Jack, not pitch invader, crocked ref

– Former All Black lock Chris Jack revealed this week he was likely responsible for dislocating a referee’s shoulder during a bizarre incident at a Test match 16 years ago that saw an irate, pitch-invading South Africa fan charged with assault.

Springbok fan Piet van Zyl, incensed by the decision to award a penalty try to the All Blacks and the disqualification of a try by Bok wing Breyton Paulse, ran on to the field as a scrum was being set and wrestled Irish referee David McHugh to the ground.

In a bizarre spectacle, Van Zyl was then brought down by All Blacks flanker Richie McCaw and his Bok opposite AJ Venter.

When things calmed down, McHugh left the field with a dislocated shoulder and Van Zyl, his nose all bloodied, was held to be responsible.

But Jack told Radio Sport that he and All Blacks prop Dave Hewett were likely responsible for McHugh’s painful injury.

“I popped my head up and there’s this big fat bugger on the referee,” Jack recalled. “We got a bit of a surprise and then we saw AJ Venter and Richie McCaw on top of someone. “So myself and Dave saw the referee under there and saw what was going on and we tried to pull the poor ref out and I think we may have dislocated his shoulder. “We started pulling him out and he started squealing a little bit.”

The All Blacks went on to win the Test 30-23 with English linesman Chris White taking over the whistle, while van Zyl was charged with assault to do grievous bodily harm and trespassing. – AFP

Pictures: Getty Images CARNAGE. Irish referee David McHugh after dislocating his shoulder during an altercation with pitch invader Piet van Zyl (inset).

THAT EMPTY FEELING The only way Spurs can stop jokes like this is to actually win something to put in there.