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Emerging Ireland accused of gamesmanship after 3-nil tour of SA

Brian Deeny of Emerging Ireland during the Toyota Challenge match between Airlink Pumas and Emerging Ireland at Toyota Stadium on October 05, 2022 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Photo by Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The Emerging Ireland team will celebrate an unbeaten three-match tour of South Africa. However, their hosts are fuming over the obvious and blatant gamesmanship employed during the Challenge Series they competed in.

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The Irish visitors edged the Cheetahs 21-14 in a scrappy and dull game in Bloemfontein this past Sunday.

However, they have not won any new supporters in the Republic.

Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie said the most frustrating aspect of the loss was the manner in which the game was slowed down – an well-documented Irish tactic that also caused the exasperation of South African teams on the Highveld in the United Rugby Championship.

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It is claimed the first half between the Cheetahs and the Irish lasted 56 minutes and close to two hours for the entire match.

The visitors were booed in Bloemfontein for their constant delaying tactics that saw all three of their games taking just about two hours to complete.

“We can’t continue playing games like this, allowing teams and players to slow the game down,” Fourie said.

“Every time the referee blew his whistle, two medics were running onto the field looking for someone [to treat].

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“They [World Rugby] implement [regulations for] water breaks [to supposedly speed up the game], but all things like this.

“It is just not making sense. The problem is that the referee can’t say you are not injured.

“If you look as though you are injured, he must allow the medical staff to look at you.

“However, it was clear as daylight for anyone what they tried to achieve.”

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Fourie said he watched a game in the series earlier in the week – between the same Irish team and the Pumas – and it was a big bore.

“I can imagine how it must be for young children. They don’t come to the game to see stoppages and water breaks.

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“We want to entertain,” the Cheetahs coach said, adding: “That is the business we are in.

“Obviously we [the Cheetahs] have to win and play better rugby.

“However, there are a lot of issues around the game that has to be revisited.”

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Comments

16 Comments
s
sidney 772 days ago

Play on, with the exception of the scrum, if you’ve taken a knock go to the sideline for treatment or wait until a natural break in play then get the player off the park & treat him, if an injury is that bad a bit of manipulation by 3 medics isn’t gonna make a difference assess the injury off the park & either send him back on or sub him, as they did in days gone bye you can still have a line out without all the forwards

R
Ruby 772 days ago

Ireland has overtaken South Africa with that stuff but the irony is palpable.

R
Richie 773 days ago

Ireland were up against bigger and stronger men so it is no surprise that when they put their bodies on the line they were getting injured. The SA commentary was an absolute joke for the most part. It’s no wonder we keep hearing constant whinging and blatant bias from their supporters. It is bred into them.

A
Andrew 773 days ago

Saffas complaining about slowing a game down? Words fail me....

m
mikejjules 773 days ago

The proverbial pot and kettle...

J
Jackson 773 days ago

When I was referring back in 1990s we "played on" unless injuries were really bad. This was when player needed to be helped from the field. That kept the game moving nicely. Far to many "football" injuries (so called injuries) have crept into Union these days.

P
Peter 773 days ago

Players feigning injuries is a blight on the game.

s
sebastiaan 773 days ago

wow i am a cheetah supporter no matter what , but this sunday i realized the cheetahs does not belong in a europian championship if this type of grade 3 schoolboy rugby is what Hawies fourie coach his troops . no offence Hawies but really stop whinning please . the cheetahs is playing dull backline rugby . They were outplayed in every aspect of the game by a young hungry irish side that wants to play in national colors. Cheetah players please live the dream of becoming a springbok and not go onto the pitch to earn your monthly salary . work on your pride to becoming the best

k
kevin 774 days ago

Every time a South African re loose be it a club or the international side loose it’s met by a chorus of whinging from SA fans and coaches. I mean in this instance it’s not like an SA side tried to break up play and slow down the clock.

B
Brian 774 days ago

What a whingy whining bunch

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Hellhound 20 minutes ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

Rassie has done very well with the Boks. The well will certainly not dry up soon. The amount of young talent coming through, that don't even stand a chance of making it in before 2027, is just absolutely amazing.


However, Rassie has proven to be a rugby genius. He will never rest on his laurels. It's why he keeps evolving tactics, keeping everyone on their toes. He doesn't underestimate any team. He is very aware of just how close the top teams is.


There will be no complacency not will he relax with his main stars. He is very astute, knowing that his team is getting older and thus giving the younger players much more playtime than what any other coach would do.


By the time the 2027 WC comes around, he will be prepared to defend his title and he knows one bad day will end a triple WC crown. Competition is that close. The Boks are in transition, even though it doesn't look like it.


After the 2027 WC, most of the double (possible triple) WC champs players will become unavailable due to retirement from international rugby. Rassie is already preparing the replacements, getting caps under their belts.


The top teams is just too close to underestimate and no Bok will be allowed to get complacent. Although they are by far the current most successful team and clearly the best by miles, they are not undefeatable.


Very tough to beat yes, but they can lose on the day. I am not worried. The youngsters by 2027 WC will be experienced with lots of years ahead and that should be a warning to the rest of the pack biting at their heels. Love them or hate them, but you have to admire the Boks. They truely deserve to be top dogs currently.

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