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In regards to the Bulls resting 14 of 15 players for their final round match, I’m tired of reading things along the lines of: “stop complaining because your team didn’t play well enough to guarantee themselves a home semi”.
The Bulls have “earned the right” to rest as many players as they want, because it’s a dead rubber for them.
I know the Waratahs did it in 2002 against the Crusaders, and it was wrong then too.
Despairingly, the match:
– Impacted the outcome of other teams in the finals.
– Allowed players from the Stormers to be rested in the second half as they were thrashing their opponents so badly.
– Was played between two teams of the same country raising issues of monetary motives for the home unions.
None of these issues have been the case in the past and I think they do raise legitimate questions as to the ethical nature of not playing 93% of your starting team in an important match.
This was not some Manchester United throw-away Carling cup qualifier, this is the pointy end of the Super 14 where the result matters (even if the Bulls don’t think so).
I don’t care if we are in the professional era; being accused of throwing a game is not sporting.
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