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“Why don’t we go to the nearest ballet shop, get some tutus and get a dancing shop going? There will be no eye gouging, no tackling, no nothing, and we will enjoy it.”
Those were the words of Pieter de Villiers after the reckless eye gouging incident by Schalk Burger on Luke Fitzgerald during the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour in South Africa.
While there’s nothing wrong with the statement itself, in this case de Villiers’ loyalty was misplaced.
The difficulty these days is that players and referees struggle to differentiate between tough, uncompromising physicality and unwanted physical intimidation.
This past weekend the match between the Sharks and Waratahs had a lot to enjoy for those of us who savour the physical battle, as well as a number of incidents that should be frowned upon.
Now let me be the first to admit I love the physical battle. Few things on earth are as satisfying as timing your tackle well, keeping the leg drive going, and sending the ball carrier reeling back a few metres and then driving him into the ground.
A good scrum, where the opposition is driven onto their heels and then into a pile of rubble is equally satisfying. A well executed maul where the drive becomes a canter over the opposition line can be just as good.
Then of course there is the hand off, a well timed fend on the defender’s chest which inevitably has him grabbing at thin air or the thunderous hip drive through a tackle.
All of these actions reminds us why rugby has appeal as a contact sport. Intimidation and physical prowess can be established in a manner completely within the law of rugby. It isn’t necessary to go beyond the law.
The match between the Sharks and Waratahs reminded me of match where one team had all the intention in the world to perform a display of physical dominance, stamping their authority on an opponent with the right intentions, however it was in the execution that they failed.
South African teams are notorius for reacting in the face of adversity, just think back to young Eben Etzebeth when Nathan Sharpe taunted and pulled at him and the inexperienced rookie retaliated with a “mock” headbutt, sending him to the sinbin and a few weeks off.
You could argue he learnt a valuable lesson and was outsmarted by the experienced Nathan Sharpe.
I saw that as gamesmanship, something I don’t think belongs in the sport I love. But sadly in professional sport anything goes.
The Waratahs had a clear plan this weekend, intimidate, niggle and nudge.
Early in the first half Frans Steyn copped a stiff arm from Rob Horne. There was nothing subtle about it. It was a closed fist stiff arm to the throat area and whether you want to argue that it was mistimed or not, there is little to misinterpret about a closed fist stiff, swinging arm.
It didn’t take long for Frans Steyn to retaliate when he got hold of Kurtley Beale and in an action closely resembling hammer throw he flung Beale around like a rag doll, if you were to criticise his action you would suggest he lacked elevation and angle.
Beale subsequently had to go for a concussion test as he fell rather awkwardly and could have been severely injured.
The problem was the referee did nothing to halt the actions of either Horne or Steyn. Was it not for the decision Bismarck du Plessis made to approach the referee about the niggle, the game could have turned into a free for all.
Some may criticise the decision of du Plessis to approach the referee about the fact that the Sharks were no longer going to take it, but it had the required effect.
The send off of Dave Dennis was soft, there is no doubt about it. In all honesty the “push” wasn’t even a push, it was more a tap to provoke Bismarck du Plessis. But after a final warning by the referee, Dennis had to go.
This is where the Waratahs went wrong, and that is where I believe they misinterpreted the directive of manning up and showing their physicality.
The fact is it was a brutal game. The hits that went into the tackles from both sides were ferocious and legal. It is fair to say that the on-the-ball elements of the match made for great entertainment and would have woken the part in every one of us that appreciates the physical battle of no quarter asked or given.
But it was the off-the-ball niggles that could easily have gone off the boil. It was encouraging to see the maturity captaincy has brought to Bismarck du Plessis. This is from a player that doesn’t shy away from retaliation and the odd bit of illegal play was
At the end of the day, we want to see a physical battle, but a legal physical battle on the ball. :eave the niggles and gamesmanship out of rugby union. After all, if you can’t find satisfaction in hitting a guy so hard that he longs for his mommy, then you won’t find what you are looking for in rugby union.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.