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Cynical Chiefs mock spirit of rugby

25th April, 2016
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The undefeated Chiefs take on the Bulls. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Roar Guru
25th April, 2016
129
3759 Reads

There is plenty to admire about the Chiefs in 2016. The top side in Super Rugby at present has scored more tries than any other franchise and boast the competition’s most exciting new star in Damien McKenzie.

However the strange climax to their thrilling 28-27 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday exposed a cunning and cynical side that has surprisingly gone unnoticed.

Saturday’s game at the Westpac Stadium ended in uncontested scrums – a crucial advantage for the visitors who were hanging on grimly to their slender lead and a situation that wasn’t adequately explained by the press, players and officials after the game.

Here is what transpired.

In the 38th minute Chiefs tighthead prop Atu Moli left the field and was officially replaced injured at halftime.

The reserve tighthead Siate Tokolahi was injured in the 75th minute.

The Chiefs attempted to replace Tokolahi with Siegfried Fisiihoi. The Chiefs advised substitutes controller David Walsh, Fisiihoi can’t play tighthead which is curious because Fisiihoi played tighthead for Bay of Plenty in ITM Cup.

The Chiefs management wanted Fisihoi on the field, but not to contest scrums. Under the rules he cannot enter the game without competing in the scrums so the referees advised the Chiefs management unless he competes in the scrums he doesn’t play at which point the Chiefs chose not to bring him onto the field leaving the referee with no choice but to go to uncontested scrums.

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Law 3.6d states: “In a squad of 23 players, or at the discretion of the union/match organiser, a player whose departure has caused the referee to order uncontested scrums cannot be replaced.”

These facts have been verified to me by the officials and explain why the Chiefs finished the match with only 14 players.

Given the Chiefs had conceded a tighthead when the Hurricanes scored their fourth try and were back-peddling in the scrums, this was a calculated gamble that paid off. The Chiefs risked conceding penalties if contested scrums had occurred in the last five-minutes.

However their decision raises a number of questions.

Why can’t a professional player with previous first class experience at tighthead be trusted to uphold his end of the scrum in a crucial stage of the match?

Why do the Chiefs regard Fisihoi so lowly?

How many more games will Fisiihoi play this season and will he appear at tighthead?

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Wasn’t the increase in front row reserves designed to reduce the prospects of this type of thing happening?

Why have the Chiefs brought the spirit of the game into disrepute by openly attempting to manipulate the laws to their advantage?

Isn’t a contest for the ball the essence of the game? Deliberating degrading the ability of their reserve prop to compete runs contrary to that ideal.

The Chiefs are a very good side. They deserve their successes this season, but their behaviour in the last five-minutes on Saturday was disappointing and cynical.

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