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Emerging Ireland accused of gamesmanship after 3-nil tour of SA
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.
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.”
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.”
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
Ireland has overtaken South Africa with that stuff but the irony is palpable.
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.
Saffas complaining about slowing a game down? Words fail me....
The proverbial pot and kettle...
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.
This is now the professional era. Players are bigger, stronger and fitter. Player welfare is taken more seriously because careers are on the line.
Players feigning injuries is a blight on the game.
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
They’re not in the URC
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.
What a whingy whining bunch
He does have a point though it is a blight on the game. Take the Irish tour to nz where don't get me wrong played amazing rugby and easily the better team 20 crazy Eden Park minutes aside but Peter O’Mahony spent more time with medical staff than he did hitting rucks and tackling which is saying something as he did loads of both.