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Wallabies flanker Dean Mumm has been both lucky and unlucky in the side’s current campaign.
Lucky to escape the sack for far too many ordinary performances, and yesterday unlucky to cop a one-match suspension for recklessly elbowing All Black lock Brodie Retallick in the 52nd minute.
Recklessly?
Bollocks.
Both Retallick and his lock partner Sam Whitelock had taken every opportunity to niggle or impede the Wallabies off the ball, and every time a Wallaby spun around to infer that’s enough, both All Blacks showed the colour of their mouthguards with a big smile.
Why is it rugby forwards can take each other out without the ball – cleanout is the buzz word – when backs doing the same are penalised?
The Mumm incident was in full view of the touchie who didn’t see fit to take any action, while referee Nigel Owens wasn’t aware of anything wrong, and he picked up plenty in 80 minutes.
Yet the duty judicial officer, Robert Stelzner SC, was the hawk-eye, citing Mumm post-game for striking.
The television replays were long range, but even at that distance, it was obvious Retallick was holding Mumm by the arm illegally, keeping the Wallaby out of the play.
Mumm retaliated with his back to Retallick, wrenching his arm free in a backwards motion, his elbow connecting with Retallick’s head, who collapsed and lay motionless.
Whether the reaction was genuine or a dive is a topic I’ll leave to the Oscar selectors.
But don’t take any notice of Mumm being remorseful at the hearing and pleading guilty, as both no doubt saved him from copping a few more weeks on the sideline – it’s all part of the ‘game.’
And it’s rubbish – Retallick deserved exactly what he got.
The niggle has become a tactical ploy, and if it’s not policed early by the referee and the touchies it will become endemic and red cards will automatically follow, ruining the game as a spectacle.
There was one very famous AFL niggle I shall never forget – I clapped at the time, long and loud.
It was 2008 and the big clash between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles at ANZ with a big crowd.
Cards on the table, I am not an AFL fan, but quite often I’ll watch on television when the Swans are on duty.
That day, Eagle Brent Staker was constantly niggling the fiery Barry Hall with the ball suburbs away.
In the end, Hall said enough is enough and wheeled round to land a perfect punch on Staker’s jaw, sitting him on his backside with his legs in the air sporting a look of what the hell, why did you do that?
As if Staker didn’t know, he was the niggler.
Hall was cited, and copped a six-week holiday.
The quotes at the hearing from AFL counsel Jeff Gleeson QC were priceless.
“Mr Hall has thrown a punch that would make Rocky Balboa blush.
“The difference is he was not wearing gloves, he was not in the boxing ring, he was playing football and his opponent did not expect to be punched.”
That just goes to prove how dumb Staker was on two counts – baiting Hall in the first place and expecting him to cop it.
And the AFL niggle is still very operative despite Law 15.4.5 (e) which clearly states:
It’s prohibited to push bump, hold, or block an opposition Player when the football is more than five metres away from the opposition Player.
What’s the point of having that Law in place, if it’s going to be constantly ignored?