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I have just read that the All Black coaching staff are going to apeal Mealamu’s four week ban. Straight after the news of Mealamu receiving a four week ban, there was another news release from captin McCaw who is unhappy with the ‘inconsistant’ ruling.
“I don’t know whether the ref saw it or not, but I certainly made it known to him that I’d been hit. I don’t like people to take cheap shots – that annoys me.”
This quote from McCaw was taken from the article about McCaw being hit late by Hartley in the England game.
I cast my mind back to the Tri-Nations and the Hong Kong game to see if McCaw or the All Blacks coaching staff actually have a point. Let’s focus on McCaw for a second.
Some may have forgotten about the kick from Rousow in the game against the All Blacks that ended up as a yellow card. It was very similar to the kick from McCaw on Cooper in the Hong Kong game, but ended up being nothing as a result.
Very similar, some might argue, to the kick from McCaw on Pockok at the scrum. Still, nothing as a result.
Inconsistent? Well, yes 100 per cent. But in favour of the All Blacks. So let’s move on.
Some may remember a head butt from Botha that happened after being aggrevated in an illegal play. The sentence was nine weeks.
Now looking at Mealamu’s effort, what is the difference?
Well, the answer is simple. The All Blacks themselves will tell you: ‘We’re defending a guy who’s character has been questioned and it shouldn’t be.”
According to the New Zealand Press Association, Mealamu’s defence centred on the claim he made contact with Moody with his shoulder, not his head.
So there you have it, Mealamu’s very own coaching staff, countrymen and team-mates are saying Mealamu is a great guy, although I wouldn’t expect them to say he is an outright thug.
So surely with this in mind there should be no punishment?
The All Blacks have said so. Doesn’t that count for anything? Forget the footage that shows a very dirty, very illegal and very dangerious head butt to the opposition that I might add.
Has evidently put the player on the receiving end out of action for the next game.
The All Blacks’ arrogance is thick, the tactics and foul play becoming more evident to the referees, and all of a sudden that’s become a problem. Well, for them anyway.
Some players may see it as finally coming back around.
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.