ALL IN THE SCRUM: A rugby miscellany
THERE HAVE been conflicting words emanating from the Irish camp about tailoring their tactics for the opposition and the conditions, while at the same time “playing heads-up rugby”. On Saturday one reporter wondered how the All Blacks were able to play a direct, ball-in-hand game during the second Test of the 2005 Lions tour when it was bucketing down in Wellington. “We always make out the game plan the way we want to play,” said Jamie Heaslip. “But the conditions meant we had to tighten it up a little bit. It probably didn’t allow for a lot of open rugby but we should be used to that in Ireland.” Samoa, with 10 days’ preparation, orchestrated a try off a lineout where nine, 10 and 12 combined before Seilala Mapusua passed to Alesana Tuilagi. The conditions prevented Ireland doing something similar.
Wrong call: Gets reaction
THE TICKET fiasco has been highly embarrassing for the IRFU and they have stated their intent to review their strategy before the Six Nations but the public announcer at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday unnecessarily stoked the flames of an already angry public.
Last week against South Africa, the IRFU broke with protocol by not announcing the attendance but 10 minutes into the second half the 30,955 crowd was confirmed with the rider that this was a “record attendance” for a match against Samoa.
Cue wolf whistles from around the ground.
Why insult the punters’ intelligence even further?
Perhaps the PA man should focus more on correctly identifying the visiting place-kickers. Paul Williams was swinging the boot for Samoa not Tasesa Lavea.
TO THE POINT
"I can hardly come out with something as crass as We are going to win this match, boys, can I? I mean, lets be realistic, the lads arent really gonna believe that are they? It doesnt matter how loud and fierce I shout it they arent going to fall for it.”
– Scotland captain Mike Blair perhaps being a little too prophetic ahead of the crushing 49-3 defeat to New Zealand.
Mealamu ban: Unintentional butt still a bit confusing
ANYONE wondering why Keven Mealamu got his four-week suspension reduced to two weeks on appeal?
Having reviewed the flying head butt to England’s Lewis Moody, the appeals committee deemed it “unintentional” so it only merited a four-week ban.
Considering Mealamu was already given four weeks they reduced it to two.
Get it? Neither do we.
The initial “intent to injure” was reduced from the mandatory eight weeks based on the hookers impeccable record (the All Black hooker was never cited for his involvement in “Speargate” during the 2005 Lions tour).
Mealamu has been leading the haka recently so he is one of the core leaders in the New Zealand team, but for assistant coach Steve Hansen to state, “This is a case we'll go to the death on” seemed a little extreme.
Either way, Mealamu cannot be considered for Saturday’s Test at fortress Aviva but is available to face Wales in Cardiff next week.
AUSTRALIA( v Munster, tomorrow, Thomond Park): L Turner; R Davies, P McCabe, A Faingaa, L Morahan; B Barnes, L Burgess; B Daly, S Faingaa, S Ma'afu, D Mumm, R Simmons, S Higginbotham, M Hodgson, R Brown. Replacements: T Polota-Nau, J Slipper, V Humphries, P McCutcheon, N Phipps, M Giteau, P Hynes.
