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Watch: Jerome Kaino blindsides Higginbotham with concrete shoulder

Jerome Kaino escaped on-field sanction for a brutal flying shoulder into Higginbotham’s spine during his final home game for the Blues at Eden Park, but minutes later Taniela Tupou was less lucky. The young man know as Tongan Thor went in for a classic grasscutter, taking out two blokes in one fell swoop, but was pulled up by the TMO and binned for a dangerous no-arms tackle.

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Could this be the ellusive evidence of referee bias towards NZ teams that folks have been braying about? Could this be a case of referees turning a blind eye during the big occasion? Jerome Kaino, a great All Black, a world cup winner, will always be remembered for the hardness of his shoulder, but this parting impact tarnishes that legacy somewhat.

After watching the two incidents side by side and considering the danger of each act, it’s hard to justify the disparity of the on-field judgements.

Whilst commentator Andrew Mehrtens highlights the danger to knees and ankles following Tupou’s no-arms tackle, surely the greater concern should be for Scott Higginbotham’s spine? The big Red was totally blindsided by what can only be described as a very cheap shot.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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