A single decision can’t decide a result. Craig Joubert gets it, and Jerome Garces gets it. Now, why can’t we?
Until the 77th minute of the Lions Test – you could tackle a bloke in the air during general play. Or so I thought. But Garces didn’t, and the is law is on his side.
In 12 font Times New Roman, Rule 10.4 (e) coldly states “a player must not tackle an opponent whose feet are off the ground. Sanction: Penalty Kick”.
I paused. Sanction, penalty kick! The words grew from the screen as the white noise bled into my ears. How can you defend against that? My mind flew.
First denial, then anger, then bargaining. My stone skipped over the pond of grief with barely a kiss of the surface, slowing finally at depression, and sinking at acceptance.
The jump-carry is alive, and it’s unstoppable. I pulled at the loose thread of reality and waited for my scarf to unravel.
(AAP Image/David Rowland)
Cue Twickenham, 2015, all emerald spring and shining hopes. The Wallabies face Scotland in the world cup quarter-final. But with two minutes to go they’re behind – and haven’t got the pill.
Bleary eyed I sit in silence. Penitent. And no one talks. The hangman pulls down the hood, and I grit my teeth. The Scottish line out goes to the back and its scrappy ball off the top. A fumble, a ricochet, an instinctive snatch at possession.
Penalty, I scream. And Joubert abides. But the law is a little more nebulous here. Rule 11.6 (a) states that “when an offside player cannot avoid being touched by the ball…the player is accidentally offside”.
Cannot avoid being touched, I muse. Their prop did catch the deflection – but could he have avoided a touch? The question trails me like a forlorn dog…
I jest, of course, but only to illustrate my point – that individual decisions can’t define a result. A result, as such, is an atomic whole. To argue otherwise is to view a painting through a pinhole.
Yes, the Faumuina penalty was technically correct – and the better team won the game. And no, the Scottish penalty wasn’t right – but the better team won that day too. To put it simply, all decisions are made in the context of the game.
And the end does justify the means. Clearly the refs get it, but I’m not so sure of the players and fans.
So, what do you think? Is it sensible to talk about an individual decision when isolated from the match at a whole?
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Did you not see the straightened & swinging cocked arm,. that was no accident.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
But how do you know tojos moving in doesn't put the thrower off his throw... you dont therefore there is rule preventing it...
lassitude
Guest
IIRC Fergie did something similar on the 1967 tour to Britain.
Kane
Guest
Done some digging and didn't find the article you speak of but I did find an article that states that Wayne Barnes admitted to being paid off to ensure the All Blacks lost the 2007 RWC ¼ against France.
Winston
Guest
I guess the best team won the USA election as well.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Like a fly or a cockroach, they seem to jump just as they are getting caught.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Maybe there was no tackler Sam.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Good point. The oddity might be that we stop the "last try wins" train of reality at the moment in time that we do. This whole construct of a win 'at that moment' seems almost artificial. Why that particular moment?
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
Is that correct? I recall an instance of a try being scored by a player diving over the top of a ruck on the goal line.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Personally I think the AB's should develop a new 'jump' attack. When someone like the fullback is coming at speed into the line they should practice passing higher so the fullback can take a small jump into the pass and be in the air at the point of defensive contact. Either they tackle you - penalty in your favour, or the don't, in which case you land behind the line at speed for a guaranteed line break. Brilliant. It's best not to question a ref, just play they way they want.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Unless you catch the ball in the dive.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Dig please Bakkies. Because yours is the first news of this
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Frame by Frame I saw a blade of grass on Pocock's tag, no more. It was a cheap shot and how players get injured. I was amazed that Pocock held onto it and the ruck was won by gold. Another tick in the Pocock column of the wallaby #7 Debate - Ball security.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I think you are right about the timing of the law. Pocock still landed past horizontal which is(was always) the tacklers responsibility. It wasn't a tip tackle, it was just bad timing, no malice. I think the law should be that you can't jump into a tackle, but if you are in the act of catching the ball, you should be a protected species. - How is that for a middle ground?
Offside
Guest
The Faumauina tackle was utterly wrong. According to the law you sighted, every single tackle is a penalty offence. Why? Because in the Olympic sport of Walking, a player is deemed to have run when both feet have left the ground. The very essence of running is both feet leave the ground. By such definition, every single tackle of a player running is a penalty offence. The law is there quite clearly in relation to lineout jumpers and taking a high kick. It is just badly written and was badly applied by that idiot ref. The Lions tour has been amazing. The officiating has been disgraceful.
Aem
Guest
Rubbish. He was pointing out the ridiculousness of the ruling by applying it to another in-game situation. Get off your clearly one-eyed AB-hating high horse and come back down to reality. The rule was introduced to protect players competing for kicks in the air, not what happened last weekend.
adastra32
Guest
Yes, yes, yes.....the game is capricious and open to interpretation which can influence the course and result. It happens! Get over it!!!! It happens to every team, even the best. Fine margins. FFS. So much waxing about this week about what might/should/could/ought to/statistically.....blah, blah. Move on. Blimey.
Hugo au Gogo
Guest
Wilson should have been sanctioned for diving.....
Unanimous
Guest
Running by definition involves the player being in the air for a portion of each stride, otherwise it's walking. By a strict interpretation of this law maybe 30% of tackles are against the rules. Surely the common sense applied by refs in the past needs to continue.
Bigmac
Guest
Gregans famous tackle on wilson 1994 would be a penalty try to the all blacks