The All Blacks are facing front row issues heading into the second Test of their rugby grand slam quest against Scotland.
The opening 26-16 win over England at Twickenham has come at a price with hooker Keven Mealamu cited for an alleged headbutt on English skipper Lewis Moody.
Adding to coach Graham Henry’s concerns, prop Ben Franks is heading home after it was decided a bulging disc which forced him out of the England match with back spasms wouldn’t allow him to play until the tour finale against Wales at best.
International Rugby Board citing commissioner John West charged 82-cap veteran Mealamu with dangerous play after replays suggested he’d deliberately made contact with the back of Moody’s head at a breakdown.
Mealamu will face an IRB judiciary in Edinburgh – possibly on Tuesday – and risks a significant suspension unless television angles of the incident posted on the internet are misleading.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he was “surprised” to learn Mealamu had been cited.
“He’s probably the cleanest player in the world isn’t he? It was purely accidental as far as I know,” he said.
Ominously for the All Blacks, South African lock Bakkies Botha copped a nine-week ban in July for headbutting Jimmy Cowan – also from behind – during the Tri-Nations Test at Eden Park.
Mealamu does not have a list of prior convictions to rival Botha, though it could prove difficult for the 31-year-old to avoid a tour-ending punishment.
Should that scenario unfold Andrew Hore, the All Blacks starting hooker in 2009, faces a tougher reintroduction to Test rugby than might have been anticipated after a five-month lay-off.
Hore, who has not played since popping a shoulder during the final round of the Super 14 regular season in May, was taken on this five-Test tour to complete his rehabilitation.
Henry said it was always envisaged Hore would be in the 22-man squad for Saturday’s assignment at Murrayfield.
The Scottish Test could also be a watershed moment for Hika Elliot, after four Tests sitting on the bench as Mealamu’s understudy he can finally expect to make his debut if the Aucklander is banned.
With Mealamu’s fate yet to be determined, Henry has not had to ponder summoning a replacement hooker – probably the Chiefs’ Aled de Malmanche.
The decision to replace Franks with Neemia Tialata needed little consideration.
His ability to play both sides of the scrum facilitated his recall ahead of Wyatt Crockett and Jamie Mackintosh.
Scotland, considered the weakest of the Home Unions, have been a convenient opposition to blood new All Blacks during the Henry reign.
But the head coach denied a second string lineup would necessarily be revealed on Wednesday.
“We’ll try and pick the best team available probably, within reason,” he said.
“It’ll be pretty close to the top team again.”
Pajovic_
Roar Rookie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyGIHha3cXI&feature=related No comparison.
Pajovic_
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't disagree there Ohtani's jacket. Moody deserves what he gets. But who's making the song and dance of it? The precious 'don't disrect our Haka' 15 as usual.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Following that logic, Moody deserves a headbutt in every game.
Pajovic_
Roar Rookie
When McCaw stays on his feet and stops his persistent cheating then I might have some sympathy for him. Great player obviously, but when you are a master of the dark arts, expect a few cheap shots. Some get punished, some don't, he needs to learn to deal with that. Romain Poite is an adept referee, besides, the tri-nations were officated with NH referees so I just don't see the validity of blaming the ref. Objectively, it works both ways. @ Jason, so, head butt = free kick - period. is that your point?
Ben S
Roar Guru
'then Mealamu has made a right hash of it considering he used the top of his head and not his forehead and there are easier ways to meter out some extra judicial judgement against flankers..' Of course he would use his head and not his forehead. The forehead has more nerve endings. Have you even watched a replay of this incident? Love all these whinging poms comments, btw. Oustandingly witty, and also pretty heartbreaking to see some people using such childish boring and outdated sterotypes.
zhenry
Guest
Thanks for that but unfortunately (my computer literacy) find it hard to follow. Its on 'stuff.co.nz: Citing inconsistencies irk All Blacks skipper'. The spelling error in 'citing' does look odd and I have put Mealamu in Ancient Rome.
allblackfan
Guest
Having had another look at the Kev footage, I'm will concede that perhaps he did headbutt Moody. Then I saw Hartley's hit on McCaw. @^$%^$% What a goddamn thug. Thorn should have done more than just clip him around the shoulder. Once again, poor refereeing from the match officials.
Jason
Guest
Try html code, e.g.: Watch the Hartley-McCaw incident: [a href="link"]Description[/a] Replace [] with
zhenry
Guest
Hperlink does not work on here. Copy http onto browser and enter.
zhenry
Guest
Despite AU public perception most ABs had a holiday between the AU Melb test and Hong Kong. About 4 ABs had one of two NPC games. The WALs had a month together, the ABs a week and a half. How Mealamus head butt could be sited and Hartleys attack on McCaw’s head be ’just noted’ is beyond any normal understanding. The Irish siter should be sacked. Select an http below: (Probably an easier way but only way I know) right click Open Hperlink OK Watch the Hartley-McCaw incident: "http://www.youtube.com/v/53ygseQDp_o&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&version=3" Watch the Mealamu-Moody incident: "http://www.youtube.com/v/1yE2Ky0awsA&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&version=3"
Tui
Guest
I thought our front row was fine and it was all interpretation of the Referee which was far from balanced. From where I was watching the English had a poor scrum on its own ball and the AB pack was doing a great job at disruption but kept getting penalised from Poite. I thought our scrum held together better on our own ball.
zhenry
Guest
Remind you that the New Zealand and Australian rugby media are both owned by Australian Fairfax and Murdoch. There are other AU inputs in AU but not so for NZ the complete media is mostly AU owned; there are a couple of small inputs from UK and US. Journalists come well down in the power scheme of things. But your right the corporate media is guff (for the advertisers) and in NZ the public media is right down there with it.
allblackfan
Guest
Given the calibre of the referee, there certainly was not, Pajovic. They have a clip of this incident on utube and the more u see it, from different angles, the more u have to ask what part of Kevin's body hit Lewis ``The Wuss'' Moody. Never mind; better team still won the game. All of England's whinging will not save them from future losses.
lACHIE
Guest
they can appeal but they won't get the verdict changed-kevvy lost his cool so tjhats it. Hartley should also have gone for a week or two as well. I am concerned about whats happening in the scrums-AB'S certainly not dominant but no colapses ,both front rows boring in -referee says nothing apart from blowing freekicks all going the english way. Not sure what the response should be,do you just sub new guy to get impression of the referee changed becos the p[roblem is once one front row is boring in you all have to -its self preservation-is there an ex front forward who can help me with this-just do not see a solution
Hayden
Guest
It'd take a little more than red carding an Irishman in a game the ABs were going to win anyway to make up for 07. That said, I think Barnes has developed into a good ref. I read some blogs in the UK - people do remember Mealamu for his role in the attempted assassination of BOD - said with a certain sarcasm , might I add. He deserves the ban, Hartley deserves something also, but talk of conspiracy is nonsense. Hartley's time will come, maybe a red card in a knockout game against NZ in the WC?
Bayboy
Guest
I don't how you can even try to justify what Hartley did. It was illegal and unsportsmanlike and basically a pre meditated act of thuggery as was Mealamu's Hartley should have been cited end of story the severity of the punishment handed out is not the issue but the fact he got away scot free says a lot about the citing process and the inadequacies on all fronts.
Jason
Guest
his ‘cheap shot’ was exactly that, uncouth,but hardly merited anything other than a yellow, or cited a two week lay-off. Mealamu’s actions, were on the other hand worrying and the sort of thoughtless rage that has little place in the modern game. The laws of the game disagree with you: Punching or striking. A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s). Sanction: Penalty kick
Mungehead
Guest
Herald says ABs will appeal the ban. They have 48 hours to do so. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10686623
Pajovic_
Roar Rookie
Television footage of the incident showed Mealamu grabbing Moody by the jersey and then diving forward, making contact with the back of the England captain's head. It's pretty undisputable, even for the most one eyed of supporters. Hika Elliot was on the bench at Twickenham. The other hooker option is Andrew Hore, this can't help things at front row, especially after the tasty performance England put in at the weekend. Hore was one of three men convicted and fined for shooting and killing a protected fur seal in New Zealand - more front row thuggery alas! Could strike fear into the hears of the Scots though. As for Hartley, he did some terrific things off the bench against the All Blacks, his 'cheap shot' was exactly that, uncouth,but hardly merited anything other than a yellow, or cited a two week lay-off. Mealamu's actions, were on the other hand worrying and the sort of thoughtless rage that has little place in the modern game. As for 'england whinging to the citing panel' players can be cited regardless of whether or not anyone whinges. There was no escaping the inevitability here allblackfan.
Jason
Guest
To me it looks like Mealamu has gone to pile drive his shoulder into Moody's back for coming in the side of the ruck, laying on the wrong side and playing the ball on the ground, but he's stuffed it up and a head clash has resulted. For those who think it was deliberate, then Mealamu has made a right hash of it considering he used the top of his head and not his forehead and there are easier ways to meter out some extra judicial judgement against flankers.. I've no problem with the ban; it fits Law 10.4 (a) perfectly. Just as Hartley's does I might add, who should consider himself very fortunate he didn't receive the same punishment.