If you thought rugby was just a gentleman’s game, think again. The All Blacks, once the paragons of play, have now morphed into what some are calling the bad boys of the rugby world. Gregor Paul of the New Zealand Herald didn't mince words after New Zealand’s shocking loss to Argentina 29-23 in Buenos Aires, branding the team “rugby’s equivalent of an organised crime syndicate.”
This spicy take came hot on the heels of a match where the All Blacks saw not one, not two, but three players banished to the sin-bin. Will Jordan, Tupou Vaa’i, and Sevu Reece were all sidelined for what Paul describes as “avoidable acts,” leaving their team to fend off the spirited Pumas with fewer hands on deck.
Argentina, seizing the moment, recorded their first-ever home win against the All Blacks in 16 attempts, a feat that was as historic as it was dramatic. “However good Argentina were, and however much they deserved their first home victory against New Zealand, there is no getting away from the fact that the All Blacks picking up three yellow cards in a 35-minute spell had an enormous bearing on the outcome,” Paul noted.
"The All Blacks have become rugby’s equivalent of an organised crime syndicate"
The string of penalties isn't a new trend. With a rap sheet that includes two yellow cards from last week and seven in last year’s Rugby Championship, it's clear there’s a pattern. “Equally, there is no doubt that having picked up two yellow cards last week, and seven in last year’s Rugby Championship, the All Blacks have a simultaneous claim to be considered both the dumbest and dirtiest team in world rugby,” Paul added.
It seems the All Blacks’ aggressive tactics may stem from a deeper cultural playbook. “The All Blacks are merely displaying learned behaviour… from junior club, to 1st XV, through to Super Rugby, they are coached to push the boundaries and get away with what they can,” explained Paul.
The big question for coach Scott Robertson now is how to rein in the chaos. “Finding a way to play 80 minutes with 15 men is the first and most pressing problem Robertson needs to fix,” Paul stated, hinting at a much-needed shift in team discipline if New Zealand hopes to maintain their top dog status in rugby.
While the All Blacks are licking their wounds and plotting their comeback, the rugby world watches with bated breath. Will they clean up their act, or is the rough-and-tumble part of their game here to stay? Only time will tell, but for now, the Rugby Championship remains wide open.
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If you thought rugby was just a gentleman’s game, think again. The All Blacks, once the paragons of play, have now morphed into what some are calling the bad boys of the rugby world. Gregor Paul of the New Zealand Herald didn't mince words after New Zealand’s shocking loss to Argentina 29-23 in Buenos Aires, branding the team “rugby’s equivalent of an organised crime syndicate.”
This spicy take came hot on the heels of a match where the All Blacks saw not one, not two, but three players banished to the sin-bin. Will Jordan, Tupou Vaa’i, and Sevu Reece were all sidelined for what Paul describes as “avoidable acts,” leaving their team to fend off the spirited Pumas with fewer hands on deck.
Argentina, seizing the moment, recorded their first-ever home win against the All Blacks in 16 attempts, a feat that was as historic as it was dramatic. “However good Argentina were, and however much they deserved their first home victory against New Zealand, there is no getting away from the fact that the All Blacks picking up three yellow cards in a 35-minute spell had an enormous bearing on the outcome,” Paul noted.
"The All Blacks have become rugby’s equivalent of an organised crime syndicate"
The string of penalties isn't a new trend. With a rap sheet that includes two yellow cards from last week and seven in last year’s Rugby Championship, it's clear there’s a pattern. “Equally, there is no doubt that having picked up two yellow cards last week, and seven in last year’s Rugby Championship, the All Blacks have a simultaneous claim to be considered both the dumbest and dirtiest team in world rugby,” Paul added.
It seems the All Blacks’ aggressive tactics may stem from a deeper cultural playbook. “The All Blacks are merely displaying learned behaviour… from junior club, to 1st XV, through to Super Rugby, they are coached to push the boundaries and get away with what they can,” explained Paul.
The big question for coach Scott Robertson now is how to rein in the chaos. “Finding a way to play 80 minutes with 15 men is the first and most pressing problem Robertson needs to fix,” Paul stated, hinting at a much-needed shift in team discipline if New Zealand hopes to maintain their top dog status in rugby.
While the All Blacks are licking their wounds and plotting their comeback, the rugby world watches with bated breath. Will they clean up their act, or is the rough-and-tumble part of their game here to stay? Only time will tell, but for now, the Rugby Championship remains wide open.