Backrower Scott Higginbotham may miss the entire Wallaby spring tour after copping a two-match suspension for kneeing and head-butting All Blacks skipper Mark McCaw during last Saturday’s international at Suncorp.
The big Queenslander can’t seem to tell the difference between playing with acceptable mongrel and unacceptable dirty behaviour.
Higginbotham has form, such as April last year when he deliberately impeded Drew Mitchell’s path which left the Waratah screaming in agony on the ground with a badly broken ankle.
Punishment? Zero.
As it sits, Higginbotham will definitely miss the France and England games, but coach Robbie Deans said two weeks ago any player who can’t play in all of the tour games won’t be selected.
Deans was referring to injured players, but Higginbotham has widened that base.
And he was damn lucky to only cop two games, so blatant were his actions.
It begs the question as to what Higginbotham was thinking at the time?
These days there are so many television cameras covering rep rugby, any stupidity will be picked up and punished.
His stupidity was in keeping with the four penalties the Wallabies gave up to turn a 15-6 lead into an 18-15 deficit, and the no drop goal decision during 28 pick and go phases at 18-all that could have won the game for the Wallabies – a game they thoroughly deserved to win.
No wonder Deans looks five years older than last year.
He has, at last, got the Wallabies to believe in themselves and show the necessary passion and commitment, only to have moments of sheer lunacy to undo all the positive work.
There’s absolutely no reason why the Wallabies can’t beat France, England, Italy, and Wales on the coming tour. None whatsoever.
The fourth captain in a year, Nathan Sharpe, has sharpened up the pack, and Kurtley Beale has done the same with the backs. All Deans is missing is a halfback to give some half decent service.
Both Nick Phipps and Brett Sheehan are way short of the mark.
Will Genia on one leg is a far better proposition to give Beale the extra time and space he deserves.
But all up, there are many pluses for the Wallabies to end the year on a high note and be ready and waiting for the Lions next season.
Just keep the brain explosions out of the equation.
Neuen
Guest
Sean Fitzpatrick had the same effect on the opposition. Someone even had a chew on his ear once haha
tubby
Guest
he's not missing, you are just looking in the wrong spot. he can always be found running the touchline for the reds
Mike
Guest
You may have misread Justin's post. Your opinion that Higgers was "trying to rip off Read's head" (even if correct) doesn't contradict Justin's point. Unless you are suggesting that Higginbotham was actually cited for that incident, and did appear before a judiciary for it...? If so, please share the details!
sarco
Guest
shame the knee andhead butt incident took so much attention away from Higgers spot tackling and ball carrying......lol. The guy is a liability, end of. Pocock to 6.
yahyah
Guest
i have bad news for you james. you might need to make a visit to the optometrist.
yahyah
Guest
Higgers is the biggest liability in the team. a lot of comparisons can be drawn with Pierre Spies. God given physiques yet hardly recognised in a crucial game. really what is he good for? he disappears completely against the ABs those last three tests. you only need to look at the Israel Dagg try in the second test. He missed more tackles in the lead up to that try alone than quade cooper did all game.
Yeah, if there ever was a planned situation then that was it. Sharpe niggled Etzebeth the whole game just waiting for something to make a fuss about, and when it happened he made sure everyone and his dog knew something happened.
yahyah
Guest
no J2 youre just blind then. when Read ripped that ball away from Nathan SHarpe(?), Higgs was in there trying to rip off Read's head. I've seen this on other occasions in the previous tests against the ABs this year. same culprit.
yahyah
Guest
dont think he even really complained at all at the incident. i wonder if you'll say the same about Nathan Sharpe's reaction at something considerably smaller than a niggle by a 20y/o Saffa
yahyah
Guest
"listening to Phil Kearns' commentary while playing" = GOLD haha
WQ
Guest
I believe that there should be a process of referral for Foul play, so that the penalty is instantaneous. He should have been red carded and then faced the judiciary. If that was the potential outcome I will bet he would not have done it!
dirtyrottenscoundrell
Guest
I'd clean that post up... It could be easily misinterpreted as you referring to Carter as a drop kick!
Mike
Guest
Now now, KiwiDave, even Umaga and Mealamu have never had the gall to claim that the speartackle on O'Driscoll was anything but deliberate. No point offering excuses that even the perpetrators themselves have never offered. The IRB was not able to act on that incident because of a legal technicality, but it described it as "unacceptably dangerous play", not reckless play. The penalty for that sort of thing is 3-6 months suspension, which emphasises that it is in an entirely different class to things that get 1-2 weeks.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Spear tackles aren't thuggery. They are just reckless play. I doubt anybody deliberately goes out to spear tackle someone. Biting a chunk of someones ears, eye gouging, cheap shots to guys on the ground are thuggery though.
Mike
Guest
You left out Robbie Deans... ;) *passes the popcorn*
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
And why should they? NZ coaches are amongst the best in the world and we have a huge talent pool. Henry, Hansen, Rennie, Gatland are a few kiwis shining in their profession that come to mind.
jameswm
Guest
He's thrown punches at least guys. He's taken guys out in the air and had high shots. He's not in the higher range of dirty players. Didn't realise there was some sort of time limit on my reply. Had a busy afternoon at work, if that's ok. And I'm afraid you self-righteous Kiwis will have to accept that others feel that a guy who spends his playing life cheating eserves the odd bit of biggle, which is more what he copped than outright thuggery. I'd love to sit some of you down and go through a match like that, watchinfg solely McCaw. You should tape a match and do this with the other eye open. He rarely came into a ruck through the gate on the weekend.
Mike
Guest
Reading this, I had a vision of Higgers in the dressing room hitting every person and object near him, until his mates man-handle him out onto the field, hold him steady by his elbows while the preliminaries happen, and then point him in the general direction of the All Blacks and dive for cover... :)
WQ
Guest
The All Blacks do 'more' of everything jameswm, in particular - winning!
RugbyNZ
Guest
Higginbotham spent more time during the last 3 tests against AB's chasing and preying on McCaw, 1st and 2nd tests he did exactly the same cheap shots accept at Brisbane is also tried to wrench the head off Kieran Read and as Carter lined up the drop goal he laid Ben Smith over from a stiff forearm for no reason, completely off the ball and un noticed as every eye was on the drop kick. The guy has got a few screws lose, he just runs around looking to smack someone up or who ever gets in his way. Higgers should have been given another 4 weeks for smashing into the left hand goal post. He was chasing Aaron Smith as Smith lurched for the try line, Higgers ran across from the right to get into the action, but he smashed himself directly into tall timber. THIS WAS WORTH CITING JUST FOR A ANOTHER LAUGH AT HIM !!!! What a joke, never, never, never seen a senior rubgy palyer run straight into the goal posts Apart from dumb he discrace to Australian/NZ Rugby.