Rugby's biggest controversies of 2017
2017 will be remembered as a year of controversy for a lot of things, and rugby was no different. Here’s a look at the moments on and off the field that made for an interesting season.
Jerome Kaino/Aaron Smith playin’ up
While sex scandals were mostly the domain of Hollywood this year, the All Blacks had to deal with a couple of their own, in the same week no less. In the build up to the first Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney, it emerged through the Australian press that Jerome Kaino had been engaged in an extra-marital affair, meaning the veteran flanker flew home and didn’t rejoin the team till later in the season. Meanwhile, poor old Aaron Smith not only had last year’s toilet-sex travesty brought up again, but also his terrible command of written English when text messages he sent were published.
Alun Wyn Jones gets his bell rung, plays on
Remember way back at the start of the year when World Rugby said they’d get serious about concussions? Turns out they might’ve got one themselves and forgotten, or simply shown that they don’t actually care. During the tense third test between the All Blacks and Lions, Alun Wyn Jones was knocked out cold before his head even hit the ground by a high shot by Jerome Kaino. Barely five minutes passed and Wyn Jones returned to the action. The post-match inquiry somehow cleared the Lions’ medical staff of any wrongdoing, proving that their pre season bluster was just a load of hot air.
Kaino catches Jones and goes to the bin.
Lions were abysmal vs 14 for large parts of last week. Lessons learnt? pic.twitter.com/uymohSIzDH
— Steve Lai (@stevelai) July 8, 2017
The World Cup hosting shambles
There were three applicants to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and somehow World Rugby managed to make both Ireland and South Africa believe they were going to win before handing it to France. The whole thing was a shambles, helped in no part by the fact that the Irish thought it was theirs to lose, before a pre tournament report said to give it to South Africa. In the end, the lure of French money won the day – and in all honesty, who is surprised by that?
Michael Cheika
If there’s one event filled with anticipation by the rugby media, it’s whenever Wallaby coach Cheika gets near a mic. While there’s been some beauties this year, he reached his peak in the aftermath of the their 27-all draw against the Springboks in Bloemfontein. Even though it was plain for anyone with eyesight to see that Israel Folau pulled the hair of Dillyn Leyds in an attempted tackle, Cheika defended his fullback vehemently to the point of comedy. There’s no word on whether he’s actually bothered to watch the incident.
Pacific Island funding
Sadly, this one can probably be added to the list of any season. However, the stark reality of the disparity of payment between the major powers and the Pacific Islands was laid bare when it was revealed that English players would be taking home £22,000 for their test against Manu Samoa. This was in comparison to the Samoan each receiving around £650, which made the actual game itself a bit of an afterthought as action was demanded from all corners. Whether World Rugby will actually take any remains to be seen.
End of the third All Blacks v Lions test/Wallabies v England tests
Michael Cheika actually had a legitimate reason to get angry last month, namely when rookie ref Ben O’Keeffe and his TMO got together and disallowed a couple of crucial tries at Twickenham. Back in June though, it was Kieran Read who was dirty at referee Roman Poite. The Frenchman conspired with his countryman assistant ref to reverse a potential game winning penalty to the home side, a decision that will probably define the All Blacks’ entire season.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments