WELL, If this was a weekend of footy, Wow, Firstly a huge congratulations to Ireland on a magnificent win over the All Blacks in Dunedin.
I have never seen a game such as this before and I am glad I no longer play the game, because who knows the rules any more.
The better team won, but with two yellow cards and one red and uncontested scrums, the rules on head contact are a mess. Common sense has gone out the window and spoilt what could have been a great game. Yes, the game was physical with huge hits and skill offered, but the game is lost between player welfare and common sense.
Ta’avao without malice, hit the Irish no13, Gary Ringrose, and the head contact was brutal, knocking both players to the ground.
It was an accident every day of the week.
What used to be called collisions are now know as red card offences. Even the ref said it was an accident, but the dumb rules say it is head contact and off the player goes for the game, as this series is played under the traditional rules.
In super rugby he would have got 20 minutes on the bench.
The yellow against Faiga’nuku was harsh as he collides in mid air with Mack Hansen as he tried to charge his kick.
The ref said he should have pulled out of the contest. Great, you are in mid air and somehow you stop. Absolutely crazy. With a wobbly lineout and scrums all over the place, the AB’s had resorted going deep to Quinn Tupaea and with Sexton playing flat the defence was on the back foot.
On attack the tactic was to go 3 wide from the ruck which was tried and retried with little effect The Irish read this tactic well. Mondays paper will show the Irish pulled off their first win in NZ and they deserve it as well.
The ref, Jaco Peyper, had a bad game, as well as the AB’s, and it will be interesting to see what the coaches come up with for next weeks 3rd test in Wellington. Peyper will be a ref at the next world cup in France so be warned. He did not lose the test.
The blacks were average at best, and playing with 14 men and at times 13 does not make it easy.
Ian Foster is the coach and will be under immense pressure to fix his team.
Is he the best coach? NO. Never was, but the people who hand out these jobs are very old fashioned and he was given the job after been an assistant to Steve Hansen. Can he win a world cup? NO.
Should Sam Cane be skipper? NO. Sorry Sam, great player, good bloke, but in my opinion he would not even be in the team let alone skipper. Past his best.
In the mean time enjoy your footie and purchase a rule book. You need it. Don’t forget to leave a comment or two.
About About all blacks vs Ireland game1 from here ↓
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