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Monday, July 28, 2008

Brad Thorn yellow carded for high tackle on Matt Giteau

Brad Thorn yellow carded for high tackle on Matt Giteau

All Blacks lock Brad Thorn was again in hot water as he was sent from the field in the fifth minute of the classic match between the Wallabies and the All Blacks on Saturday, in which the Wallabies came out victors 34-19.

Thorn's lazy high tackle on the darting Matt Giteau was enough for referee Craig Joubert to produce the yellow early on in the game, despite no previous warnings.

It was a careless stiff arm that was more out of reflex than malice, but referee's don't like big locks touching key flyhalfs. Just ask Jannes Labuschagne about his red card in 2002.

Giteau landed the resultant penalty without any problems, but the attack, that looked dangerous, was stopped as a result of the tackle, possibly adding to Joubert's assessment of it.

It was Thorn's second yellow card of the season, after he was sin-binned in the Super 14 final, and follows his one-match Tri-Nations ban after being cited for the Smit tackle in Wellington.

Under Sanzar rules, three yellow cards in one season of Super 14 and Tri-Nations leads to a tribunal hearing and a possible further suspension.

Talk of Thorn being a dirty player has been quashed by Wallaby coach Robbie Deans though, who's spent a lot of time with the second rower in the past.

"In terms of his mentality he is not a dirty player, but these things happen."

All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen dismissed it completely.

"He plays a physical game, and tonight a guy stepped back inside him and he reacted to that and got him across the shoulder. I don't think we can say he's got a discipline problem."

Was a yellow card harsh so early in the game, with no previous talkings too? Or was it fully deserved, as Matt Giteau playing without a head wouldn't be quite as good as him playing with one. Thoughts?

Posted at 1:39 pm | 29 comments

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Viewing 29 comments

Anonymous July 28, 2008 12:34 pm

well at least the AB's are getting cards now. _TJ

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Sharky July 28, 2008 12:42 pm

lol TJ ^My initial thought was harsh, as it's said above - so early in the game. I guess the ref just wanted to assert authority and make sure everyone knows who's in charge maybe. But, it was close to the line and probably just as much a professional foul as sticking your hands on the ball with a team hot on attack, so probably good enough for a yellow card with just that in mind. Plus he did kinda fly at the little guy.Giteau - quality btw. Becoming a better flyhalf every match he plays there.

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Anonymous July 28, 2008 12:43 pm

south african refs are probably the best, that is why when NZ and aus clash it is a great game. ref i thought was fair and managed the elv system very effectively. - TJ

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Eric July 28, 2008 1:16 pm

I think the yellow card was correct, high tackle and I guess it gave the right message to the players about how to play such an important match

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Stevus July 28, 2008 1:31 pm

Whether it was because of Jouberts reffing in the first few minutes or just purely down to player discipline, I thought it was commendable that in such a heated test match neither side resorted to violence or dirty play

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TheUnit July 28, 2008 2:35 pm

I'm not convinced it was malicious any more than just aggressive and competitive, but for following through on a tackle that high I think you've got to expect to be yellow carded!

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italianscrummy July 28, 2008 3:10 pm

totally agree with eric so no need to repeat stuff...lol tjGO OZ!!!

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Ryan July 28, 2008 3:29 pm

While the tackle was a touch high, and more importantly close to the line with a team on attack, the ref was probably a little harsh in reaching for the pocket. A stern talking to would have sufficed that early in the game.

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beasty July 28, 2008 3:38 pm

tht was dangerous no need for tht

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stephanie July 28, 2008 3:52 pm

giteau practically bent backwards! i can understand that thorn is tall, but you gotta accept a yellow for that. seems like thorn prefers sitting in the sin bin to playing recently

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Anonymous July 28, 2008 4:21 pm

harsh decision , but justifiable in the circumstances. Is it just me or is there something poncy about backs wearing scrum caps , Giteau in particular ???

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bD July 28, 2008 4:47 pm

of course a yellowrefs gotta make a point early in the game!! it would be like the Habana v Montgomery tackle all over again if he wasn't carded

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MadDog July 28, 2008 4:50 pm

right like stevus said:penalising immediatly and a little harsh this kind of foul, you won't see it for the entire match!ref&player words!Well management by Joubert!

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martin-offload July 28, 2008 4:59 pm

I agree with the scrum hat thing. I am a back and have split my ears many times tackling people, but i choose not to wear protection so I can hear better. Cipriani says that he started wearing it as a kid and never stopped

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Anonymous July 28, 2008 7:46 pm

Since when do pro playes need to be warned when they commit a cynical foul only two meters out? It didn't look malicious, but that's beside the point anyway. Hell, it could have been that Thorn wanted to give him a hug, but it went awry. A ref can only see the consequences, and should try to base most of his judgment off that. Professional players should be able to control themselves in every aspect if we are to have fair and safe game. High tackle + near the tryline = definite yellow.

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Don July 28, 2008 9:23 pm

to be fair as an all blacks fan, the yellow was deservedEarly or not, a foul is still a foulMr Thorn needs to learn how to utilize his aggression constructively.

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Anonymous July 28, 2008 10:07 pm

yep a yellow card deserved there. joubert has a lot more sense than kaplan, kaplan wouldn't even speak to him. it seems to happen a lot when kaplan is refereeing australia vs nz

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Anonymous July 28, 2008 10:44 pm

Yellow card was fair.Australia had momentum and could have possibly scored in the next few plays. Swinging arm/High Tackle/Dangerous play. Yellow Card - Good refeering !!!

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Brennie July 28, 2008 11:53 pm

Given the position it's prob a good call. If it was outside the 22, then I wouldn't expect it

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Anonymous July 29, 2008 4:07 am

Yeah fair call easily. That high and close to the line, thats a yellow straight away. As for Brad Thorn, hes just a dirty thug who aims to do this kind of stuff. He always gets let off so easily so about time he got a fair punishment. Awesome game

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jamoishabana July 29, 2008 4:46 am

I honestly dont think that deserved a yellow,(this is coming from a aussie) he shoulda got a warning, but i can see where the ref is coming from. I think he just wanted to lay the law down early

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westdog54 July 29, 2008 6:05 am

If it happened on the half-way line, he probably would've stayed on the field. But at the end of the day, Giteau was on the attack and looking dangerous. Any piece of foul play in that circumstance and you're getting an enforced breather. Correct decision, and the match in its entirety was quite well officiated by Joubert.

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Benson July 29, 2008 6:47 am

Watch Thorn hit Giteau off the ball just before this tackle by the way. Looked like a Bakkies Botha tactic that the Kiwis would normally moan about. Thorn must have learnt it from him ;)

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nick July 29, 2008 12:23 pm

well yes it was a little high BUT there was no need too bin him , he's a good hitter brad thorn

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Andy July 29, 2008 1:28 pm

Deserved a yellow, it was also right on the NZ line. ELV's are pants, stop ruining rugby.

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smithy July 30, 2008 11:25 am

if you look at the initial impact it seems as if brad hits giteau's chest. the problem is that his arms then follows through and goes round his neck/over his head. I think it looks worse than it was. Saying that, perhaps sharky is right, it was very close to the line and either way it, dangerous or not, it was illegal

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durrie July 31, 2008 11:06 am

Not easy for us taller guys but it doesn't make it right when we catch the shorter guys illegally...I think the yellow was the right decision.

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Liam August 23, 2008 9:28 pm

Swinging arm, high tackle a well deserved yellow card

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