Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Midweek Madness - Nathan White unleashes on Al Baxter
The clip was requested earlier in the week, so I thought it would be pretty interesting to get it posted to show you all exactly what happened, and how blatant punching can apparently be forgiven on the rugby pitch these days.
In a week where two players were suspended for dangerous tackles, it's a little strange to see that White, who launched (and landed by the look of things) at least three solid punches on Baxter, got away with this with little more than a penalty against his team.
In general it was a pretty bad weekend for the officials, and Steve Walsh kept with the low standard as he looked out of sorts at times in this game, and lacked his usual confidence when it came to decision making. He also found himself having to perform Matrix-like manoeuvres to get out of the way on more than one occasion.
He picked up criticism not too long ago for winking at a front rower after penalising the other side, and at the beginning of this clip you can see him once again being just a bit too friendly.
When it came to the scuffle though, Walsh, after consulting assistant ref Vinnie Monroe, decided to just give the players a talking to and a penalty. A while back that was considered great reffing.
Perhaps there's a school of thought that will say the same now even, and fair enough if that's what you subscribe to, but we were also told recently that punching on a rugby field is a direct red card, or at least a yellow. White's punches looked like the real deal, so should he not have been sent to the cooler?
Compare mistimed, reckless tackles that get a few weeks out of the game, with what we see here, and once again we've got confusion when it comes to how the game is, and should be, policed.
So the point of this post isn't to have a go at Walsh himself, it's merely to get a bit of feedback regarding your thoughts on the matter, as I'm sure opinions are divided. Maybe it was simply a case of both Walsh and Monroe being uncited..
The question for you is:
Was this well handled, or should White have been carded?
On a sidenote, coming up on RD we've got highlights of Leinster vs Edinburgh, our Super 14 Pick of the Week, the next episode of School of Hard Knocks, Guinness Premiership highlights, and any other interesting clips we come across.
Posted at 11:48 pm | 80 comments
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Viewing 80 comments
Tom May 12, 2010 10:24 pm
Anonymous. shove your first up your ass.
But yes he should have been carded, there is no place for punches on a rugby field, especially a professional one. These guys are role models and kids look up to them so if they see punches thrown then invariably you will see that happening on the school field too. Kids also have got to know what happens to players that throw punches, they get punished and they should get punished hard.
But yes he should have been carded, there is no place for punches on a rugby field, especially a professional one. These guys are role models and kids look up to them so if they see punches thrown then invariably you will see that happening on the school field too. Kids also have got to know what happens to players that throw punches, they get punished and they should get punished hard.
Wal(ly)sh May 12, 2010 10:28 pm
Walsh is an idiot who is more cared about himself than the game. He saw obstruction then let it go then let off the prop with the same degree of punishment as if he was not rolling away in a ruck. How is there such disparity between the decisions that different referees make?
Anonymous May 12, 2010 10:28 pm
I agree. Send him off. One game ban at the absolute max. Reckless tackles need to be punished becasue although not deliberate sometimes (whereas this is very deliberate) thay can end someones career/ruin ther lives.
On another note, why does steve walsh constantly stroke his chin or have his hand on his face?
On another note, why does steve walsh constantly stroke his chin or have his hand on his face?
sebastian May 12, 2010 10:29 pm
i dont know what sparked this, it was fairly early in the game and it got better afterwards, i felt the referee was allways in control and as there were no further exchanges in that manner i think the ref handled it well
i would have probably given him 10 minutes for contemplation on the sideline
i would have probably given him 10 minutes for contemplation on the sideline
Kearney for tests May 12, 2010 10:30 pm
That's even worse than Jamie Cudmore's barrage on Paul O'Connell. I mean that was just terrible. Three punches right in his face, and Baxter did nothing. Baxter should be given a medal for discipline and the other guy should be suspended for being a monkey.
That Steve Walsh though...I mean seriously, he's just crap. Two awful decisions, 3 if you count Messam's forearm that he let go, in the space of two minutes, and he laughs in the NSW players' faces when they're obviously pissed off and want justice. Paddy O'Brien, do us all a favour and sack him please.
That Steve Walsh though...I mean seriously, he's just crap. Two awful decisions, 3 if you count Messam's forearm that he let go, in the space of two minutes, and he laughs in the NSW players' faces when they're obviously pissed off and want justice. Paddy O'Brien, do us all a favour and sack him please.
fergal May 12, 2010 10:38 pm
definitely a yellow! and what the f**k was Walsh on?! touching his face, giggling, walking sideways...he didnt sound drunk but he was having tooo much fun...
Anonymous May 12, 2010 10:38 pm
Joke, should have been a sin bin. i was sin binned for a deliberate knock on earlier on in our season, makes a joke out of the ref, he should get the sack
Anonymous May 12, 2010 10:39 pm
Card no question. disgraceful and shouldnt get away with it at all. poor dangerous tackles are one thing as its normally in the heat of the game and players go in hard an lose control, but to be swinging punches on the rugby field is not on. He ought to be banned for some time for that.
Anonymous May 12, 2010 10:40 pm
that was a sin binning ONLY! rugbys a contact sport and you will always get some kind of punches thrown this was hand bags at ten paces not a big problem sin bin and get on with it.
the big problem is walsh still having a referees job he must have friends in high places....
the big problem is walsh still having a referees job he must have friends in high places....
Jack May 12, 2010 10:41 pm
Definitely should have got 10 minutes for that, especially seeing as the touchie had such a perfect view and didn't see al baxter do anything.
walsh acted like a right idiot in this clip as well.
walsh acted like a right idiot in this clip as well.
MD May 12, 2010 11:07 pm
Personal opinons os Steve Walsh aside (and i have plenty of them) if he didn't see the punches fine, the touchy should have given more info and made a recommendation to Walsh.
Paddy O'Brian has a LOT of work to do in the off season.
Paddy O'Brian has a LOT of work to do in the off season.
jente May 12, 2010 11:12 pm
Has everybody forgotten what rugby is all about? F**** the professional football-ish approach to the game. Rugby is played grown men that are out to win and to play hard as a team. To get physical. It used to be the only sport where you could have an all out fistfight and still drink a beer later on with the one you were fighting with. In good spirit. Fighting is a way of resolving your problem. To get it out of your system. When you start penalising this sort of thing too hard, you're gonna get a sour game where everybody tries to hurt each other in a cheap unmanly way. Like in soccer/football, where people get sent of for the littlest of things, where teams are dissing each other in the bar. If that's the role models you want for your children....
Great handling by the ref. A yellow at best.
Save the amateur spirit of our sport. It's the only thing that truly makes us better than other sports
Great handling by the ref. A yellow at best.
Save the amateur spirit of our sport. It's the only thing that truly makes us better than other sports
Anonymous May 12, 2010 11:19 pm
im sorry i thought that was rugby take care of it on the field leave it on the field the ref didnt know what the fuck happened anyway
Anonymous May 12, 2010 11:23 pm
Deserved a card if only because White was dumb enough to do it in front of the ref, if you want to throw punches, do it at the bottom of a ruck and sort it out there.
Anonymous May 12, 2010 11:59 pm
baxters thinking...if he didnt hit like a girl i probably would have cared
Red_Stag May 12, 2010 11:59 pm
Some extreme over reactions here. I think we are all in agreement that the punches were cardable but I dont think the fight could have been handled differently in this case. Vinnie Munro says that his view is obstructed by the way the players are facing. You can tell that by the camera angle at the end. He says he sees Black 3 swinging punches but cant tell if they land or not. Walsh says with that info its a penalty against Black. Warns both teams, has a laugh with both and calms situation, berates Black captain for getting involved, play restarts with a penalty.
I think the fight was handled quite well. Would have been a card Im sure if the players were turned differently. All Munro can see are their backs. Certainly dont see why Walsh is getting abuse here though I have to say that wink was stupid. The obstruction looked material to me (obviously Walsh thought different) and him just winking as a warning looks like that he is ignoring an offense.
I think the fight was handled quite well. Would have been a card Im sure if the players were turned differently. All Munro can see are their backs. Certainly dont see why Walsh is getting abuse here though I have to say that wink was stupid. The obstruction looked material to me (obviously Walsh thought different) and him just winking as a warning looks like that he is ignoring an offense.
Kearney for tests May 13, 2010 12:06 am
Jente what are you on about? You're talking about it as if fighting someone is such a manly thing and is integral to rugby. Personally I think people who start fighting during rugby are just being stupid and are ruining the rugby. And you don't want people hurting each other in a cheap, unmanly way? Punching a guy in the face three times while he does nothing isn't cheap and unmanly? Give me a break you loser. And if for nothing else, the fact that there are children watching means that the players should behave themselves.
Jon May 13, 2010 12:07 am
I'm a Waratahs fan, and I think this was handled fine.
A penalty is enough.
A yellow would probably technically be the right call by the ref, but honestly, it was just a few punches. Baxter is big and ugly enough to shrug it off, as he did.
A penalty is enough.
A yellow would probably technically be the right call by the ref, but honestly, it was just a few punches. Baxter is big and ugly enough to shrug it off, as he did.
Jack May 13, 2010 12:08 am
Jente, rugby is a physical sport and you do need a lot of aggression but lashing out on a player repeatedly because he didn't immediately let go is pretty pathetic and unnecessary.
It wasn't a fight it was one bloke unleashing on another for a pathetic reason.
And if you think that an amateurish spirit is what separates rugby from other sports go and play league. Rugby is about controlled aggression
It wasn't a fight it was one bloke unleashing on another for a pathetic reason.
And if you think that an amateurish spirit is what separates rugby from other sports go and play league. Rugby is about controlled aggression
Diogo Cordeiro Ferre May 13, 2010 12:36 am
definitely a red, i've always played and been told that rugby is an aggressive sport but there's no room for aggression. i myself have been sent to the sin bin for far less and it was at under-16 level.
it's really the linesman call, they're right in front of him, i wonder where the hell his mind was.
it's really the linesman call, they're right in front of him, i wonder where the hell his mind was.
Xavier May 13, 2010 12:42 am
To Red Stag: You can't be serious? I mean, white decides to punch the cr*p out of baxter for no good reason, 2 meters from the ref and your worried if he lands his punches or not? So, the card should be atributed according to his fighting skills, and not because of his moronic, unprovoked, thuggish attitude? That is just crazy!
To Jente: Don't really get your point. I play amateur rugby. There is no professional rugby in my country (Portugal) and still I have never met anyone with your mentality. You want to release your acumulated stress? You can. Tackle the sh*t out of the guy in front of you. Put in a hard, honest and physical game, and then I'll shake your hand and buy you a beer. If you come to a rugby pitch with that attitude, I hope you get a ban and decide to go boxing.
Rugby is a physical game, not a violent one. You carry the ball hard, you tackle harder, and you ruck the opponents head of. Sometimes in the heat of the moment you get some odd reactions, like taking a man in the air, a tackle goes wrong and its a spear, you try to punch someone in a tense situation, ok, I can understand that. Been there, done that. But I also think that while those actions should be punished accordingly. Or we can just go back to Lions' like tactics, start a fistfight, destabilize the opponents, maybe try to take out they flyhalf or star player and keep playing. Hey, all you get is a penalty...
Allways been taught football is the gentlemen's game played by thughs, and rugby the thugs game played by gentlemen. That lesson helped me build plenty of friendships with guys I was supposed to hate.
Cheers
To Jente: Don't really get your point. I play amateur rugby. There is no professional rugby in my country (Portugal) and still I have never met anyone with your mentality. You want to release your acumulated stress? You can. Tackle the sh*t out of the guy in front of you. Put in a hard, honest and physical game, and then I'll shake your hand and buy you a beer. If you come to a rugby pitch with that attitude, I hope you get a ban and decide to go boxing.
Rugby is a physical game, not a violent one. You carry the ball hard, you tackle harder, and you ruck the opponents head of. Sometimes in the heat of the moment you get some odd reactions, like taking a man in the air, a tackle goes wrong and its a spear, you try to punch someone in a tense situation, ok, I can understand that. Been there, done that. But I also think that while those actions should be punished accordingly. Or we can just go back to Lions' like tactics, start a fistfight, destabilize the opponents, maybe try to take out they flyhalf or star player and keep playing. Hey, all you get is a penalty...
Allways been taught football is the gentlemen's game played by thughs, and rugby the thugs game played by gentlemen. That lesson helped me build plenty of friendships with guys I was supposed to hate.
Cheers
Xavier May 13, 2010 12:42 am
To Red Stag: You can't be serious? I mean, white decides to punch the cr*p out of baxter for no good reason, 2 meters from the ref and your worried if he lands his punches or not? So, the card should be atributed according to his fighting skills, and not because of his moronic, unprovoked, thuggish attitude? That is just crazy!
To Jente: Don't really get your point. I play amateur rugby. There is no professional rugby in my country (Portugal) and still I have never met anyone with your mentality. You want to release your acumulated stress? You can. Tackle the sh*t out of the guy in front of you. Put in a hard, honest and physical game, and then I'll shake your hand and buy you a beer. If you come to a rugby pitch with that attitude, I hope you get a ban and decide to go boxing.
Rugby is a physical game, not a violent one. You carry the ball hard, you tackle harder, and you ruck the opponents head of. Sometimes in the heat of the moment you get some odd reactions, like taking a man in the air, a tackle goes wrong and its a spear, you try to punch someone in a tense situation, ok, I can understand that. Been there, done that. But I also think that while those actions should be punished accordingly. Or we can just go back to Lions' like tactics, start a fistfight, destabilize the opponents, maybe try to take out they flyhalf or star player and keep playing. Hey, all you get is a penalty...
Allways been taught football is the gentlemen's game played by thughs, and rugby the thugs game played by gentlemen. That lesson helped me build plenty of friendships with guys I was supposed to hate.
Cheers
To Jente: Don't really get your point. I play amateur rugby. There is no professional rugby in my country (Portugal) and still I have never met anyone with your mentality. You want to release your acumulated stress? You can. Tackle the sh*t out of the guy in front of you. Put in a hard, honest and physical game, and then I'll shake your hand and buy you a beer. If you come to a rugby pitch with that attitude, I hope you get a ban and decide to go boxing.
Rugby is a physical game, not a violent one. You carry the ball hard, you tackle harder, and you ruck the opponents head of. Sometimes in the heat of the moment you get some odd reactions, like taking a man in the air, a tackle goes wrong and its a spear, you try to punch someone in a tense situation, ok, I can understand that. Been there, done that. But I also think that while those actions should be punished accordingly. Or we can just go back to Lions' like tactics, start a fistfight, destabilize the opponents, maybe try to take out they flyhalf or star player and keep playing. Hey, all you get is a penalty...
Allways been taught football is the gentlemen's game played by thughs, and rugby the thugs game played by gentlemen. That lesson helped me build plenty of friendships with guys I was supposed to hate.
Cheers
jm May 13, 2010 12:58 am
1. The obstruction by the blue player is what we see all the time these days in back line moves anyway...and it never gets carded...although it's clearly illegal! So why should this obstruction be any different?
2.Clear card for punching.
2.Clear card for punching.
Anonymous May 13, 2010 1:14 am
What the... Card please! Being a coach it's a real pain to see that kind of behaviour unpunished.
starr May 13, 2010 1:21 am
im from the old school boys...
i think its a strom in a teacup. i dont want to see rugby getting over officiated and to particular.
two props having a go old fashioned, no one got hurt, no third man in, baxter wore it and didnt seem to care too much. he probably smashed him next scrum anyways.
carding him is probably technically correct, but this is a good example of refereeing in the spirit of the game. something that referees do not do enough of these days.
i think its a strom in a teacup. i dont want to see rugby getting over officiated and to particular.
two props having a go old fashioned, no one got hurt, no third man in, baxter wore it and didnt seem to care too much. he probably smashed him next scrum anyways.
carding him is probably technically correct, but this is a good example of refereeing in the spirit of the game. something that referees do not do enough of these days.
Anonymous May 13, 2010 1:40 am
^ Ah the spirit of the game. Some ape punching a guy in the face and not being punished. Makes me proud. It's what rugby is all about.
Anonymous May 13, 2010 1:59 am
Walsh is happy to inject himself into the game when he is not needed. But when he actually has a blatant foul in front of him and he must send the bloke off, he goes all quiet.
Good on you Steve, you've succeeded in transforming another game in to the Steve Walsh show.
Good on you Steve, you've succeeded in transforming another game in to the Steve Walsh show.
Anarchangel May 13, 2010 2:54 am
Yeah, worth a yellow card. I think it only didn't get a card because the touchy's report implied that he thought there was more going on than he could see (perhaps he thought it might have been retaliation?). But from what I could see on the footage, all Baxter was doing was holding on.
Anonymous May 13, 2010 4:19 am
He wasn't carded? lol Walsh is useless, like most SH refs.
Tom May 13, 2010 4:52 am
Just a few punches, nothing too bad.
Probably should have been a card, but Walsh is a bit of a tit isn't he?
So never mind, they got the penalty and won the game convincingly anyway, Baxter wouldn't have cared too much, he's a front rower after all.
And in rugby ocaisonally there are punch ups, it's not such a bad thing. Just something that happens, bit of a scrap and you move on.
And i'm a NSW fan, so I've no bias.
Probably should have been a card, but Walsh is a bit of a tit isn't he?
So never mind, they got the penalty and won the game convincingly anyway, Baxter wouldn't have cared too much, he's a front rower after all.
And in rugby ocaisonally there are punch ups, it's not such a bad thing. Just something that happens, bit of a scrap and you move on.
And i'm a NSW fan, so I've no bias.
Ryan May 13, 2010 5:33 am
Well said Red_Stag... IF the refs saw it from the angle that we watching from TV did then they would have gone with the correct option of a yellow card, but because they didn't, then they could only rule on what they saw, and based on what they claim to have seen the outcome of the situation was sufficient.
What I found interesting watching the game was that within a minute of this incident the same number 3 was penalized within 5 metres of the Waratahs goal line for having his hands in a ruck/being offside which in my opinion was a huge professional foul and was an attempt at intentionally stoping the Waratahs from scoring by means of breaking the laws. He should have come pretty dang close to being sent off for the two penalties being so close to one another in a row, but, Walsh didn't even seem to notice it was the same guy. Anyone who saw the game agree?
What I found interesting watching the game was that within a minute of this incident the same number 3 was penalized within 5 metres of the Waratahs goal line for having his hands in a ruck/being offside which in my opinion was a huge professional foul and was an attempt at intentionally stoping the Waratahs from scoring by means of breaking the laws. He should have come pretty dang close to being sent off for the two penalties being so close to one another in a row, but, Walsh didn't even seem to notice it was the same guy. Anyone who saw the game agree?
Greiffel May 13, 2010 6:29 am
Can anyone pick up what Phil Waugh's comment is?
Gotta love the Steve Walsh Show. Always entertaining.
Gotta love the Steve Walsh Show. Always entertaining.
Anonymous May 13, 2010 7:56 am
Straight red card for Chiefs three, three blatant punches to the head. Walsh should be looked at seriously in terms of the way he carries himself during a game, winking at players, not penalising blatant infringements and worst of all watching Liam Messam, the captain, using his forearm in the altrication and acknowledging this without sanction. POB are you watching?
ver-dunn May 13, 2010 8:12 am
should of been carded, yes rugby is a physical sport but not in that way, the bloke just lost his head, id like to know why!
Thomas May 13, 2010 8:31 am
Red card in my opinion. The touch judge was right next to them. Another unbelievable decision by Walsh. I guess he's crying for a second referee again 'cause he's not capable of doing it.
Anonymous May 13, 2010 8:37 am
FOURTY-FIRST!!!
How that wasn't a card is beyond me. Walsh seemed a bit distracted by the camera, eh
How that wasn't a card is beyond me. Walsh seemed a bit distracted by the camera, eh
Anonymous May 13, 2010 8:54 am
walsh looks likes hes had a big one the night before
bumford May 13, 2010 9:07 am
Maybe a card not sure, it's getting to the stage if you carded every player who threw a hand up you wouldnt have anyone left on the pitch, did any of those connect or did Baxter hold him off?
Dan May 13, 2010 9:09 am
firstly, fuck steve walsh comes across terribly in that clip. Could he be more smarmy that whole time, what the hell is he laughing about. He laughs at Phil Waugh's comment, actually minces over to Liam Messam and then give him a 2 second soundbite. Messam is stoked, he can't believe it. and i'm a kiwi.
not that big a deal, but he should have been binned straight off the bat for that. if you wanna have a punch up, you're gonna get binned, that's the law.
not that big a deal, but he should have been binned straight off the bat for that. if you wanna have a punch up, you're gonna get binned, that's the law.
edbok May 13, 2010 9:57 am
So maybe neither Walsh nor Monroe had a great view, in which case you can understand their decision.
But this is where the citing system is supposed to kick in, because for the all the world that is a card. I'd go yellow, a lot of refs would go red.
Clint Newland and Pek Cowan got ten minutes after their barney in Queenstown, and that seemed a fair call. But they didn't get cited, so I can see why, from a consistency point of view, there was no citing here. But it still doesn't really explain what the citing commissioners are supposed to be doing, so situation normal I guess.
But this is where the citing system is supposed to kick in, because for the all the world that is a card. I'd go yellow, a lot of refs would go red.
Clint Newland and Pek Cowan got ten minutes after their barney in Queenstown, and that seemed a fair call. But they didn't get cited, so I can see why, from a consistency point of view, there was no citing here. But it still doesn't really explain what the citing commissioners are supposed to be doing, so situation normal I guess.
Fred May 13, 2010 10:32 am
I'm all in favour of friendly reffing and being able to deal with things effectively without ruining a game, BUT, that is waaaaay too friendly. That is definitely a sending off. These guys are proffesional, they do this for a career, they should be able to control themselves. It's one thing a bit of handbags, but uncontroledly trying to hurt someone when you are that size and that strength is fundamentally wrong and not what the game of rugby has ever been in my eyes. Got to be a red card. This is a poor image to be sending out to kids playing rugby these days!
Red_Stag May 13, 2010 10:54 am
Xavier,
I agree from TV angles that is definately a yellow and could well be a red card.
My point is that the views of the officials were obstructed. They didnt have all the information and knew that they didnt. It would have been irresposible to start handing out cards in that case.
I agree from TV angles that is definately a yellow and could well be a red card.
My point is that the views of the officials were obstructed. They didnt have all the information and knew that they didnt. It would have been irresposible to start handing out cards in that case.
james May 13, 2010 11:07 am
thats an awful call by the ref, should have been a sin-binning, maybe even a red if it wasn't the first time they'd be at this kind of stuff in the match. Provides very little incentive for players not to start throwing punches when they get such a small penalty. On a rugby field you're given the opportunity to legally vent agression in tackles, rucks and mauls but considering that it appears to be honest mistakes, such as a lazy high tackle, that are really getting players in trouble suddenly throwing your opposite man a few punches to the face seems like the safer approach than going for a 'big hit' in the tackle as you run a bigger risk of the bin or a citing in the latter.
Gareth May 13, 2010 11:20 am
To be fair to Walsh, it sounded like the touch judge said:
"Punches thrown, not sure if they landed" (or something like that) and implied something else had gone on between the two of them.
On that recommendation, a penalty and talking to is fine in my opinion. If he has seen them landing then I think a yellow card was appropriate.
"Punches thrown, not sure if they landed" (or something like that) and implied something else had gone on between the two of them.
On that recommendation, a penalty and talking to is fine in my opinion. If he has seen them landing then I think a yellow card was appropriate.
Anonymous May 13, 2010 12:37 pm
must admit as a kid I was always proud to see the All Black punch ups with the Wallabies (so long as it looked like we were winning them). But yeah, these days it is supposed to be professional. Yellow.
Anonymous May 13, 2010 12:42 pm
Fred agree with what you say excet it seemed like it was just one fo them. Al Baxter did well to control himself and not give any back He probably wished he had battered the bloke now.
Anonymous May 13, 2010 1:01 pm
Is Walsh trying to buy these guys a drink or ref a Rugby match?
I mean i don't mind the decision but what is Steve Walsh doing out there?!
Trying to be mates with everybody on the field... Allowing himself to get inturrupted by players to hear their point of view first.. we need a ref not a mate!
I mean i don't mind the decision but what is Steve Walsh doing out there?!
Trying to be mates with everybody on the field... Allowing himself to get inturrupted by players to hear their point of view first.. we need a ref not a mate!
Third Centre May 13, 2010 1:10 pm
I thought Walsh didn't ref anymore ? Should've been a card. If you wanna box you're in the wrong sport. I understand punches being thrown over something big but doesn't look like Baxter did anything to deserve that.
Abbyno7 May 13, 2010 1:39 pm
Throwing punches is a yellow card offence. Therefore White should have been sent to the sin bin. All those old school chat about 'oh it's what rugby is about' can just go somewhere else. I've played a lot of rugby and I'm happy enough to talk to the opposition after a match but i'll never talk to somebody who has thrown punches, kicked, stamped etc.
A French Rugby player got partially blinded in one eye by a punch in 1978. You think the perpetrator Michel Palmie should have only gotten a talking too for that?
A French Rugby player got partially blinded in one eye by a punch in 1978. You think the perpetrator Michel Palmie should have only gotten a talking too for that?
Ian J May 13, 2010 1:41 pm
The problem is that players will only keep their discipline if they can trust the officials. Last week I was involved in an almost identical incident, which left me requiring stitches and missing 10 minutes of the game. I didn't retaliate because it was right in front of the TJ, and I figured that the opposition prop would take a red card. As it happened, the TJ didn't see anything, despite being within 5m of the incident, with no players in t way, and the ref wasn't even awake enough to notice the blood all over me for another two plays.
If I'd known that the ref was going to ignore that incident, I'd have swung straight back at the guy. All it takes is a few players to take that attitude, and we don't have rugby, we have anarchy.
If I'd known that the ref was going to ignore that incident, I'd have swung straight back at the guy. All it takes is a few players to take that attitude, and we don't have rugby, we have anarchy.
Anonymous May 13, 2010 2:09 pm
throwing punches is red. Touch judge saw it, should have given a recommendation.
Dean May 13, 2010 2:18 pm
Pretty sure yellow cards are for more technical infringements. Reds are for the puching, gouging etc. So to those who chant "bin", no.
Even so, thought the ref handled it well. There's nothing more annoying than someone holding onto your jersey and unfortunately things like that can boil over. Nothing in it really though! The kiddie and role model aspect is the only minor concern. Very minor.
Even so, thought the ref handled it well. There's nothing more annoying than someone holding onto your jersey and unfortunately things like that can boil over. Nothing in it really though! The kiddie and role model aspect is the only minor concern. Very minor.
Jason May 13, 2010 2:28 pm
In the first instance with the shove, it should have been a Chiefs penalty right in front of the sticks.
In the second, from the clip we can't see everything and I doubt that Baxter is entirely blameless but to react the way that White did is just unacceptable. White should definitely have been carded - I would have gone with red, but maybe that is a bit harsh. It is certainly ridiculous that he gets away with just a penalty.
In the second, from the clip we can't see everything and I doubt that Baxter is entirely blameless but to react the way that White did is just unacceptable. White should definitely have been carded - I would have gone with red, but maybe that is a bit harsh. It is certainly ridiculous that he gets away with just a penalty.
Teddy Bruckshot May 13, 2010 3:20 pm
I must have been trained a different way of playing rugby than you guys calling for White's head. What is the big deal? Oh my God, a child saw a pro player throw a punch! The refs have gone absolutely crazy with cards and bans. Why not simply issue a penalty, make them shake hands, and tell them they're off if it happens again? Just play. Punching someone in the face is more sportsmanlike that doing a celebration dance in the opposition's try zone.
Benson May 13, 2010 3:50 pm
"Punching someone in the face is more sportsmanlike that doing a celebration dance in the opposition's try zone."
You my friend, are deluded. I don't like people like that. 'oooh I'm so tough. punch me, punch me, but don't you dare smile or dance after scoring. That's not rugby, bro. We're hardmen.'
One word - lame. There's absolutely nothing sportsmanlike about punching someone, unless you're in a ring. Whoever taught you the game had a slightly twisted outlook on life.
This should be a yellow, no doubt. Possibly even a red.
Al Baxter, the big sook, took it pretty well actually. Respect.
You my friend, are deluded. I don't like people like that. 'oooh I'm so tough. punch me, punch me, but don't you dare smile or dance after scoring. That's not rugby, bro. We're hardmen.'
One word - lame. There's absolutely nothing sportsmanlike about punching someone, unless you're in a ring. Whoever taught you the game had a slightly twisted outlook on life.
This should be a yellow, no doubt. Possibly even a red.
Al Baxter, the big sook, took it pretty well actually. Respect.
(u-p)rick May 13, 2010 6:06 pm
There are always the few that say, 'this is rugby' etc....but it clearly is not...
Yeh punches happen and most of them are weak as p*ss, but his punches looked like he was really out to floor baxter...
That being said, nothing more than a yellow....but it should have been a yellow imo....
just seemed a little over the top to let it go with just a warning....
Yeh punches happen and most of them are weak as p*ss, but his punches looked like he was really out to floor baxter...
That being said, nothing more than a yellow....but it should have been a yellow imo....
just seemed a little over the top to let it go with just a warning....
(u-p)rick May 13, 2010 6:10 pm
I also dont like these 'yellows are for x' and 'reds are for y'
that is rubbish for a start....
cards should be viewed as a 'cool off' yellow, and a 'get out, go away' red......
This about, constant infringements...cool off...
Throwing some punches off a maul.....cool off...
Knocking someone out with a ridiculous punch...get out, go away...
its not hard...a ref can use cards as an when, this was not a red in my eyes, and if it had been we'd all scream over the top....
but 10 mins in the sin bin...sure, i reckon even white could accept that!!...
that is rubbish for a start....
cards should be viewed as a 'cool off' yellow, and a 'get out, go away' red......
This about, constant infringements...cool off...
Throwing some punches off a maul.....cool off...
Knocking someone out with a ridiculous punch...get out, go away...
its not hard...a ref can use cards as an when, this was not a red in my eyes, and if it had been we'd all scream over the top....
but 10 mins in the sin bin...sure, i reckon even white could accept that!!...
Anonymous May 13, 2010 6:22 pm
it was just hand bags, rugby is f*cking aggressive, to think you could get a game without a punch, to me, is like saying you wont get a punch up in a hockey game, there's always going to be a chance that a scuffle may break out, all you do is break it up, get the guilty parties back, find out who started the fight, he goes off and the game restarts... unfortunately the ref is a very relaxed one so no cards, which is technically wrong and may get him in trouble later but he's turning into something like that bald ref in soccer, becoming a name within the game, quite funny!
Anonymous May 13, 2010 9:04 pm
I think the referee didn't give the card because he knew he should have penalised the obstruction by 12 of the tahs.
Bad refereeing...
Bad refereeing...
clment May 13, 2010 10:37 pm
Come on guys, it's part of rugby!
That's the difference between us an football players, it shouldn't be punished... It's part of the game, I mean, this is just like a hard tackle, nothing else..
That's the difference between us an football players, it shouldn't be punished... It's part of the game, I mean, this is just like a hard tackle, nothing else..
detailage May 14, 2010 1:16 am
I don't understand how you can say throwing punches is apart of rugby when it's clearly not. It's going to happen of course, but it should be punished. Yellow card.
mise May 14, 2010 1:20 am
problem is that hockey is becoming a laughing stock, because of 'the enforcers'...
Den den den!
I like the notion of yellow for cooling off red for go away, whatever about the laws on this.
But what was the ref on?!? Looks like about 100mg of LSD to me. He has the effin giggles! (not 250 now, just 100)
Den den den!
I like the notion of yellow for cooling off red for go away, whatever about the laws on this.
But what was the ref on?!? Looks like about 100mg of LSD to me. He has the effin giggles! (not 250 now, just 100)
nick May 14, 2010 3:03 pm
that was a no brainer , it was a yellow for the cheifs player!
(u-p)rick May 14, 2010 7:43 pm
'Come on guys, it's part of rugby!
That's the difference between us an football players, it shouldn't be punished... It's part of the game, I mean, this is just like a hard tackle, nothing else..'
yeeahhhhhhhh........apart from hard tackles normally occur on a guy who is carrying the ball and is expecting to be tackled at somepoint....
and the tackler is the guy who is lining him up thinking, gonna smash you....
not to mention hard tackles being legal and punches not.....
sigh, i take it you are rubbish at 'spot the difference' puzzles....
That's the difference between us an football players, it shouldn't be punished... It's part of the game, I mean, this is just like a hard tackle, nothing else..'
yeeahhhhhhhh........apart from hard tackles normally occur on a guy who is carrying the ball and is expecting to be tackled at somepoint....
and the tackler is the guy who is lining him up thinking, gonna smash you....
not to mention hard tackles being legal and punches not.....
sigh, i take it you are rubbish at 'spot the difference' puzzles....
rosh May 15, 2010 9:13 pm
don't understand why walsh finds this funny, but this reminds me of the punching by the austrialian player on frank bunce in 1996, should have been carded
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