By
Meghan Peters
October 10, 2007
From field terms like “scrum” and “lineout” to muffled curses muttered in British and Australian accents, few understand the ins and outs of rugby.
Many, however, can recognize one of the biggest upsets in an international championship — France’s Les Bleus 20-18 win Sunday over the New Zealand All Blacks during the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.
“This is the greatest upset for the game, and completely renders my predictions to [crap] — and everyone else’s, nearly,” wrote Edward Basse, a rugby fan and UW alumnus, in an Internet blog.
Even Jock Hobbs, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), is in disbelief. He announced Tuesday that the union would support a review of the game by the International Rugby Board (IRB) and spoke against Wayne Barnes, the 28-year-old Englishman who refereed the game.
According to The Canadian Press, Hobbs claimed Barnes’ mistakes allowed France 17 points: 10 scored when a New Zealand player was erroneously penalized and seven for a try made by a forward pass. Television replays confirmed the pass was forward and suggested the player was wrongly accused, he added.
David Moffett, the NZRU’s former chief executive, however, put the All Blacks’ failure on coach Graham Henry’s shoulders.
“Everybody who is trying to make excuses should have a good look at themselves,” Moffett told The New Zealand Herald.
Barnes, who refereed his first professional match in February, was considered by many rugby fans to be an unlikely candidate to rule a match of such importance. He will not be assigned to any of the tournament’s remaining matches, the IRB announced yesterday.
Although his performance will be reviewed, Paddy O’Brien, referee manager for the IRB, said committee members felt Barnes called a fair match.
According to a New Zealand internet poll, about 38 percent of respondents attribute the failure to Barnes, while nearly 24 percent say it’s the team’s fault and nine percent blame Henry. The survey received more than 20,000 hits before yesterday.
Since 2004, the IRB has ranked the New Zealand All Blacks as the top team in the world. The club has been playing internationally since 1884 and won the 1987 Rugby World Cup. Before their loss to France, the All Blacks were the only team to have reached every World Cup semifinals round.
The tournament continues when France takes on England Saturday and South Africa — New Zealand’s greatest rival — competes against Argentina Sunday.
[Reach reporter Meghan Peters at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.]
4 Comments
#1 Yellow Flag
on October 10, 2007 at 3:11 p.m.(San Jose, CA | Unverified Name)
IRB should be ashame of themselves! How the hell you can let a 28 year old ruin a game as big as that! You should think about borrowing a thing or two from American Football. Time Clock showing the right freaking time. The two sideline judges should run their arse out there and look at the forward pass and all foul instead of walking as if the flag are stucked in their azz. The interpretation of the game need to be simplified so that any human being from any four corners of this world can understand end of story.
#2 David
on October 11, 2007 at 5:08 a.m.(Kingston Upon Thames, United Kingdom | Unverified Name)
I suggest that you employ, or quote, personnel who know something about Rugby Union
#3 Pete Watts
on November 11, 2007 at 6:08 p.m.(Eglinton, Australia | Unverified Name)
I used to live in NZ and now live in country NSW Australia where losing a few games isn't such a big misery and yes that word 'mourning'The All Blacks and fans say they are in after yet another loss at World Cup level.
Forget what they say the Kiwis wanted that World Cup so much and the public put their trust in Graham Henry (a washed up schoolmaster) to bring the cup back.
Why is it that a country so full of themselves can't admit they were outplayed and that when the pressure goes on they 'choke'
Incredibly over 12 minutes in the French 22 and not ONCE did the highly overrated moron Richie McCaw take the guys into a huddle to set up a drop goal which probably would have won them the game?
It is so good here in Australia as we are not as obsessed as Kiwis are and we have the capacity to admit to a loss and bounce back a la Ashes 2-3 then winning 5-0.
Kiwis (and I was one for 35 years are too full of themselves and set up the table for The World Cup to sit on before it was played out. Their arrogance and poor sportsmanship is horrific as are their disgusting fans who want blood because their precious team didn't win.
NZ had their best team in 1995 and as I read down the list in 2007 I could not find a star player, and thought this is a very beatable side.
I know all you munters will say stay in Australia we don't want you here and stay I will as I have found a sporting country full of fair go and fair play.
New Zealand just HAS to grow up!!!!
#4 James
on February 28, 2010 at 4:23 p.m.(Newbury, United Kingdom | Unverified Name)
Why are Kiwis so full of theselves? Yes they can play rugby, and yes they live in an O.K. country. But they can't win every game, and there country isn't that great. Stop pretending to be the best in the world, it's no where near the truth and you live in the middle of no where.
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