Australia’s attempt to impose themselves with physical aggression in the second Bledisloe Cup match in Wellington was a sign of “weakness” and a team not concentrating on their rugby, according to All Blacks players.
Thrashed 42-8 at home in the opener in Sydney, the Wallabies brought more niggle in the spite-tinged re-match in Wellington but fell 29-9 in another one-sided defeat.
“We saw it as a bit more of a weakness from them that they were worried about putting that in and we were just playing rugby,” All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick told media in Wellington on Monday.
“I don’t mind it, to be fair. They play their way, we play ours. I don’t mind the physical stuff.”
Flanker Sam Cane was similarly dismissive of the abrasive tactics brought by Michael Cheika’s team who slumped to their sixth straight loss to surrender the Bledisloe Cup early for another year.
“We knew they would come out a lot more physical and potentially with a bit of niggle,” he said.
“The way they went about it was probably what caught us off guard just a fraction but we acknowledged it pretty quickly that that was how they were going to play.
“In a funny way it’s a good thing when you realise the opposition are playing like that because it means they’re not really focused on their footy as much.
“And as long as we worry about playing footy and executing our stuff right, there should be some answers and I suppose that’s how the game played out.”
The comments are unlikely to be well received in Australia where former players and pundits were up in arms over an alleged eye-gouging incident involving All Blacks prop Owen Franks.
Franks’ hand came in contact with lock Kane Douglas’s face in full view of referee Romain Poite but both players’ denied it was gouging and the incident was dismissed by the tournament’s citing commissioner.
Beezlebub
Guest
What as sad sack you are at the bottom of the barrel now!!
ClarkeG
Guest
Antoni - In instances where I reply to you it is nearly always in regard to churlish comments you have made. If only you take notice - and apparently you do - then its all good for me. :-)
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Thanks for sharing Rt ...good post, puts things in perspective..
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Yikes, I just looked in a mirror .... ... but yeah, I knew that ..
WQ
Guest
Fair enough mania, we'll have to agree to disagree :-)
mania
Guest
sorry WQ, and this isn't personal but that's crazy. this is a nothing event that has been blown out of proportion. world rugby has more problems to worry about than incidental contact that did no damage. I understand people saying that franks should've been at least cited but whats the point? he would've been absolved of blame. most importantly no one was hurt. there was nothing malicious or dirty. but franks should still get punished?
WQ
Guest
kiwikrs/mania, I too am a staunch one-eyed All Black fan. mania I also agree re: the Wallabies getting away with murder and here I am expressing a wish for Franks to have been penalised and made an example of with a suspension. I think this was not however incidental contact, it was intentional contact and it was on the mans face in particular around his eyes. I'm not saying there was an eye gouge because there was not, however it could have quite easily become one. I love the All Blacks and I particularly enjoy Owen Franks and the story around his journey to the All Blacks. Owen Franks is not a dirty player however It does not excuse him from scrutiny over an act of frustration and stupidity.
Antoni
Guest
Keep posting the same thing over and over and over again 'ClarkeG'. Less and less chance anyone will take any notice of you, ha, ha...
mania
Guest
I'm one eyed then. no one was hurt. kane admitted that it was a split second thing that he didn't notice. incidental contact in rugby happens thousands of times a game. franks is not a dirty player. the ref was standing right there and didn't think there was a gouge cos there wasn't one. cant believe that aus get away with niggling thugby tactics yet franks gets pinged for not gouging or attacking douglas' head. it was incidental contact, stupid but not malicious. tbh I think everyone who is complaining has forgotten what it means to be a player. franks did nothing malicious but he should be suspended for a few weeks. these guys live to play rugby.
kiwikrs
Guest
To the victor go the spoils.
kiwikrs
Guest
Well put. Thanks RT
kiwikrs
Guest
Nailed it.
kiwikrs
Guest
With a name like Aussiekiwi I'm guessing there was a fair amount of sarcasm in that post.
kiwikrs
Guest
Agree. Although I do think a suspension may be a tad over the top I would have copped it on the chin. However a penalty was definitely deserved. Whether Franks was trying to cover Douglas' eyes, pull his head back to unbalance him or just return some of the Wallaby niggle, it was a penalty every day of the week. Only the staunchest one eyed supporter would call it nothing and I'm a pretty staunch AB fan. Either way it was only one of many many missed penalties and there's really not much point dwelling on it. I think I'm almost looking forward more to the Aus SA game this week than the ABs.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
All class Thank you for the reminder we should all be more mature
WQ
Guest
mania, I don't want Franks persecuted and my use of the word 'attacked' is over the top I admit. Having said all that it was a dumb move made out of frustration and it is undeniable that he grabbed Douglas around the eye area and the rest of his face. My interest here is that of Rugby, players quite simply cannot be allowed to grab the facial area of other players under any circumstances. He should have been penalised and then suspended for a Test match to send a clear message to all other players that making contact with the facial area of another player is unacceptable.
ClarkeG
Guest
Yes Antoni (Zero Gain) - it would be nice if you could remove all of these from your repertoire.
ClarkeG
Guest
Is that when Cooper charged into and removed McCaw from a ruck with his shoulder - making no attempt to bind - and then proceeded towards McCaw - who was on the ground - and stood over him in an intimidatory manner.
Aucklandlaurie
Guest
Cant even spell bright.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
you told me not to let it stop me. That is a text book example tacit permission Soap.