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Ex-All Black accuses Ireland's Jack Crowley of 'disgusting' act in Argentina win
By Ian Cameron
Former All Blacks scrumhalf Steve Devine has accused an Ireland player of ‘disgusting’ behaviour in their win over Argentina on Friday night.
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Ireland were unconvincing 22-19 victors over Felipe Contepomi’s Los Pumas at the Aviva Stadium, as Andy Farrell’s team continue to face up to a potential crisis of confidence.
Indeed it was a rocky start for the men in green when Argentinian centre Matias Moroni intercepted a pass to race through for an apparent 5-pointer, only for the referee to call back the action to head contact on Ireland’s Jack Crowley back in Argentina’s 22.
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The try was scrubbed off and Moroni was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.
SENZ radio pundit Steve Devine and 10-cap All Black was not happy and has made a serious accusation against Crowley and the wider Ireland team in general.
“I used to be a great fan of the Irish. I used to love how they played rugby and now I think it’s all been brought undone by negative rugby in terms of Jack Crowley. [He] Gets a little touch on the head, and you there’s been a lot of hard men that have played rugby very hard over the years for Ireland, I think it’s all been undone by this soccer mentality. You get hit in the head and you go done like you’re injured and it cost Argentina.
“I think if we’re upset with the match officials out of the French game, then if you are an Argentinian fan I think you’d swear never to watch rugby again because of the adjudication of that game.
“Argentina score a great try after five minutes and it gets brought back to the other end of the field because Jack Crowley got a finger laid on his head and he fell over screaming. It was barely a touch. There was then a penalty in the corner and they took the penalty and scored a try.
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“It was basically a 14-point turnaround. And Crowley doesn’t have to go with a suspected head injury even though he fell to the ground, rolling around in pain, holding his head.”
Devine also said that it’s a behaviour of the Irish team in general, not just Crowley.
“That’s disgusting. I don’t watch soccer because we have grown men rolling around on the ground when they’re injured. I don’t want to see it and like, you know, if that’s what Ireland have got to resort to win matches then I don’t want nothing to do with them, I’ve had enough of them.
“It’s unacceptable. It should be called out by the players, it should be called out by the fans, it’s unacceptable. I don’t [sic] agree when Nic White done it a few years ago against South Africa, I don’t agree now.
“This is a hard game, if you’re not hard enough to play like a man then remove yourself from it and go and play touch or something. It grates me, I’ve had enough of it and I don’t want to see it. I hope, because of that, if Ireland keep doing it, because they have been doing, that there’s a massive fall from grace for them.”
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Steve Devine, quite the emotional outburst and what a hard man. And all the hard men end up with concussions, early onset diseases and challenges and worse. Thanks for standing up for all the real men Steve. If you were a real man you would have some self compassion and compassion for others and believe in the future of rugby as a safe game. Cut out this nonsense and vitriol and go listen to and work on your own emotions.
This is a disgraceful by Steve Deveine. Actually quite unhinged, attacking the whole Irish team, and their ethos. Also in the current correct drive to prtect players from head injury, this is the comment of a prehistoric dinosaur.
However I do believe Crowley should have gone off for an HIA...it was a significant impact.
This is becoming very common in rugby teams trying to convince the ref to give cards
What a Muppet! The ref didn't cost them game, Crawley didn't collect the ball as a result of the high hit, no high hit no turnover to Argentina to lead to the disallowed try.
Players milking penalties and injuries isn't new to rugby, to lambast Ireland for it is ridiculous. Clearly he hasnt watched many games with nic white, Farrell, Aaron smith, FAF or any other halfbacks. Let's not forget Sexton and his legendary dives. Players will always look to get an advantage on the field, it's literally their job.
What is it with kiwi pundits and thinking the timing of the call matters more than the offense. A knock after 5 phases is still a knock on. A high hit after 3 phases is still a high hit. First whinging about the RWC forward pass in 2007 not being picked up. Now everything is picked up and it's ruining the game. Pick a side.
My takeaway from the game was that Ireland are a team in decline.
It's a very old squad, and you wonder how long the likes of JGP, Lowe, Aki, Murray, Henshaw, Ringrose, Healy - all players in their early to mid 30's will be able to continue to perform.
When you have a 35-year-old in Murray replacing JGP for the AB game is very telling and that a 37 Cian Healy is still playing at this level, which means as he only plays limited minutes running down World Class talent Porter into the ground.
That Argentina was able to chase Ireland down and be in a position to draw or win in the last play of the game was telling. A couple of years ago, Argentina would have been blown off the park but now...
So yip, I think by the 2027 WC Ireland will very much have fallen back into the pack - will still have a great pack but will not be among the favourites for the WC.
The spuds have benefited most from the fannification of Rugby. How often have they played against 14 players over the last few years?
Your stats. to back that up, MP ?
Not another Kiwi complaining about the TMO. Seriously, stop whinging, concentrate on the wife beaters on your team you nasty little colonist clown.
"I don’t want to see it and like, you know, if that’s what Ireland have got to resort to win matches then I don’t want nothing to do with them, I’ve had enough of them."
NZ have two men who beat the sh1t out of their wives in their squad. Their team abuses beaten opponents. Yet Crowley holds his face after a significant blow and this guy "don't want nothing to do with" Ireland. What a fuking clown. 🤡
Some of these Kiwis have their heads so far up their own arses they can see out of their mouth.
Soon Ireland might go the way of Wales. Yes I know you say that will never happen but so did the Welsh and look at them go. By next world cup the only Nh contender left will be Franch. Lucky for them they are not part of the B & I pretenders.
I'm disturbed how you use the issue of feigning injury, not that I saw it as that, with unrelated domestic violence. The only 'wife beater ' I'm aware of in the NZ squad is Sevu Reece, who was found guilty of assaulting his then girlfriend now-wife. He was punished by the courts and was left without a rugby contract as a result. It was only due to an injury that he was picked up by the Crusaders and then selected by the All Blacks. Domestic violence is never acceptable but if someone pleads guilty and eeks to make amends should they not be given a second chance? To use his abhorrent behaviour in the past on a serious issue as a cheap shot to win points on a rugby commentary, is something that i would hope to be beneath most respectable people.
Clear, significant head contact by Moroni into Crowley's bridge and forehead (you can see Crowley's head fly back) . Moroni didn't lower and failed to wrap. Terrible technique, terrible timing. Mitigation was Crowley was rising. Yellow card all year.
Devine's argument seems to be "If you think NZ were robbed in Paris, just watch the Argentina game."
Just another case of whinging Kiwi.
Imagine Nic White and Jack Crowley as a halfback combination - at the end of the game they could curtsey to the stands and kiss their opponents on the cheek.
Just another case of SH "supporters" setting up Irish players to be pantomine villains.
Clear significant head contact and dangerous play. The commentator in the article uses it to imply both NZ and Argentina were robbed at the weekend. Just another case of whinging Kiwi.
Steve Devine being his usual vile self. That's literally all I associate this guy with now.
which football team do you support?
Any penalty for head contact should see the affected player leave the field immediately for an HIA. You can't have it both ways. Either the rule is there to protect players or it's not.
I don’t agree. Not all head contact equals concussion which is what the HIAs are for. We’d be penalizing players for being tackled high with mandatory HIAs which is ridiculous. They didn’t tackle themselves. Nor do they issue the penalties. Or make the calls.
You can have head contact and not have serious injury. Which is what the penalties are for - to discourage high and dangerous hits so that they don’t occur and result in head injuries. Discourage the behavior.
Bang on
Hum, Google " Meafou Lomax video" and you will find something to talk about behaviors....