There is a new back-line move in town, and it could easily have come straight out of the NFL playbook.
With the second half barely underway in the Waratahs’ 28-17 win over the Reds in Saturday’s Super Rugby clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Queenslanders clear a kick from inside their 22, sending it at little past half way.
Kurtley Beale retrieves the kick.
Jed Holloway raises his hand signaling Beale to run a blind side. Beale obliges.
Meanwhile, Holloway runs the block play. He races to block a Reds outside defender with his 195-centimetre frame.
The obstruction is now in place, man mountain Holloway stands between the Reds outside defender and the touchline, thereby creating a five-metre gap.
Beale hits the line and passes the ball to Curtis Rona, who runs through Holloway’s obstruction gap, and goes on to score a try.
Comically, Holloway is seen laughing in the background as Rona dives over in the corner. It worked.
What’s more, neither the touch judge nor New Zealand referee Glen Jackson picked it up. As the old saying goes, it is only cheating if you get caught.
Kudos to the Beale-Holloway play, it had the commentators mesmerised and touch judge bamboozled. Hopefully all are wiser for next time.
Were the Waratahs the better team on the night? Probably, but not by much. The block play aside, the game goes down to the wire. It was pretty scrappy affair.
To be fair, the SCG pitch did the spectacle no favours. Completely substandard.
The grass layered above sand is very dangerous for scrums and is a neck injury waiting to happy.
Further, the 46,000-seat stadium looked poorly attended on the broadcast. There seemed to be zero atmosphere on the ground.
A change of venue against the Crusaders in two weeks time is an absolute must. Surely at North Sydney Oval, the Waratahs vs Crusaders would be a sell-out with atmosphere to match.
If not available, the Eels and Panthers play away games in Round 2 of the NRL, so the new stadium in Parramatta is an option. Something to think about.
LifestyleSpecialist
Roar Rookie
I believe the Tahs are contractually bound through their relationship with the SCG Trust (which owns the SFS) to play some games there. Yes it's a sh!t experience ad they've probably done well to get as many games at other decent stadia as they have. The new stadium in Parra looks to be a great venue. Brookie has atmosphere and even Leichhardt Oval some character too.
chukling
Guest
haha yep good call. The rule is applied hap hazardly by refs, and you only need to look at the box-kick blocking... they attackers have a finger on a bloke in the ruck, yet EVERY team obstructs the defenders trying to charge-down the kick. More often than not, the players aren't even bound. Is anyone else with me here? Its crept into the game, and I'm seeing more box-kicks this year than before, especially from Australian teams.
Chukling
Guest
Sports administrators in this country are funny things. They remind me of short-term populist politicians, favoring the commercials over long-term common sense... Blind Freddy could have told the Waratahs that the SCG would be an empty spectacle. Ask me now, and repeat every year into the foreseeable future. Oh wait a second... let me think.. who on the SCG Trust might have got in the ears of the Waratah officials? Hmmm Credit to the Tahs for playing at Brookvale (even if its a filthy Sea Eagle cess pool), but they are ignoring North Sydney Oval, or Rat Park... Newcastle, Gosford, Country Rugby (Mudgee), and other prominent areas are also being ignored, despite some efforts. Let's hope bringing the game to smaller grounds, and flexible contractual arrangements are signed in the future. What administrators don't realise is that a full ground with 14K will always attract a better 'brand' of rugby through the atmosphere, people actually wanting to go to the game, and the players being motivated by the 'noise'.... funnily enough this leads to a better 'product' in the long-term, and by so doing leads to increased revenue and security... I tried to talk like a 'sports administrator' in this country so they get the hint.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Feels Like a Straw man argument, point out that another player was doing something wrong to justify another's wrong doing. That said, I am challenging Peter K's assertion that "Hegarty" was offside. The camera is on a pivot at the 1/2 way line, the angles are hard to judge. Just before the kick, The 22 is on a 30 degree angle rising to the left of picture, draw the same line from Serovi and you will find him on-side, or at least within the margin of error. Or maybe I am looking at different footage. PS, it was the #10 - is that Hegarty? or Stewart, I haven't seen Stewart without headgear before, all gingers look alike to me ;)
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Especially considering the lack of additional defenders means it was a good spot to run - exactly what you want to signal.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
In fact Paul, given that Hegarty was the only defender that covered, it makes more sense that Holloway called a run down the side because there was no defenders. It was a 2 on 1 (Hegarty vs Beale and Rona) that was never followed with any cover.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Definitely not arguing that it doesn't happen, I think it's a bit of a problem for the game. Just saying that I've seen much worse not called, and we're probably best off having refs call the more egregious ones as a starting point. Besides, as Peter K pointed out, Hegarty was a metre or so offside at the kick, and "the law says that a player in an offside position shall take no part in the game" ;-)
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
I'd love Concord, used to be my home ground with Wests back in the day. Think they're knocking it down as well, saw something about the council redeveloping it.
Andrew Joseph
Roar Rookie
Wow, thanks for that Simmo. Has same great history and pedigree. Location of 1987 World Cup Semi-Final Wallabies v France. Being from Qld, I’m ashamed to say I’ve never heard of it. How many would it get in the door for Waratahs v Crusaders? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord_Oval You guys in Sydney are spoiled for stadiums. In Brissy, we have Suncorp, and Ballymore is about to be downsized.
Andrew Joseph
Roar Rookie
Timbo (L) response above probably sums things up. "Illegal? – The law says that a player in an offside position shall take no part in the game." It is a grey area for sure. Problem is, that try was the turning point in the game. Definitely was more ass than class though, will agree with you there.
Andrew Joseph
Roar Rookie
Well balanced response there Timbo. Would probably add video ref needed to review tries when attacking players lurk in the defensive line.
Andrew Joseph
Roar Rookie
Right you are Big Dave. Mon 22nd of April. https://www.parraeels.com.au/more/stadium-relocation/ North Sydney Oval , or as per top shelf suggestion from Simmo below, Concord stadium, the home of the 1987 World Cup Semi-final Wallabies v France. Both have 20k capacity. Simmo, Concord reminds me of Ballymore. Great idea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord_Oval
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I pointed out the Chiefs' Brodie Retallic doing it against the Force a couple of years back. My comment was that it was done with such pin-point precision that it had to have been drilled in training. Brodie adjusted a couple of times to make sure he made the perfect bollard to protect Aaron Cruden's length of the field try scoring run. Illegal? - The law says that a player in an offside position shall take no part in the game. Much like blocking achieved with dummy runners It lives in the grey area of interpretation - A player in an offside position has the right to get back onside. Immoral? - Yes, it is not in the spirit of the game, but I learned recently, not to get into debates about cheating, my view from the moral high ground is not representative of the community..
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
But that's all he did. He stopped and poked his bum out a little. You're making it sound like he pancaked someone downfield and it never happened.
Simmo
Guest
Why go from a poor ground which is designed for cricket to another? I know it suits the ex GPS North Shore types but for goodness sake Concord hosted a WC semi final, why is this rugby purpose ground so ignored?
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Only his mother and Cheika could possibly say he had a good game. If form was the sole criteria for selection he'd be lucky to make the Waratahs. Lucky for him form has nothing to do with it.
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
AJ I support you and your righteous stance on this issue
riddler
Roar Rookie
someone said somewhere he had a good game. i did not see that way at all. he can't be the oz fullback. maybe a sub but not fullback and definitely not wing.
riddler
Roar Rookie
he was terrible. the saffa the night before wasn't much better. nic berry had a good game, doing the eng vs italy very happy for the guy. a good oz ref . been a long time since we have had one. gardner is liked by many on here i know, i am not in that group.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Just because its possible that the best option was for hegarty to back off and drift wide away from Beale (which he didn't even attempt). Holloway has no obligation to dissapear and give him the field. Obstruction is being between the man with the ball and the man trying to tackle him. Holloway never was in that position. Had Hegarty all the acres in the world and Holloway didn't exist he still would have either had to drift and mark Rona or tackle Beale (as he did). If he drifted to Rona, Beale would have burnt the cover and scored himself. To say he is significantly faster than Rona is an understatement. I get your committed to this theory, I mean you wrote an article on it! But there is nothing in it. Less than nothing even.