Hurricanes 19 Waratahs 14

[erilyn]

I am fucking ropeable. It's one thing to lose the game (and the chance to host the semi-final next week) to a better team. And the Hurricanes played very well at times, they were certainly moving the ball around very quickly and their defense was virtually impenetrable.

It's a completely different matter to lose to a team that is playing by a completely different set of rules (ie very few) because the referee is that fucking incompetent. Honestly, I would be embarassed to be a Hurricanes fan after that display, it was disgusting. Offside constantly, dangerously high tackles, professional fouls etc. If there was any justice, there would have been more than two players sent off.

My throat is sore from all the hollering and screaming I did. I haven't heard such a vocal crowd all season - pity so much of it was (not unreasonable) screaming at the ref.

Here's hoping for a better ref next week, when we play again in the semi. We might win, they might win, as long as its a level playing field.

Of course, the Waratahs prep would have been completely disrupted by the news this afternoon that the fucking moron Wendall Sailor has been suspended indefinitely, (rumoured to be to testing positive for a banned substance, further rumoured to be a recreational drug, further rumoured to be cocaine, all to be taken with large grain of salt, naturally). His rugby career must be all but over now, he was on his last chance as it was.

Comments

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the game... but as a Wellingtonian I apologise. Was Tana playing? I think the Hurricanes might be going a little nasty without his influence.

[sproke-ina-can.livejournal.com]

Don't you dare apologise! How dare you! We won, WE won! You bring shame to the H's & Welly fans *shakes head*

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he was playing. But the ref let them get away with murder, and they ran with it. Probably would have won anyway, but if you see the game, it's the second half that was particularly poorly referee'd (see how much they have to do to actually get a player sent off).

There was a game a few weeks ago, can't remember which one, but the opposition player who was named as Man of the Match (while deserving it on play) should have been sent off at least once during the game, and I was so annoyed that someone with such lousy sportsmanship should win that honour.

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

I used to go to every rugby game and was completely fanatical until I was about 20 (ok so that's 15 year ago *gulp*) but after the game went professional and, imo, the sportsmanship went out the window.

It's all got too serious now and the players got exhausted with the multitude of competitions. It stopped seeming like fun to me and the audiences got less fanatical and more rabidly aggro. I also can't stand the way the entirety of the NZ population goes into nasty, snipey mourning and knife-sticking if the AB's lose a match. /bitterness about the last rugby world cup...

I am disappointed with Tana though. He's not always a good boy... but having now seen some of the tackles from last night it doesn't seem like a great game (although *heh* you're right about the 'canes deserving to win ;o)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

My current least-favourite thing about cashed-up professional rugby is the huge sums of money they are spending acquiring league players to convert. If a league player wants to change and is good enough, that's one thing. Spending huge sums of money to lure them over when it could be spent developing young rugby players is wasteful and annoying.

[sproke-ina-can.livejournal.com]

But the Hurricans rock!
If the Warratars had actually *used* the ball when they had the chance, i.e. when there were 14 Hurricanes on the field for a whole 20mins, then it would be a different story. Sure H's did a few naugties, but it's not our fault we got away with it! Also, W's should have kicked for goal when they had the chance! C'mon! you can't blame everything on the H's and the ref!

PS, of course Tana *sigh* played - he played exceptionally well :)

[sproke-ina-can.livejournal.com]

Oh, pps, we cheated a little, but so did you... how bout that "try" huh?

We play different rules at the tackle ball, and the sideline isn't out for you.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Did you read my post? I mentioned how well the Hurricanes played. They didn't need to do all the crap they did, especially with the way we were playing. I wasn't explicit, but my last paragraph was in reference to how all over the place the Waratahs were, which I think was at least in part due to the off-field issues, and part of a end-of-season downturn we've been having.

Sure H's did a few naugties, but it's not our fault we got away with it!

I don't give a flying fuck if the ref was crap, that doesn't excuse blatantly illegal play. I've boo'ed my own team at times (Waratahs and Wallabies) when they've done dodgy stuff (I never liked Sam Scott-Young for instance, the man was a grub). Call me old-fashioned, but I don't have a "winning is everything and excuses anything" attitude, sportsmanship should never be abandoned.

Yes, Phil Waugh's try was doubtful, I'm surprised it didn't go to the TMO (which has been overused this season in my opinion). The touchjudge was right there though, looking down the line as he came in, and from the replays, he could be on the line or right next to it.