Bernard Foley has refused to blame laser beams for the Wallabies shambolic capitulation to the Pumas on Saturday but conceded it would be helpful if match officials granted kickers a second shot at goal when the potentially harmful practice takes place.
Foley battled green laser beams on his face for the entire match and missed two crucial kicks when Australia trailed Argentina 18-17 towards the end of the Test.
One kick was from 49 metres out – beyond the range of even Foley, the Waratahs’ new ice man after his title-winning kick two months ago – but the second, in the 70th minute, was inside the 22-metre zone and just to the left of the posts.
SMH
With green lights flickering over his face and eyes, Foley attempted the kick but it bounced off the left upright.
It was the last chance the Wallabies had to score in the match, going down 21-17 to claim the dubious honour of being the first side to lose to Argentina in their three years in the Rugby Championship.
“It’s not great but I suppose it’s part of it. It’s not what made me miss the kicks so you can’t draw on it too much,” Foley said.
“It’s disappointing that it’s here and in the game but it wasn’t the reason I missed the kick.”
Referees have granted kickers extra shots before, as was the case in La Plata last year when assistant referee recommend Jaco Peyper let All Blacks’ five-eighth Aaron Cruden make a second attempt.
There was some confusion in the reporting of that Test match, which New Zealand won 33-15, and it was not immediately clear if Cruden’s second shot was granted because of the lasers or an early charge down.
Foley said he brought the lights to referee Nigel Owens’ attention on Saturday but was never given the option to have another strike.
“I brought it up with him but what can you do I suppose,” he said, steadfastly refusing to blame the laser beams for his late-game wobbles.
“It was a very kickable goal and it was happening all night on all kicks, so you can’t put it down to the last one.
“It shouldn’t be [in the game], but how do you stop them over here? Maybe the rekick will teach them – but who knows.”
Lasers are nothing new in Argentina. In 2012 both Mike Harris and Kurtley Beale had to contend with them and Cruden battled in La Plata last year.
In Mendoza on Saturday it was just another storyline in the Wallabies tale of woe. It was the first time Australia has lost to Argentina since 1997 and the worst possible finish to the side’s Rugby Championship campaign.
“They got the calls in the rucks and they played to the letter of the law – or the referee – so it was pretty frustrating in that regard,” Foley said.
“They’ve [Argentina] improved and challenged all the teams, a lot of the games have gone down to the end, but I thought if we were able to hold the ball better, close that game out, it shouldn’t have been us.
“We had no excuses there, we didn’t perform as well as we should have. They were passionate and the crowd really allowed them to get that momentum. That’s probably what we should have been able to nullify.”
Centre Matt Toomua will be monitored in coming days for concussion symptoms after an encounter with Pumas No.12 Juan Martin Hernandez in the 30th minute.
Coach Ewen McKenzie said Toomua passed the pitch-side concussion assessment but medical staff did not want to put him at unnecessary risk after his concussion in Cape Town a week earlier.
Bunch of soccer hooligans.
Owens should have done the right thing and allowed him to kick again IMO. Somehow they need to sort this nonsense out, also the poor quality TV and TMO replays.
If they want to play in these types of competitions they need to be professional in all aspects.
There was one incident where Aus went over the tryline, but not one camera could show decent enough footage, that’s not good enough
I will not cry if they are left out of the this tournament going forward.
They fail in to many aspects
Watch the laser incident here and decide for yourself whether it should just be dismissed as nothing or whether something should be done against Argentina in future.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/the-rugby-championship/marcelo-zelada-applauded-with-respect-after-butchering-advance-australia-fair-before-wallabies-clash-with-argentina/story-e6frf4qc-1227081222526
@ nortie:
Give it up Nortie, nothing can change that #3 lost to #12, a team ranked weaker than Japan.
This has happened before Australia if I’m not mistaken.
No action was taken then.
Suddenly Korporaal Nortier wants to invade Argentina.
😆
@ MacroBok:
So you are fine with the behavior of the crowd?
Or will that only be until they shine lasers at Pollard?
I personally don’t like what they bring to the table, but that’s just me.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, some like them and some don’t.
@ nortie:
Rugby is an extremely limited global sport, sure this behavior is bad and well done to Aus for playing it down, but it a dangerous direction we take when we start deciding who is good enough to watch our holy sport. Fact remains that Arg does have potential and when their forwards can dominate they will always be competitive… or is it they are #12, weaker than Japan and Samoa?
No use to isolate this insident, “oh those barbarians, we should leave them out completely”, this has never been successful in human history ever, also no doubt SANZAR is still aiming for the potential lucrative potential of the American, market.
nortie wrote:
I agree 100%, footage from rugby in Argentina is absolutely shocking and a torture to watch.
@ MacroBok:
Precisely.
@ MacroBok:
Precisely, you are sidetracking the issue I raised by continuing to harp on the ranking and Japan.
The fact still remains that this was their 3rd victory in 2 years and 25 odd tests, not exactly world beating material is it?
So they poxed a win, good for them.
Their manipulation of the ranking will ensure them passage into the QF of the WC, clever from them, but not exactly setting a standard for fair play.
The RC is finished in any case, so luckily I don’t have to think or care about them again until next year when we play them again
@ nortie:
You are quite a sour doos.
😆
nortie wrote:
They are 1 in 1 😀
@ MacroBlouBul:
They are the EP Kings of International rugby, sense of entitlement, everyone must feel sorry for them and like them.
@ gunther:
Why?
Because I don’t like the farkers?
I realize that some people have such a dislike for the Aussies that they will be all too glad when they lose, irrespective against who.
I think the Aussies bring more to the table than those backwater hillbillies with their amateur outlook and soccer hooligan fans
@ nortie:
I don’t know why you are a sour doos but you have been crying about the Argies for months now it’s quite tragic.
What is you view on other countries where lasers have been spotted in the crowd including South Africa if I’m not mistaken?
Are we also soccer hooligans?
If you are unsure of the rugby culture in Argentina you should pay them a visit it will set you free from your prejudices.
nortie wrote:
No they are Argentina, no one has to feel sorry for them, they beat Australia, least of all me.
14 @ gunther:
and when Piet van Zyl tackled that ref, should we all be watching rugby in cages in South Africa?
10 @ nortie:
I am truly confused about what the issue is that we are being sidetracked from.
They are ranked 12 and useless at rugby?
They are ranked 12th in a devious plot to qualify for the RWC play offs?
They are hooligans?
They are the EP Kings?
They beat the team that “should” have ended 2nd in the RC because of the Australian way?
They are amateurs?
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