Time the laws applied to New Zealand as well
It’s quite possible that yesterday’s Test between New Zealand and Ireland will turn out to be hugely significant for the global game.
There is no getting away from the current interpretation of the tackle laws being the biggest issue in the game, and of course that’s inextricably linked to concussions. The problem is that we don’t appear to have a genuinely global game, but rather two versions, one in the north, and the seemingly unreconstructed version being played at times in the south.
It seemed yesterday that the rules on high tackles had simply passed New Zealand by. They persisted with tackling high, not bending from the hips, exactly as would have been acceptable three seasons ago. Even more worrying was that they seemed mystified when the referee produced a card: their demeanour screamed that they felt that the game had gone soft!
Jaco Peyper was lenient and to my eyes at least one of the yellows would have been a clear red in the northern hemisphere, and a penalty try might well have been awarded as well. The other thing is that the aura of All Black
invincibility is fading, and that seems to be having an impact on referees. For years fans have moaned about the All Blacks’ cynicism, and the way that the officials seemed to be dazzled by them and overlooked their offences – remember Richie McCaw’s cloak of invisibility? Now they’re getting picked up on those penalties.
During the week I chatted with someone who’d been closely involved with the South West Division back in 1993 when they played the All Blacks, and Phil de Glanville sustained a horrific facial injury caused by rucking. He described to me how a delegation was sent to meet with the All Blacks management to complain,
and to say that this was having a negative impact on the perception of rugby. Apparently, the New Zealand management listened politely, but made it clear that nothing would change. There’s a parallel with what’s currently going on with today’s All Blacks, but the game is different today and they will have to, as the saying goes, get with the program.
I think we learned a fair bit about both sides yesterday. Once they’d fallen foul of the referee, New Zealand lost the plot a bit, and I can’t recall seeing so many dropped balls or fumbles – pressure does that, and it got to them. As for Ireland, expect the hype to go into overdrive,
and they will be touted as potential RWC winners, but I just can’t see it. They had it easy because of the reds and yellow cards, but didn’t capitalise in the way that they should have done. Just like Leinster – in fact they virtually are Leinster – I think they struggle when teams really get in their faces. There is more than a hint of flat track bullies about Ireland, and I just can’t see them coming good in France next year.
Then we had Australia v England and another difference between the north and south became apparent. Jonny Hill went for an intercept, using both hands. Clearly a knock-on, but just as clearly a proper attempt to catch the ball. A few minutes later Izaia Perese used one hand and knocked it on – if you live in the north then it’s crystal clear, deliberate knock-on, yellow card. Not, however to the Aussie pundit, Justin Harrison, who argued that knocking it up rather than down matters!
On one hand these differences in interpretation are comical, but they matter. We talk about global calendars, and we have the inappropriately named World Rugby, but we can’t even have a common way of applying the game’s Laws. Just imagine if Wimbledon decided to change Hawkeye and decide that anywhere within three inches of the line would do, or if the R&A decided that if a putt ended up within an inch of the hole that would be good enough. Daft examples but are they really that different from what’s happening in rugby?
As for the result in Brisbane, we learned that both sides can be good, but both are very fallible. I like England when they go back to being White Orcs, but they still struggle to maintain it for 80 minutes, while the Wallabies have more than a touch of show ponies about them. Which side has the better chance of dethroning the South Africans next year? England for me every time.