Nick Phipps Takes The Reins As International Rugby's Biggest Villain
Wallabies halfback Nick Phipps’ behavior this Rugby Championship season has seen him rise rapidly through the ranks of rugby villainy. Jamie Wall looks at some of his greatest precedents.
Two blatant acts of bad sportsmanship this year have catapulted the perpetually bronzed Phipps into the number one position on the list of current rugby villains.
Exhibit A: throwing poor Malakai Fekitoa’s boot into the Westpac Stadium cheap seats (as if Fekitoa doesn’t have enough to worry about lately as it is)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vL2vAf4C7U
Exhibit B: dropping a shoulder into an Argentine trainer in the final round match at Twickenham
In a game where good sportsmanship is often promoted to almost nauseating levels, becoming international rugby’s biggest villain could be seen a relatively easy achievement. However, Phipps is very much the latest in a list of thugs, cheats and unhinged maniacs who have brought a bit of colour to the often personality-deficient world rugby environment.
These are some of his most villainous precedents:
Johan le Roux
Anyone feel like a snack? The Springbok prop did in a 1994 test against the All Blacks, nibbling on Sean Fitzpatrick’s ear a couple of years before Mike Tyson took ear-biting to a truly global audience. Le Roux received a massive 19-month ban, the longest ever in international rugby, as well as the infamy of the being one of the few men convicted of attempted cannibalism in international sport. It didn’t stop him from releasing a tell-all book entitled Biting Back, which was more or less a 300-page whinge about how crap touring New Zealand was.
Richard Cockerill
The All Blacks haka is a challenge, and generally the done thing for opposition players is to stand there looking staunch until it’s finished. Not so English hooker Cockerill, who decided that swearing profusely at his opposite Norm Hewitt would be a good idea in 1997. The All Blacks won the test comfortably, but Cockerill again raised the ire of NZ fans in another loss the following season by obnoxiously celebrating a try that closed the scoreline between the two sides to a mere 42 points.
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Michael Brial
The Wallaby flanker’s name has become so synonymous with one incident it’s pretty much impossible to find any other information about the rest of his career. His assault on Frank Bunce in the second 1996 Bledisloe Cup test seemed completely unprovoked, although the fact that Bunce cocooned himself immediately does give a clue that he knew what was coming. Brial’s test career ended soon after, so he never had to face a hostile New Zealand crowd, but since then his name has been used for nothing else than to describe spirited, but ultimately futile, flurries of punches.
Sir Colin Meads
Old Pinetree is the most legendary All Black of all time, but he didn’t get his mythical status by being a nice guy all the time. As well as being sent off in a test against Scotland in 1967, he also earned a lifetime of derision from Australian fans for prematurely ending the career of Ken Catchpole. The halfback, often rated the finest to ever pull on the Wallaby jersey, had one leg pinned in a ruck when Meads wrenched the other as hard as he could. This tore Catchpole’s groin muscles irreparably – hence why Meads is held in wildly different regard on either side of the Tasman.
George Gregan
In a nice bit of symmetry, we end on a Wallaby halfback who Phipps could definitely learn a thing or two from when it comes to getting under an opponent’s skin. It only took three words from the eventual 139-test veteran in the 2003 Rugby World Cup to solidify his standing as the owner of (if you’re an All Blacks fan) the most ruthless sledge of all time. With the semifinal all but in the books for the Wallabibes, Gregan was picked up on the ref’s mic reminding the All Blacks that they’d have to wait “four more years” for a World Cup victory. Of course, he was wrong – it turned out to be eight.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments