Thursday, April 28, 2011
Corey Flynn and Liam Messam tussle sorts itself out

This is an incident from the Crusaders vs Chiefs match that had been talked about last week, but not shown yet so before it becomes too ancient, here it is for those of you who were keen to see what happened.
You saw a great clip that featured an act of good sportsmanship last week, with Corey Flynn being involved in helping out an opposition player after he was knocked out and in a bad state on the floor. Well, this is what happened later in the match.
Crusaders hooker, Flynn, somehow managed to catch Liam Messam in the face with his boot after tackling him. Messam took exception to it, and dished out the punishment in the way that many of the older visitors on the site may be able to relate to.
Describing the incident afterwards, Flynn said that he heard a roar coming from Messam, who was obviously in pain after taking the full brunt of a boot to the face.
"I heard him yelling and then sort of clawing up me, so I knew something was coming," Flynn recalled with a grin. "That was why I covered up. But we had a yarn afterwards and I apologised.
"When he told me what happened, I can understand why he arced up over it because I probably would have done the same. It was a little wee tussle, but we had a cuddle-up after it, so it was fine. It was footy, mate, just footy," he said.
The incident, which Flynn insists was an accident, was investigated by the citing commissioner but later dismissed, possibly for the reason that they sorted it out among themselves.
Good sportsmanship after another Owen Franks head clash
Time: 02:09
Posted at 3:23 pm | 20 comments
Posted in Big Hits & Dirty Play
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Viewing 20 comments
Dozzy_X April 28, 2011 9:36 pm

Maybe the IRB should have a yarn or two now and then.
pain15 April 28, 2011 10:58 pm

Ian April 29, 2011 2:22 am

just a game o footy bru!
classic Kiwi easygoing mentality
on the other hand, messing with Liam Messam is usually not a good idea.
ElTigre April 29, 2011 7:31 am

I hate ppl who write April 29, 2011 7:44 am

ElTigre, some of us like to see examples of good sportsmanship in the midst of citings, gougings, cheap punches and idiots dropping the ball because they want to celebrate, before or while scoring.
I think showing only the exceptions can cause some confusion amongst new rugby followers or people who have never played the game, so a bit of "typical" behaviour can be healthy to see every now and then.
It's not like the site is covered with it though, so hardly a reason to complain.
Citing Commissioner April 29, 2011 7:56 am

Here's a little plan I have devised - each team after a match can refer things to the IRB, instead of the IRB finding problems where no-one else sees anything wrong. That way only situations where one player is clearly at fault would be dealt with and situations such as this would be dealt with in a gentleman's way on the pitch.
Can anyone see a flaw in my plan?
letthemplay April 29, 2011 1:19 pm

Your idea is that teams rat eachother out to the league after the game? That's the most UNrugby thing I have ever heard. What self-respecting player runs crying to the citing board? Well maybe a backline player, but still!
Citing Commissioner April 29, 2011 2:47 pm

if you read what I said I didn't say he should get cited, what I said what he was more deserving of a citing than much of what we see the IRB dish out a long holiday for.
I think that if clubs 'rat' on each other as opposed to the IRB looking for things it would maybe let the IRB see what the clubs and fans actually want - if you were in charge of a club would you rat on people for a fight like this? No, because your player would also get cited. Would you rat of a player for eye gouging yours? Yes, because it's completely unacceptable and all the public would support you. Would you rat on a player for a "tip tackle"? Probably not because you don't want your club to get the reputation of being a load of pussies...
cheyanqui April 29, 2011 5:22 pm

I've got to disagree too.
You would inevitably end up with different countries value systems pitting themselves against each other. One country might cite the other for a cynical late hit. That same country might just consider that some argy-bargy that should be settled with some productive boots at the next ruck.
For better or worse, having a single citing committee is the least-worst solution. That said, they seem terribly inconsistent.
I hate ppl who write April 29, 2011 5:35 pm

Also once a team rats another one out, then the fans would have no problem getting their own back at the first possible chance.
I'm Irish, and remember the somewhat drawn-out O'Driscoll affair, could you imagine what would have happened to Mealamu and Umaga if their fate were in our hands at that moment in time?
I think citings and rulings should be as impartial as possibile, I agree it's the least worst rather than best solution at the moment, but think that the problem is not the system, rather the people running it. As cheyanqui said, they're just too inconsistant.
Anonymous April 29, 2011 6:26 pm

Although there are large inconsistencies with the IRB *COUGH* MCCAW!!!!!!!!!!!!! *COUGH* o r just generally if im not going to be an ass, they are still the best option. Otherwise you will have even more inconsistencies.
As others have said, it will turn into a 'win a game by getting the opposition key player banned' kind of game rather than actually winning it with your skill you'll encourage the other team to lose the game...
AND with that you'll end up with huge inconsistencies.. one player being cited for nothing in one match but getting away with murder in the next match, and it doesnt solve the inconsistent bans...
Citing Commissioner April 29, 2011 6:31 pm

Anonymous April 29, 2011 7:59 pm

Anrowa April 30, 2011 10:06 pm

Colombo May 01, 2011 3:40 am

Anrowa May 01, 2011 9:13 pm

Anonymous May 01, 2011 10:38 pm

As a Lions supporter I find your bitching hilarious, you want consistency?! then why the F*ck didnt you guys recommend Burger got a REAL ban for fingering Fitzgeralds eyes?
Ah right, because when you ARE ACTUALLY in the wrong you do all you can to weasel out of it!
Anrowa May 02, 2011 8:11 am

I think punching, head-butting or any other off the ball stupidity (like biting and kicking) should never be allowed in the game. I'm for zero tolerance, none of this "there was nothing in it" bullsh** You throw a punch, yellow - end of. Doesn't matter if you don't connect, doesn't matter if you've never punched someone, doesn't matter if you were provoked. If you have zero tolerance then everyone gets the same treatment every time (on the field at least.) The citing system is a screw up, and I can't see how it will ever be an even playing field for anyone.
If you like punching people and think its fun - go do boxing. I don't think I've seen Sonny Bill throw a punch yet, and he likes to box.
If you want to hurt someone, tackle them hard legally - there are plenty of examples of tackles and ruck clearouts that are intimidating and legal on this site.















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