All Blacks coach defends lock
IT WAS an encouraging, yet disappointing start to the Currie Cup First Division for the Border Bulldogs as they slipped to an entertaining 48-41 defeat against the Valke in their opening match at the Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was an absolute try fest, with the Valke outscoring the Bulldogs seven tries to six, However, it was the second half when things kicked up a notch, after the Valke had taken a 19-7 lead into the halftime break.
The Bulldogs then fought back well in the second half, even taking the lead in the 48th minute, but another burst from the visitors put them back ahead with some breathing space, which the hosts were unable to reel in.
“I am very happy with the effort that the team put in, it was a courageous fight back in the second half and in the end we got two points out of the game,” said Bulldogs coach David Dobela.
“Most people didn’t give us a chance because of the amount of players that have left us, but these guys fought very well and we just need to fine tune a few things going forward.”
In the first half the Valke took hold emphatically in the first 27 minutes, running in three tries to take a 19-0 lead and it looked as if they would run away with it.
First wing Don Mlondobozi dived over in the right-hand corner, while flank Thabo Mabuza crashed over twice, with flyhalf ALL Blacks coach Steve Hansen has defended lock Brodie Retallick for his clash with Wallabies flanker Ned Hanigan during the Rugby Championship match in Dunedin.
Retallick upended Hanigan as they were getting to their feet following a tackle in the first half, prompting an angry outburst from Wallabies coach Michael Cheika after referee Nigel Owens let the incident go unpunished.
Hansen said there intent from Retallick.
“When somebody jumps on top of you, you get up on your knees and he falls off, it’s an accident,” he said yesterday. “It’s not a deliberate act.”
Owens and television official Rowan Kitt reviewed footage of the incident and both said at the time they believed the players had just been clumsy in getting to their feet.
Cheika, however, said after the All Blacks’ nail-biting 35-29 win that the incident was clear was no Warren Potgieter adding two conversions.
All three tries were products of poor handling as Border knocked cut and Retallick had “categorically” picked up Hanigan and dumped him on his head.
“I don’t want to get into that,” Hansen added. “[Cheika] made his point and that’s fine.” on at crucial stages which ended up by being punished.
They did eventually get on the scoreboard with eight minutes to
The incident has echoes of a similar dispute last year when the Wallabies coach accused Owen Franks of eye-gouging Kane Douglas during the clash in Wellington. go to the break as the wings linked up well with Lelethu Gcilitshane making a good break before popping the final pass to Siyasanga
Southern hemisphere rugby governing body SANZAAR reviewed the Franks incident and said there was no case to answer.
Hansen said he felt the Retallick incident was exactly the same.
He added he had few injury concerns as they head into the week off, but tighthead prop Franks, who was ruled out of the Dunedin Test, will likely miss the remainder of the Rugby Championship after sustaining an Achilles injury.
“I think we are aiming, if we do get him back, for the end of year tour,” Hansen said. “But we won’t risk it. He is an older athlete, got a lot of miles on the clock. If we want to get him to the World Cup we just have to do things right with him.”
Centre Ryan Crotty and flanker Sam Cane, who failed head injury assessments, would also be monitored ahead of the All Blacks’ next match against Argentina on September 9. — Reuters Ncanywa poles.
Scrumhalf Bangihlombe Kobese’s conversion was then the to run in under the