All Blacks must shoulder the blame

OPINION: Yes, Steve, I will tell you where a lot of people are going with this. On occasion we would like you to ‘fess up and admit the All Blacks stepped over the thin black line. Or, in your words, were ‘‘a dirty side.’’

Brodie Retallick was brilliant in Dublin. He demolished lots of little green men in the tackle. He was brutal, but he was fair. Retallick may be over two metres tall, but he still hits people well below the neck-line. But five of your forwards and one of your backs could have been cited for high tackles and under the new directives that is simply not acceptable.

It will be fascinating whether the Six Nations judiciary bottles this when they hear the cases against Sam Cane and Malakai Fekitoa. They should throw the book at them, because this ferocity was tactical. Ireland had outmuscled the All Blacks in Chicago and someone had clearly decided it was not going to happen again.

Now the reaction here, at least amongst the men – most women have more brains – will be to close ranks. They will feel the honour of the country is under siege. But it is nothing of the sort. It is just a handful of blokes in a black shirt behaving in a way that we should be mature enough to call unacceptable.

Let’s start with Cane because there was a lot not to like about this tackle. You may or may not remember, but this guy has history. Back in March, Cane was cited for a shoulder charge at a ruck into the head of Nahuel Chaparro.

Astonishingly the commission found that the incident was ‘‘an unfortunate combination’’ and let Cane off.

But at least on that occasion Cane showed some concern for the stricken player. What was particularly disgusting about the incident in the 10th minute of Sunday’s match was the reaction of the All Blacks’ players. Cane showed zero concern for Robbie Henshaw and nor did his team. When Cane was walking away from the crash site he was given a pat of congratulations on the chest by Fekitoa and on the back by Liam Squire.

The tackle occurred because the All Blacks were determined to play on the raggedy edge. Ireland had an overlap but Kieran Read, ludicrously offside, forced Henshaw inside. Cane then wiped him out. The question the judiciary has to ask is whether Cane could have avoided the blow to Henshaw’s head and the clear answer is yes, he could.

Joe Schmidt knew as much. That’s why he was so furious in the box.

Now maybe I am old and forgetful but in all my years of watching Richie McCaw I cannot remember him ever wiping out an opponent’s head like that. Cane has now done it twice in a matter of months, both times leading with the shoulder.

Rory Best, the Ireland captain, was visibly upset after the match. He said, ‘‘I’m a parent myself and you don’t like to see people going off on stretchers. That’s something they’re [World Rugby] clamping down on and hopefully they’ll continue to do that.’’

So, rugby, are you going to back up your own edicts? You issued an edict to referees to be ‘‘especially vigilant’’ during the November internationals on contact to players heads. Spokesman Anthony Buchanan said, as referees, we must constantly be alert to headhigh hits. By taking this strong approach, we are saying to players that tackling an opponent above the shoulder line will not go unpunished.’’

What then are you going to do about Fekitoa? His swinging arm which felled Simon Zebo was not a one-off incident. Fekitoa was ramped and out of control. Earlier in the game he took out Rob Kearney with a shoulder charge off the ball.

Dane Coles charged Conor Murray with a high shoulder, when the halfback was in a vulnerable position, something the replacement hooker also did as soon as he came on the pitch. There was a clear tactic to intimidate Murray.

Four other All Blacks led with a shoulder. Zebo was twice tipped at a ruck. Sam Whitelock tackled Jamie Heaslip round the neck. Owen Franks hit Zebo with a swinging arm. Coles dealt to Paddy Jackson when he wasn’t even on the pitch. As Justin Marshall said: ‘‘It wouldn’t sit comfortably with any crowd regardless of where you are.’’

New Zealand Rugby needs to show some leadership on this. It is their first serious test since the season of scandals. Steve Tew, never mind his mateship with Hansen, needs to put his hand up and say the Dublin head-hunting was unacceptable.

It is just a handful of blokes in a black shirt behaving in a way that we should be mature enough to call unacceptable.