If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying
One of the good parts about the Mitre 10 Cup, aside from the often frivolous attempts at defence, is the opportunity for a lot of players to try new things. Counties-Manukau’s Augustine Pulu certainly got in on the act against Bay of Plenty, with this memorable way of stopping play and opposition momentum.
Savvy move by Augustine Pulu stopping the momentum. Crafty halfback. #BOPvCOU #Mitre10Cup pic.twitter.com/uESxDXHsM3
— Jamie Wall (@JamieWall2) September 24, 2017
It truly was an inspired act of gamesmanship. There’s no specific rule against demolishing the goal post, at least not yet, but it left the referee with no choice but to order a scrum for safety’s sake.
While Pulu’s antics didn’t stop BOP from scoring on the next play, it definitely deserves a spot in the pantheon of great moments in both successful and unsuccessful rugby cheating. Rest easy Aaron Smith, this is only for on-field indiscretions:
Who throws a shoe? Honestly? – Serial pest and permanent fake tan owner Nick Phipps found himself in possession of Malaki Fekitoa’s boot in a Bledisloe Cup test at Westpac Stadium, so did the grubbiest thing possible and hurled it 20 rows into the stands. It didn’t help his Wallaby side as they went down 29-9, but it wasn’t out of character for Phipps given that he also once dropped his shoulder on an Argentine physio running off the field.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQKTVDQGH6I
Hail to the King – Richie McCaw, long reviled by non-New Zealanders as the greatest cheat to ever enter a ruck sideways, saved his best act of rule breaking for a crucial moment against the Wallabies. Down 22-9 with 15 minutes to go, the skipper switched to the blindside of the scrum and then detached before the ball was out – giving him an acre of space on winger James O’Connor when Kieran Read passes him the ball. Some regard McCaw as an immortal, which is just as well because this try defies physical logic if it somehow doesn’t break any laws.
https://youtu.be/LYKSHZ1yhhE?t=7m43s
The world’s worst Hollywood – Simaika Mikaele isn’t a household name in the rugby world, but he brought the local Samoan sevens scene to the attention of the world with this woefully hilarious episode. After receiving little more than a tap to the cheek, his cowardly flop to the ground brought forth howls of laughter from not only the crowd, but the opposition, his own team and even the referee. Instead of penalising him for bringing the game of rugby into disrepute, the man with the whistle simply let him off with a pat on the back.
They’re still talking about this one in Wales – Yes, the Andy Haden lineout dive has been done to death, but it’s worth another look these days to just really get a feel of how doubly cynical it really was. The All Black lock’s journey to the ground is about as believable as a Donald Trump election promise, but if you look closely you can see Frank Oliver doing more or less the same thing. Their combined floppery certainly fooled the ref, who awarded the game winning penalty to the All Blacks.
Rugby’s slimiest man – French fullback Yoann Huget has made the news for stamping on the face of an opponent and then pretending to be concerned about his wellbeing, and also getting used as a speed bump by Rene Ranger at Eden Park. However, his most shithouse act would have to be this effort for Toulouse against Bath that could’ve scored him a contract for any Premier League Football club.
Comments on RugbyPass
This is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
85 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
19 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to comments