Just found the following article in the New Zealand Herald. Written by Peter Bills.
It’s official.
The All Blacks are treated differently by referees from either of their Tri-Nations opponents. The statistics from the first five games of this year’s competition show a staggering difference in the ratio of penalties per yellow card. Suspicions are rife in South African rugby that the All Blacks get a special deal, are favoured whether subconsciously or consciously by referees.
Now, the figures seem to prove the point. South Africa are the most regularly penalised, conceding six penalties per yellow card. The Australians’ figure is remarkably similar – just seven a card. But by the same calculations, the New Zealand tally is incredible.Β
Official figures show they incur 43 penalties a yellow card, more than seven times the figure of the Springboks. This appears to reveal at best an extraordinary imbalance in the way the three countries are refereed and at worst, a complete lack of consistency by match officials in their dealings with each Southern Hemisphere nation.
It also seems to bear out the view of certain Springbok officials that there is one law for the All Blacks and another for their rivals. Australia’s former World Cup winning coach Bob Dwyer says it is difficult to argue with the facts.
He also calls the All Blacks’ form this season scintillating, yet his detailed analysis offers a highly revealing insight of much value to Peter de Villiers’ men as they prepare to try to halt the All Blacks’ juggernaut in Johannesburg this weekend. “Just as the All Blacks value the necessity of quick ball for their own attack, they clearly recognise the threat that opposition quick ball poses to their defence. “In fact, I thought the All Black defence was unusually vulnerable to attack from quick ball, as evidenced by two quite simple Springbok tries in their second test in Wellington and a few similar efforts by the Wallabies.
They strive, therefore, to limit such recycles from their opponents. “There is nothing wrong with that so long as they do so within the laws of the game. It is here that I, and many others, question their tactics. Black- jerseyed tacklers finish on the ground, on the wrong side of the ball, so often, that I can’t believe that it’s by accident.
“This prevents their opponents from arriving quickly to support their teammate and allowing other All Black support players to attack opposition ball on the ground. Further, opposition scrum-halves are having difficulty getting in close to clear the ball and are forced to ‘lift’ the ball for their pass to clear All Black bodies. “This slows down the clearing pass and gives valuable time to the defence. And it’s illegal.”
The Australian also highlighted what he called New Zealand’s “outrageously offside” positions when they enter the breakdown on their own ball. “All players play their part, and while McCaw, Franks and Smith have been serial offenders, Kieran Read has recently perfected his technique also. It is dramatically effective and frequently brings tries – and it’s illegal.”
Read more of Bob Dwyer’s views at: www.bobdwyerrugby.com
@ Treehugger:
How have you been ? I am off on a sorely needed vacation on Friday … YAY π
brb….need to go grab a bite…. π
Hi Tree,
“A blogger on keo posted a loose trio (think its called that) of
6 Stegman
7 Deysel
8 Alberts
and i thought it was a really brilliant tough group that could do damage.”
Surely, that blogger meant “a really brilliant group that has been damaged?” π
@ bos_otter:
Calm yourself … although you do support the Cheetahs (snicker) JUST KIDDING π―
I was not taking you literally – only inferring that, in my humble opinion, Ted has not carried on in an undignified manner.
Personally I like a game that has ALL THOSE ELEMENTS in it π
@ Rugby_Princess:
Where are you going and for how long ?
Ok, it is late here .. I have to pack for my holiday π
@ fender:
Fender, i know Deysel is hurt but when in action dont you think it is a good group ?
@ Rugby_Princess:
First tell me where you are ging πΏ
Ok that ging is going but had to type really fast before she left.
So if anyone else is on a vodacom wireless connection like me, you should try Opera as your web browser, they have a turbo thing on it and it speeds up your internet quite a bit.
70@ Treehugger:
Boomninny…. why is your Vodacom connection showing you are in or near Poland??
Hehe Tree!
No, I was just pulling your branch… π
But I agree – its quite a combination that…
Cut out the head butts, spear tackles extra…then the yellow cards wont flow.
What has been consistent though is the spear tackle ruling.
RSA needs to take ownership of the yellow cards and sort it our…they refs have not been biased here.
The South African yellow cards I just won’t blame on anybody else but the Bokke themselves…
Same with the Wallabie yellows, only themselves to blame…
The absense of yellows for the Parrot and his team, lies in 2 things…. cleverly playing the referee and knowing how to handle them very diplomatically (mainly) and possibly a bit of a lack of determination from the referees…
But hell, if I was the All blacks and I saw what I easily got away with, after studying the referees so well, I would also have played on the margins of illegal play… because this would give me and my team the advantage….
@ grootblousmile:
Some people play intelligent rugby and others bitch, moan and complain.
I am getting embarrassed that we are now firmly in the last group.
The problem with the Bokke is mainly that they look guilty (and probably is most of the time…hahaha) before even doing anything wrong! And Saffas is not known for teir diplomacy….. ons het ook nog nooit geleer om ons monde te hou wanneer ons moet nie!!
75@ tight head:
Yes, we can certainly cut out 90% of our own shit… and be left with nothing to moan about..
@ Rugby_Princess: Oh…no that wasnt Ollie, it was a Johan…also le Roux I think. Anyway Fitz had him by the nuts at the time, so he actually got a bit of jungle justice…but unfortunately rules are rules….ended le Roux’s career, which was a bit offsides.
@ grootblousmile:
INTERNATIONAL SUPER AWESOME CHICK OF MYSTERY
@ Rugby_Princess: I am calm dear…what makes you think I’m not? Reading my threads with a angry voice in your head? π (hope this make sense)
Hello everyone!!
Looking forward to the game on Saturday, i believe we have sorted out a few of the 33% of our problems with a better team choice. Although i wonder what Vermeulen must still do to tell Piet Snor he’s the man at no 8 at the moment….. and what the hell Butch is still doing on the bench? Can someone please tell me, is he on the bench – according to RT, or is it Wynand – according to sport24.com? Anycase, Butch, January, (currently) Spies, Smit all passengers we need to stop carrying with us, which currently is based on loyalty to them.
SO, will we be able to get rid of the cheating over the offside line by the AB’s this Saturday? Will we be able to read the (only gay) ref this Saturday? Will we be able to stay away from a yellow in the 1st 5 minutes?
By the way, you cannot compare last year’s 3N with this year. The impact of NH refs on this year’s 3N is immense, moving the game far from the 3N we all enjoyed last year. Also last year the Bokke did not have to play illegal tactics to win the 3N, not seeing that this year is like watching rugby with a black filter over your eyes, you just cannot (will not) see the illegal tactics….
No but serious, people dont believe the kuk that happens to me, am at the plaas, have been chaseing and terrorizing baby monkeys all morning, one of the little shits squeezed thru the burglar bars took the open pkt of mothballs ran of with and they thought they had sweeties and had to get them to drop the mothballs and take it out there mouths, was very nasty.
79@ Treehugger:
Bond… Boomninny Bond!
… or perhaps it is.. Blond…. Boomninny Blond!
@ grootblousmile:
lolololololololololol
Just call me Blond. Boom Blond π π π
Ok have things to do byeeeeeeeeee
81@ ps in CT:
Both Butch and Wynand are on the bench for the Bokke…. Butch at No 21, Wynand at No 22.
What Butch is doing there in place of Lambie, who should be there, quite frankly amazes me….
81@ps in CT
Hallo ps in CT
ps in CT wrote:
Nope…..
Any suggestions for the Bokke to make the “reading” easier?
Seriously hope so…..
π
Just heard on the radio that Biff (Greame Smith) has resigned as One-Day Proteas captain, with immediate effect
87@gbs
Wat was die rede daarvoor?
87 @ gbs
Is’nt it only as T20 captain/player ?
To jest wspaniaΕy dzieΕ w Polska, bez deszczu
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