Aussie butthead gets two-Test ban
21 Oct 2012
Australian Scott Higginbotham was banned for two Tests for kneeing and headbutting All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
The All Blacks were understandably upset that no action was taken at that crucial juncture in the game.
‘I saw the headbutt – it’s another cheap shot,’ coach Steve Hansen said. ‘He seems to get them every week but everyone seems to miss them.’
Sanzar judicial officer Jannie Lubbe, who exonerated Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper after he kneed McCaw in the head during the Tri-Nations decider in Brisbane last year, categorised Higginbotham’s foul play as ‘low level’.
Lubbe was of the opinion that the kneeing was more ‘was more of a bump than a hit’.
The headbutt, meanwhile, ‘was reckless and not executed with much force’.
Lubbe noted McCaw was not injured and was able to play on.
574 Comments
Pages: « 1 … 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 [12] Show All
22 Oct 2012, 13:41 pm
the filthiest scum in world rugby has the audacity to point fingers in this regard
how snaaks
22 Oct 2012, 13:41 pm
correction:
the one-eyed doos supporters of the filthiest scum in world rugby has the audacity to to point fingers….
snaaks
22 Oct 2012, 13:43 pm
as for their FILTHY ATTACKS ON PLAYERS BY KIWI FANS lets not even go there again….
22 Oct 2012, 13:54 pm
I’m not sure if you guys are on the Higgenbotham topic still or if it’s digressed into the “Kiwis are Cheats” theme. Anyway, I see Higs has received a two game ban now. At the time I thought the knee was marginally accidental but watching the replay, i’m p*ssed off because he casually walks up to RM and knees him and there’s no way it’s accidental. Guys like Hartley, Heaslip, Greyling you can almost slightly forgive because it’s obvious that the red mist sets in and they lash out with no concern for their team mates or career. Cooper, Higs, Rougerie though are premeditated and try to be sneaky, which reeks of cowardice. Say what you like about McCaw but attacking the head of a player is not on. I don’t run the risk of violence in my job if i break the rules and neither should he. Brad Thorn would’ve knocked that d*ck on his ars*, we really need Retalick to grow up and harden up quick.
I still support the wallabies behind NZ and the 3 PI teams but they really need to implement a no-d?ckheads policy because it’s getting difficult
*end of rant*
22 Oct 2012, 13:54 pm
@Hurricane-548: Yeah it is funny how you both got it wrong… but glad I could correct you.
I have already noted that I agree Habana is offside many times. If he does it deliberately, then yes he is cheating.
I wouldnt say I am an expert at the difference between “accidental” and “cheat”, but my point is I am not talking about “offside” – this is a subject you and Cane decided on.
You can see many examples of McCaw doing illegal things deliberately – lying on the ball, lying on the wrong side, falling over, entering the side, jumping across the lineout.
Even with the next best fetchers in the world (lets say Pocock, Louw, Brussow, Dusatoir) – I cant recall seeing them doing things like literally sitting on the ground on their backsides, yet still trying to play the ball.
To try and condense the point of not just myself, but the huge number of rugby viewers who feel this way:
- McCaw is a great player and great Capt
- He also seems like a nice guy (charity, visiting schools etc)
- He is committed, talented, leads from the front etc.
No one is denying the good stuff, but:
- he does deliberate actions that very few other rugby players would consider
- he consistently uses tactics that go against sportsmanlike behaviour
and not his doing, but a massive problem
- he is not pinged 1. as much as he should be and 2. as much as other players similar to his position and skills are.
For example – the stats from 2010 3Ns where SA and Aus were getting a yellow card every 6 or 7 penalties and ABs was something ridiculous like 34!
No one can in all honesty say that is fair and there is nothing wrong there.
22 Oct 2012, 13:57 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-529: Hmmmmm…now where did I put that Ombudsman’s details…?
22 Oct 2012, 13:59 pm
@gonzo-554: Not “Kiwis are Cheats” theme, just McCaw sometimes deliberately ignores the rules and spirit of the game.
Although I will agree “attacking the head of a player is not on”.
There is a lot wrong with your post though. He didnt pull his leg back and try take McCaw’s head off – lets be honest. He tried to wind McCaw up and get a reaction, which he got. Although I still do not condone it.
“try to be sneaky, which reeks of cowardice” – ahem….
22 Oct 2012, 14:04 pm
@gonzo-554:
ja, stroking the face of a prone player wit hyour knee is way worse than picking a player up and spear dumping him onto his back right in front of the ref thus putting him out for 6 months…
or ganglifting a player and and dumping him in wat that breaks his shoulder blades…
no
a stroke to the face deserves sanction whereas the other only require lip service…
22 Oct 2012, 14:05 pm
can we propose a ‘no-dickheads’ policy for nz…?.. hmmm?
22 Oct 2012, 14:08 pm
fark! who would they field if this was the case..?..
to a man i wouln’d pick any of the current squad.
wow!
its just occured to… honest question?
is there a single likeable ab?
22 Oct 2012, 14:09 pm
@bokfan1-555: I say this every time, why do people keep bringing up this yellow card rubbish. Tell me how many of those cards were for repeat infringements and how many for dangerous play? Number of cards has almost nothing to do with number of penalties. You can be penalised 10 times for dropping your bind or being offside over a match without being carded but punch a guy once and you’re gone.
Here are the stats from RC 2012
Cards NZ 1, AU 4, SA 2, ARG 2
Penalties NZ 63, AU 67, SA 55, ARG 67
Of those cards, the only ones for repeat infringements were in the very last game when Oz and Argentina collected one each. Please explain to me the relationship between penalties and cards
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-558: Thorn was cited and banned and as I’ve said before Mealamu/Umaga should have been but were not. I’ve never said Kiwis are angels and if you want to add Ali Williams to the first list for losing it and stomping on McCaw’s head, feel free. What p*sses me off this week though is Higgenbotham, more so than these other guys
22 Oct 2012, 14:16 pm
@gonzo-561:
one measly week farken week? are you shitting me?
or how bout that lovely little stiff arm head high on kankowski?
or the repeat no arm shoulder charges?
kiwis are anything but angels, rather the very opposite.
22 Oct 2012, 14:17 pm
and higinbotham gets two?
make a comparison?
or etzebeth ?
22 Oct 2012, 14:18 pm
@gonzo-561:
and while we’re at it why dont we discuss your fans BOTTLING of sharks players at auckland stadium…?.
its not the fist time this happened..?
anything done about it… (dont answer, its rhetorical)
22 Oct 2012, 14:19 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-559: They are already working on it. It could explain why Guildford doesn’t make the squad anymore. Although the off-field drama is half the fun of rugby so I hope the policy isn’t too successful. Sick as it sounds, it’s always interesting to read about Zac or Bastareaud’s nights of chaos, Quade getting caught stealing, Kurtley and Ranger in court, not to mention everything that goes on in SA. Fortunately it’s fairly tame stuff compared to the rugby league guys who are all animals
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/08/20/all-blacks-impressed-by-swans-strategy/
And Thorn got the same number of matches as JdV did for a spear
22 Oct 2012, 14:38 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-560: To be fair – Carter is not a ****, neither Dagg nor Nonu, Messam. Even Mealamu seems pretty cool overall. (IMHO). I like the new scrummie too.
Read was cool, but is getting a bit full of himself now, although you have to be confident and c0cky to be be #1 8th Man.
Thorne and Ali Willams were absolue kn0bs, Whitelock seems a lot better tempered, although Retallick seems to have picked up Thorne’s mantle… (spear tackle on Bekker just the start of things to come…)
22 Oct 2012, 14:42 pm
@gonzo-561: Excellent post! And very good points – again in a logical fashion.
Unfortunately, when discussing 3Ns 2010, we all saw what happened and how many times McCaw had a “final warning” in the red zone with no further action taken against him.
But yeah – overall you are right – the link between penalties and cards can be difficult to compare.
Now in those stats the teams are all fairly similar, but imagine South Africa’s penalties were twice as high as the others? Or imagine they had 0 cards? Surely you would question that
22 Oct 2012, 14:44 pm
@gonzo-565: hahahaha – yeah old Guilford… he messed that one up.
Good point about Thorne’s punishment being the same as JdV’s.
22 Oct 2012, 21:20 pm
I know I’m probably talking to thin air here but i just checked the stats of the Bledisloe game on the weekend.
1st half penalties: NZ 7, AU 4 (Woodcock carded for repeat infringements)
2nd half penalties: NZ 4, AU 10. (No card for repeat infringements)
Also rewatched the knee/headbutt and Joubert was right on the spot, even bending over watching.
If i was a conspiracy theorist I might ask if the new IRB head of referees, a french man, and Joubert, a man with a French name, are trying to make up for France’s loss in the RWC final by picking on the ABs
22 Oct 2012, 21:56 pm
why is it that almost every international rugby player today feels this uncontrollable desire to moer richie macaw?
is it because they are jealous of his pretty face?
22 Oct 2012, 22:12 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-560:
OH no, a sore loser hates the ABs ….what will we do.
I know take our anger out on your Bok team….
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-564:
When was the other time?
You are sometimes unbearable.
On your high horse only to realise your own crowd ( Bulls supporters ) Bottled Mealamu a month before, stop with this hatred , bordering on obsessed.
And Auckland rugby union said they didnt have good video evidence of the guy who threw it as i said the other day. I also said it did not even hit the Sharks player but you carry on like it did.
Its like the Etzebeth saga….you were saying the Etzebeth didnt even hit him so nothing should be done about it…..what is the difference here?
Whinging girl that you are.
Leave the bottle throwing thing alone…. Culprit could not be found so shut it
22 Oct 2012, 22:22 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-553:
How about filthy attacks on refs by supporters.
Honestly MR high and mighty. You have pi$$ all to preach about when your backyard is also filthy.
23 Oct 2012, 06:24 am
@BrumbiesBoy-529: So, Keo & Cronies, don’t want to change this headline, eh?
Fine, no problem…I shall “return serve” with interest…
23 Oct 2012, 06:55 am
Dear oh dear, people are still bitching about McCaw and his supposed cheating.
Good grief, why would anyone expect a Kiwi to acknowledge such accusations, and then get all prissy when we don’t.
Those people with the problem should vent their spleen at the obvious person responsible for your issues, the damned ref for not agreeing with you, after all, Kiwi fans don’t make the decisions during the match.
And you can start with Craig Joubert, the man who I will acknowledge wears a patch over both eyes.
Pages: « 1 … 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 [12] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.