48pm
amband said | October 26th 2011 @ 10:48pm | Report comment
Jeremy
1 The States recognized Aboriginals even if the Commonwealth did not. They could vote at State elections
2 The Government has the right to discriminate in these matters. When people enter Australia from outside, they are often from a different race, the racial differences are automatic
3. Can you name any nation outside the Anglosphere that has such legislation?
5. NZ is a bi cultural nation and does not officially accept large scale immigration as Australia has
6 STFU & quit while you are behind
October 26th 2011 @ 1:08pm
Margaret R. said | October 26th 2011 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Seiran , I totally agree with you…. very well said
October 26th 2011 @ 10:35pm
amband said | October 26th 2011 @ 10:35pm | Report comment
Jadeous. We are not there to respect people’s cultures. That is a given I would have thought. We are all there to play rugby, the culture that is common to us all
October 26th 2011 @ 7:37am
kingplaymaker said | October 26th 2011 @ 7:37am | Report comment
David the IRB displays all the features of a corrupt or failing political organisation:
1) As in any corrupt government, the members are not chosen for their ability to work in what is essentially a business, but on the grounds of being ex-players and representing vested interests. Working in a business is a different activity from playing rugby and it is absurd that those chosen are not the best for the job but simply those who have played rugby at a high level. In addition given their background, they are bound to favour the interests they represent unfairly.
2) A complete lack of transparency. As in charade democracies, there is no openness regarding what goes on let alone any accountability.
3) A colossal imbalance favouring the interests of the strong members over the weak.
Not only do these factors lead to grotesque unfairness towards minnows and outrageous incompetence, but more importantly they cripple the growth and development of the game globally.
Rugby should be in a very strong position to expand with the advent of the Olympics and numerous current ‘minnows’ with either a considerable history of the game and/or high playing numbers. However the lack of imagination or drive towards expansion keeps these poor countries at a perpetually low level, and prevents the kind of transformation of the sport that should be very easy considering the circumstances.
This also begs the further question: do the big powers that dominate the IRB actually want to expand the game, or would they rather keep power and significance to themselves?
Why is there no move for Georgia and Romania to join the Six Nations when it seems clear that with regular international competition they would be as powerful as Italy or Scotland? Why is there no funding for a Super rugby team in Tokyo, L.A., Toronto, based around the national squad of each country, when such a move would do huge things to raise the profile and playing quality of those countries? Come to think of it, are the U.S.A. that far from being good enough to join Six Nations? How about funding Magners teams in Tibilisi, Bucharest, Moscow, based around the national squads? Why not expand the RWC to 24 teams, to bring the game to new countries?
More importantly, whether any of these idaes might be adopted or not, why is there no evidence of any active projects towards expansion at all on behalf of the IRB?
October 26th 2011 @ 8:59am
Coxinator said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Great reply KPM. I’m so disappointed with the lack of direction from this organisation over the last 15 years.
October 26th 2011 @ 11:18am
kingplaymaker said | October 26th 2011 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Coxinator the worrying thing is the essential nature of the organisation never comes under scrutiny, as if it must be ok simply because it-s there.
October 26th 2011 @ 12:10pm
peterlala said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
KPM, you bring every issue back to this one point. Unfortunately, it’s a compelling point — and it needs to be repeated. I disagree with two aspects: 1) I doubt that the IRB is failing; 2) it’s a shame that a great game like the final is overshadowed by the machinations of the IRB.
On the fine, it’s obviously petty that such a good spectacle is diminished by this tacky decision.
Finally, I am amazed that so many people can find so much to whinge about after such a good game (I don’t mean you, KPM).
October 26th 2011 @ 12:13pm
kingplaymaker said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
peterlala to give just two examples of the IRB’s treatment of Minnows: Samoa were effectively eliminated by being forced to play midweek matches and being given a Welsh referee in the SA match, as were the other minnows. This allowed Wales to progress.
Secondly Georgia, Romania and the U.S.A. are now as good as Italy and Scotland and could join the Six Nations. Why is there no talk of this? (It was the Romania B team that lost to England by a large margin, as because of a ridiculous turnaround they had to play another team 4 days later).
October 26th 2011 @ 12:21pm
peterlala said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
KPM, I was unclear. I didn’t mean the IRB are not failing in the execution of their duties. I meant, I don’t think the IRB will collapse. The gravy-train will simply roll on — over all and sundry.
October 26th 2011 @ 12:29pm
kingplaymaker said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
Sadly the will probably go from bad to worse, knowing they can get away with murder and not have to change.
October 28th 2011 @ 6:59pm
sk said | October 28th 2011 @ 6:59pm | Report comment
why is there no move for goergia and romia to join the six nations? because its unsustainable, because it would weaken the competion (the ENC) for russia portugal ect, and beacuse its two more gruelling weeks for everyone involved, because Romania only gets thousands, if not hundreds of supporters at home games
why is there no funding for a super rugby team in Tokyo LA or Toronto? um mabye because a japanesse super rugby team would desimate their current profetional competition. as for the US and Canada they would be better off forming a competion with each other based around canada’s provintial competion. would looklike this
Canada (all teams already established)
1. Pairiie Wolf Pack
2. Onterio Blues
3. BC Bears
4. the Rock
US
1. California (could play in San Francisco (heartland) and LA (no NFL team))
2. Mohave – Neveda/Utah/Collardo (could play in Vegas or Salt Lake city, both heartland with no NFL, Denver is also heartland)
3. Great Lakes – Ohio/Illinois/Michigan (Columbus or Chicargo)
4. New york – (could also include New England)
could be expanded in the future to include a team from America’s South, a second Calfornia team, Qubec or even Mexico and gives the region alot more options for the future then the short sighted approch of entering the supper rugby
October 26th 2011 @ 7:50am
Rob said | October 26th 2011 @ 7:50am | Report comment
I think, note say I think, that IRB had to come kicking and screaming to the first World Cup. Now that it’s a cash cow they have well and truly taken ownership of it.
October 26th 2011 @ 8:03am
DCR said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Well the dust might be starting to settle after the tournament if a minor fine for a clear cut breach of rules for an incident outside a game is causing concern. Looking back over the tournament there is a fair smattering of the good, the bad, and the ugly.
As for the good I would count the opening ceremony and by all accounts the hospitality of the hosts. Even if that includes the fact that their hospitality industry was overloaded, they ingeniously covered it up in the usual Kiwi manner of finding the nearest best thing and getting on with it. The quality of play was above my expectations and was very good. The gap between the top teams is tiny and between the “minnows” and “majors” is closing, which is a good thing.
The ugly would have to include the scrum penalties, the mouthguard fine and the general bullying attitude of the IRB. Something has to be done about the refereeing of the scrum other than just penalise a team if it is not perfect. If the IRB or SANZAR or any of the administrative bodies don’t improve it it will become a major blight on the game. What is happening now cannot be the best option. Another ugly is the IRB. It needs reform. I know I must be naive in the extreme to think such a thing can happen, just look at FIFA and International Cricket Board. Unfortunately without reform it is inevitable rugby will go the same way as those sports and corruption and blighted administration will inevitably follow. By reform I mean financial and administrative transparency, accountability, democracy. Basically, the fans should be treated like voters in a democratic republic, with the ultimate power to appoint if necessary pure and simple. The national unions can do that on our behalf most of the time but the fans must have “reserve powers” to appoint in the last resort.
Now for the bad, what can I have in mind. Let me start with the obvious, which is summed up in one word: impartiality. It is small wonder when the scheduling is clearly not impartial that everything else is liable to be corrupted by the same corrosive factor. So when the RWC organisers compound their error by appointing Welshman to referee important games that have a direct bearing on the Welsh team, and NZ referees under the same circumstances it makes the whole thing tend to a mockery. So we cannot be surprised, therefore, when the spectators are suspicious about the impartiality of the referee himself. Regrettably, the score on that front was bad. From the Argentinian v England game to the final the standard of refereeing impartiality was bad. The referees, their supervisors and the whole organisation around them failed to be fair. All too often the underdog got the call, or the so called “deserving” or “favoured” team and dare I mention it the home side. I have said enough on that point.
I have another concern with the RWC and I don’t know the answer to it at all. If I start by asking what is the point of it I generally answer my question in one of three ways as follows: so the best of the north and the south meet in a meaningful tournament to decide the best, so the small neglected unions get a chance to play the best, and thirdly, to have a rugby banquet every so often like they do in football (soccer to me) and the Olympics. If I were to score the tournament it would get huge ticks for the last two answers, but a pause with respect to the first one. At a stretch there were several games between the north and the south majors, but only three really meaningful (ie. games of knockout importance) Argentina v Scotland, Samoa v Wales and the NZ v France final. So in all that rugby the north and south hardly butted heads at all. Everyone will point to the Ireland v Australia game result upsetting the apple cart, but I’m not so sure. My thoughts are that the RWC is not the ideal means of providing the first answer above. My suggestion is that if we really want to see the north v south in a meaningful competition we create a new 4 or every 8 year tournament between the RWCs with just the top 8 teams and it is a knockout from round 1. It would be all over in three weeks. But it is structured solely north v south in the first round and that way we get at least 4 meaningful games and depending on results we may get more. Anyway it is just an idea from a rugby fanatic who just can’t get enough.
My last comment is my rating of the teams.
Equal 1st NZ and France. NZ with Carter is 1st but without is not clearcut.
3rd. RSA
4th. Wales
Equal 5th Aust / Samoa
Equal 7th England/Ireland
9th Argentina
10th Scotland.
Equal 11th US/Canada/Italy
Equal 14th Japan/Tonga/Fiji
Equal 17th Russia/Romania/Georgia
20th Namibia
If Australia does not improve its attack and game plan (ie. more running and passing, less and better kicking and catching) we shall be left behind. The RSA result flattered us and Samoa is just a phenomenon for such a small nation. Unbelievable.
Much more must be done by the majors to support Canada, the US, Japan and the polynesian isles. Simply we must play these teams more often either at national or provincial level.
The Super 15 begins in a few months. Until then adios amigos.
October 26th 2011 @ 8:28am
Hoy said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:28am | Report comment
I don’t know why you rate South Africa at third. They came last in the Tri Nations, and bowed out in the semis. I know the result flattered us, but honestly, good teams start going out in the quarters onwards, so someone had to lose. I had England picked as my smokey to make the final, and look how that ended up.
I have a vague understanding of how rankings are worked, but for Wales to drop spots on world rankings after their RWC is an abomination. I heard it was because they lost their last game – in the semis’ no less – whereas because England etc didn’t play therefore didn’t lose, they keep their ranking. Forgive me, but Wales beat Ireland. Yet Ireland goes up the rankings one spot? Is that because they beat Australia earlier? I can’t figure it.
October 26th 2011 @ 9:43am
Wayne said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Sadly the IRB ranking system is based on a points exchange system where only the two teams playing each gain or lose ranking points so the net result per match is always zero ranking points. There are others bits around winning by more than 15 points.
They try to compensate the RWC by doubling the difference.
While this works OK for normal games including TN and 6N it falls apart during the knock-out stage of the RWC but I suspect the maths is beyond them.
The simple solution would be to reset the top 4 teams every RWC because you can ID them.
In Wales case they lost rankings points for losing a semi final and playoff so end up falling below the team they beat soundly in the 1/4 final – a nonsense by any standard.
October 26th 2011 @ 8:03am
jeremy said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Now that it’s come out that Richie McCaw was stomped and eye-gouged within minutes of the final whistle, can we please have a retraction from the legion of bleating Australians whinging about McCaw not thanking the French for the game?
Wait for it…….deathly silence.
October 26th 2011 @ 8:16am
Ash said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:16am | Report comment
Oh that’s right the ABs never do anything wrong and they are gracious winners and even more gracious losers.
Come on pull the other one.
October 26th 2011 @ 8:59am
katzilla said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Haters gonna hate.
Wallabies win in Hong Kong, Cooper shoves McCaws head.
All Blacks win in Semi, form guard of honour to clap Wallabies off the park.
Get your hand off it.
October 26th 2011 @ 10:21am
AC said | October 26th 2011 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Wasn’t it the Aussies forming the guard of honour to clap the All Blacks off the park? If the All Blacks did it they didn’t show it on TV.
October 26th 2011 @ 11:59am
Justin said | October 26th 2011 @ 11:59am | Report comment
Correct but dont let the truth…
October 26th 2011 @ 1:24pm
katzilla said | October 26th 2011 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Nope the All Blacks formed the first guard, but it wasnt shown. Marto mentioned it in his commentary at the time.
Justin, your wrong. Deal with it.
October 26th 2011 @ 9:05am
PB said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:05am | Report comment
No, because McCaw’s behaviour is typical of the spiteful, ungracious, sore loser, sore winner NZ behaviour every single touring player to that country experiences. Perhaps you missed the Eden Park crowd booing the French captain’s speech?
October 26th 2011 @ 9:09am
katzilla said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:09am | Report comment
Perhaps you missed the French player with a finger in his eye straight after a headbutt?
http://youtu.be/-FQkwYfqDnU
What would you do if that had happened to your captain? The bitterness is overwhelming you.
October 26th 2011 @ 9:39am
Galaxy Hop said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:39am | Report comment
I’m sorry, was that the French player making the speech doing it?
Hilarious too, anyone else see McCaw dropping his knee in a very suspicious way onto a French player’s head in a ruck? Glass houses.
October 26th 2011 @ 9:52am
katzilla said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:52am | Report comment
People lying on the wrong side of the ruck get hit with stray knees all the time.
You guys are letting your jealousy overwhelm rational thought.
October 26th 2011 @ 12:40pm
Seiran said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
‘People lying on the wrong side of the ruck get hit with stray knees all the time.’
lol, Like McCaw headbutting Coopers knee right
October 26th 2011 @ 10:01am
Jerry said | October 26th 2011 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Did anyone notice Bonaire dropping his knee into Kieran Read? Yes, but it was incidental and accidental so not worth bothering to mention.
October 26th 2011 @ 10:07am
Galaxy Hop said | October 26th 2011 @ 10:07am | Report comment
Of course we saw it. The French play dirty. Nobody is celebrating that. According to the IRB and to Cooper his was accidental too, who are you to say differently? I agree it looked bad (as did McCaw’s) and I wasn’t happy Cooper did it. In fact I bloody hate Cooper’s play. I just think it’s about time Kiwis looked past their parochialism to see that McCaw’s no angel and if he aint going to behave himself don’t get so goddamn self righteous when somebody wrongs him.
I’m not too precious to remember that awful spear tackle George Gregan got away with, for example.
October 26th 2011 @ 11:23am
kingplaymaker said | October 26th 2011 @ 11:23am | Report comment
So six of one, half a dozen of the other.
October 26th 2011 @ 1:22pm
Capital said | October 26th 2011 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
KPM – Sorry, we disagree on this obviously and McCaw as a player.
But a question – how can you get low body height into a ruck? Bend from the waist? Bend the knees? Momentum?
Cmon this is really irrelevant – at game pace, going into contact and fighting for the ball … all skills we expect every flanker to possess … and you show this clip as proof of him intentionally cheating? Cmon – you could post 100 instances like this in a game (maybe 10 from our flankers) …
Its called a contact sport. I just don’t get how you can’t actually acknowledge the guy is a good rugby player and a sportsman.
October 26th 2011 @ 12:00pm
jeremy said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
Gee, I wonder what the Georgians who rocked up to Dunedin and were greeted by half the crowd dressed in Georgian colours thought about the spiteful, ungracious, sore loser, sore winner behaviour.
Or the Russians, Americans, Tongans, South Africans, Samoans, Namibians, Americans, Argentinians, Irish, Welsh, Japanese, Fijians, Romanian, Italian, Scottish, and English who came along and were adopted by New Zealanders?
And no I didn’t hear the booing of the french captain’s speech despite watching it on Australian TV so I presume you’re making it up. Unless of course you post a link to a video showing, like the eye gouging video where the captain watches McCaw get gouged and offers no sympathy. But that’s not poor sportsmanship is it. It’s only poor sportsmanship when it’s McCaw.
October 26th 2011 @ 12:35pm
p.Tah said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
“Unless of course you post a link to a video [proving the booing of the French captain]”
None other than Ritchie McCow… completely unsportsmanlike. Disgraceful
October 26th 2011 @ 1:26pm
katzilla said | October 26th 2011 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Epic video P Tah.
After watching that I can do nothing but concur that we as a nation are very poor sports.
October 26th 2011 @ 4:02pm
jeremy said | October 26th 2011 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
I apologise unreservedly. I…I had no idea….
October 26th 2011 @ 9:34pm
p.Tah said | October 26th 2011 @ 9:34pm | Report comment
Who on earth filmed that
… And why have over 2million people watched it!?
October 26th 2011 @ 8:28am
Bayxxx said | October 26th 2011 @ 8:28am | Report comment
Dusatoir is a warrior, a fantastic player who has performed brilliantly in an inconsistent team over 12 Months…
I presume when you say ‘ Rugby Fans’ would have preferred pocock or other you mean Australians and Kiwis?
Disrespectful, isolationist and dumb.
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