Richie McCaw admitted on Wednesday that he didn’t always act within the laws of the game against the Springboks in the first two Tri-Nations games, but said that it’s all part of rugby.
The All Black captain was penalised five times against the Springboks in Wellington according to website ruggastats.com. This infuriated coach Peter de Villiers and a number of his senior players.
Irishman Alain Rolland was the referee who failed to punish McCaw with a yellow card for his transgressions at the breakdown and will again be the referee when the Boks play the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld on August 28.
“I made a few mistakes. I think the important thing is to know what you will get away with. But I undoubtedly made mistakes,” said McCaw.
Graham Henry has spoken out on the refereeing controversy that Peter de Villiers has embroiled himself into.
De Villiers made the outlandish claim last week that the All Blacks’ recent supremacy over the Springboks was part of a conspiracy aimed at generating support for next year’s World Cup.
Henryon Saturday flew to Brisbane and watched the Wallabies open their Tri-Nations campaign against South Africa. But before he departed on his spying mission, he expertly distanced himself from the fuss.
”I can’t really take anything [de Villiers] says seriously,” Henry said. ”The penalty count in the two matches was in favour of South Africa. I appreciate they had a couple of yellow cards; one was very warranted and the other questionable. But I don’t want to get into it too deeply for the reason I just outlined.”
The Springboks are taking their referee woes to an official level with the South African Union asking SANZAR to look into what they clearly feel is a bias against the Boks by the judicial system.
The two match ban on Jean de Villiers for a dangerous tackle on top of Bakkies Botha’s nine-week ban for head-butting has raised the anger of the South Africans after a tough two weeks in New Zealand where they lost both Tri-Nations Tests to the All Blacks.
South African Rugby Union boss Oregan Hoskins has instructed the Springboks’ representative on the SANZAR legal committee, Judge Lex Mpati, to look into the matter.
“On the judicial side, I have asked Judge Mpati to take it up,” Hoskins told the Cape Times newspaper.
“A number of stakeholders have complained to me about the lack of consistency in the rulings of the judicial officials in rugby.
“I have stressed to Judge Mpati the seriousness of the matter, and he has promised that he will come back to me in writing hopefully by next week.
“I don’t want to say too much further, as previously I have spoken about the issue in the media and nothing has been done about it.”
Springbok Jean De Villiers has been suspended for two weeks following a spear tackle on All Blacks debutant Rene Ranger. De Villiers was cited following the 31-17 loss the Tri Nations second test in Wellington.
Check out the video below:
New Zealand beat the Springboks 31 – 17 yesterday in Wellington to secure their second successive bonus point in the Tri-Nations tournament.
Ma’a Nonu, Mils Muliaina, Rene Ranger and Israel Dagg all scored tries for the All Blacks, while flyhalf Daniel Carter, who had a poor goalkicking performance in missing five attempts at goal, slotted two penalties and a conversion.
Piri Weepu also added a penalty for the home side, who had beaten the Springboks 32-12 in Auckland last week.
Danie Rossouw and Schalk Burger scored tries for the world champions, while Morne Steyn added a penalty and two conversions. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s been five years since the Kapa O Pango was first performed by the All Blacks. It was in New Zealand, and it was against the Springboks. On Saturday they brought it out once again, and the passion and fire that they put into it seemed to be just the start of what was a fantastic night for New Zealand rugby.
Joe Rokocoko and Jimmy Cowan have been ruled out of the second Test between the Springboks and All Blacks on Saturday in Wellington due to injury.
Rokocoko has a strained hamstring and has been replaced by Rene Ranger, who will make his first start for the All Blacks. Cowan has an abdominal strain and is named among the reserves, with Piri Weepu handed a starting spot.
They are the only two changes to the New Zealand lineup that started last weekend’s 32-12 win over the world champion in Auckland.
South Africa made two changes on Wednesday to its team, with C.J. van der Linde replacing injured prop Jannie du Plessis and Danie Rossouw coming in for suspended lock Bakkies Botha.
After a score of injuries, Danie Rossouw must probably think that the gods are conspiring against him to prevent him from reaching absolute rugby greatness.
This week, fate threw out the bait of a 50th test cap starting in place of the suspended Botha, against the Springboks‘ greatest rivals on their home soil. No sooner had Rossouw been telling the media about how delighted he was with the way things had fallen into place for his milestone, than he picked up a calf injury in training on Tuesday afternoon which now puts his place in doubt for Saturday’s test in Wellington.
Fortunately, it is not a calf tear but merely a strain, and the Springbok medical staff are working furiously on Rossouw to ensure he can front up against an All Blacks side that outmuscled them last weekend.
Rossouw was first chosen for the Springboks in 2001 by Harry Viljoen, but was injured the day before they left on tour and had to wait another two years before finally making his debut in the 2003 World Cup. It was only in the 2007 World Cup, though, that Rossouw really came of age, showing his versatility by playing eighthman.
The 32-year-old admits he should have reached 50 caps a lot sooner and partially blames himself for not working harder when he was younger.
The Springboks have made two forced changes to their lineup to take on the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday. New Zealand on the other hand are battling to get several players fit.
Danie Rossouw was always a certainty to replace the suspended Bakkies Botha in the number four jersey, but there was some debate over whether BJ Botha or CJ van der Linde would come in for the injured Jannie du Plessis at tighthead prop.
Coach Peter de Villiers has settled on Van der Linde to start, with BJ Botha once again on the bench.
The 29-year-old Van der Linde joined Leinster in Ireland at the end of 2008 and was out of the Springbok team until the 2009 end-of-year tour when he was recalled after a spate of front-row injuries. He has now rejoined the Free State Cheetahs and De Villiers said on Tuesday he expected the World Cup-winner to have a big impact.
“I haven’t given CJ his rightful chance so far this year and I expect a lot from him because the hunger should be there.”
Bakkies Botha has received a nine-week ban for head butting All Black scrum half Jimmy Cowan and will miss the rest of the Tri-Nations.
Botha was suspended by SANZAR judicial officer Dennis Wheelahan on Sunday after a hearing in Auckland. He is not eligible to play again until after September 4, the same date as South Africa’s final Tri-Nations match against Australia.
Botha had been cited after the All Blacks beat South Africa 32-12 in the opening match of the Tri-Nations at Eden Park on Saturday.
Irish referee Alan Lewis missed the incident which happened in a tackle after Cowan had tugged at Botha’s jersey as both were chasing a loose ball.
Television replays showed Botha appearing to pause after completing a tackle on Cowan before launching himself at the back of the scrumhalf’s head.
Richie McCaw admitted on Wednesday that he didn’t always act within the laws of the game against the Springboks in the first two Tri-Nations games, but said that it’s all part of rugby.
