O'Driscoll criticises Beirne amid strong Twitter reaction over diving
The weekend’s rugby provided a lot of topics for debate, none more so that Munster’s winner against Edinburgh at Murrayfield.
The European giants had a penalty against them reversed, after Edinburgh prop Pierre Schoeman made contact with Tadhg Beirne off the ball. From what could have been a chance for Richard Cockerill’s side to extend their lead, Munster took advantage, and Keith Earls eventually scored the match-winning try.
However, Beirne’s theatrics have come under some heavy criticism in the wake of the game, with former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll getting involved on Off the Ball.
“I’ve seen some stuff on social media and people are not happy with the manner he threw himself to the ground. There was no doubt he gets impacted but it’s a big sell. The dramatics of the fall is definitely what caught the TMO’s eye.
“Ultimately it probably is a penalty but I don’t think you have to sell it that way. I don’t think it’s a good look for our game.
The Irish second-row seemed to go down with minimal contact. Worse still, he remained down, drawing attention to what had happened, and went on to finish the game.
As expected, many fans and players were disappointed by these antics, as David Flatman even called for the lock to apologise. Fans have shown their support for what Flatman said, as diving is becoming more commonplace in rugby.
This is what the fans have been saying:
https://twitter.com/usuallyharmles1/status/1112678345484001280
And so diving creeps into rugby… https://t.co/xFMpJ9YHJX
— Matt Edwards (@mattedwards05) April 1, 2019
Rivaldo would have been proud.
— Andy Matheson (@AndyMatheson3) April 1, 2019
A fair comment. We don't want that nonsense in rugby.
— Ian Titherington (@ianapharri) April 1, 2019
Embarrassing , oscar worthy dive by @longdogbeirne . Should be banned for the semi-final .
— Billy Denham 🏴 (@billywhizz14) April 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/_Sheedy_/status/1112671410843996160
Sean O’Brien did a similar thing in the 6 Nations. Rugby is becoming like football when it comes to diving to milk penalties and needs to be stamped out early
— Gareth Rees (@garethrees9) April 1, 2019
Excellent analysis on it although I think your pulling your punches, we all hate diving in football and we need to call it out and expect it to be dealt with in rugby.
— Stewart Pavitt (@StewartPavitt) March 31, 2019
@Munsterrugby cheated to win. The lock dived to win a penalty. Sad to see diving creep in to the game. Playing on the edge/cheating in rugby has reached a new low
— Andrew White (@APLWhite) March 30, 2019
If rugby players are going to start diving like footballers, the sports ruined.
— SteveA (@Steve_5881) March 30, 2019
Of course, not many people are arguing that this was not a penalty, as after all, this was a needless and unwarranted dig by Schoeman off the ball. However, while many fans will oppose what Schoeman did, many more will have a problem with Beirne’s antics to milk a penalty. That is what makes this a peculiar circumstance, as the referee was right to award Munster a penalty, but equally Beirne should be admonished for what he did.
Rugby has always seemed to pride itself as being immune from acts of cheating like this, but it is undeniable that it is becoming more and more prominent, particularly with the availability of the TMO. Obviously football receives a fair amount of criticism for the frequency of diving, and many will be desperate to prevent rugby going down the same road.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith please write up something better than this. The Springboks would have won the world cup if you were 15 men on the field. They would have found a way, they always find a way to beat the All Blacks.
159 Go to commentsWow, there is a lot of “could have” and “ should have” in this waist of time dribble. I love the deportation in this story to search for a glimpse at a silver lining. Here are the facts, NZ was a badly coached and undisciplined shadow of their former glory. They never took the lead in a game they were never going to win.
159 Go to commentsGOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
1 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
159 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
1 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
159 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
159 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
159 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
159 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
159 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
159 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
159 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
159 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
159 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
159 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
159 Go to commentsHo hum.
159 Go to comments