In a dramatic twist of rugby fate, several ex-All Blacks have come out swinging in defense of Springbok giant Lood de Jager, whose sending off in the clash against France sparked more debates than a bar brawl at closing time. Lood, the human tower, was red-carded for a questionable head-high challenge on French fullback Thomas Ramos, setting the rugby world abuzz.
Former All Blacks prop Angus Ta?avao was particularly vocal, suggesting that expecting de Jager to lower his altitude further was asking the man to defy physics. "How tall is Lood de Jager – two-plus metres? I don’t think he could’ve got any lower," Ta'avao lamented on The Breakdown.
"The whole red-card process was confusing. For me, that’s not a full-blown red where you’re gone for 40 minutes."
Ex-All Blacks flyhalf Stephen Donald chimed in, criticizing the slow-motion review for making a mountain out of a molehill. "In real time it looks completely different to slow-mo. He’d already dipped and committed to that tackle height. Slow it down and Ramos is on his knees and looks a sitting duck – real time tells another story," said Donald.
Mils Muliaina, another All Blacks legend, also expressed his displeasure over the clarity of the red-card process. "I don’t like that we ended up with a straight red you can’t replace, but the pathway to get there was messy," Muliaina pointed out. "If it’s a red, say so – don’t blur it with the review process."
Despite the controversy, praise was also heaped on the Springboks' ability to keep their cool under the French onslaught.
"They withstood a huge early barrage, then changed the pace at set piece,"
Muliaina observed, highlighting the Boks' strategic adaptability that left the hefty French pack gasping for air.
Donald also applauded the Boks’ resilience. "Early on the French forwards threw all of their weight around what, a 930kg pack? They started to get some dominance. But the Boks still found ways to win moments," he noted.
The season has been marked as a success for the Springboks, with an insider noting, "South Africa know how to win, pure and simple. They handle pressure, they can change their game, and they’ve continued to grow while giving others opportunities."
As the dust settles, the debates will no doubt continue, but one thing is clear: the Springboks and their towering enforcer Lood de Jager remain as formidable as ever, both on and off the field.
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In a dramatic twist of rugby fate, several ex-All Blacks have come out swinging in defense of Springbok giant Lood de Jager, whose sending off in the clash against France sparked more debates than a bar brawl at closing time. Lood, the human tower, was red-carded for a questionable head-high challenge on French fullback Thomas Ramos, setting the rugby world abuzz.
Former All Blacks prop Angus Ta?avao was particularly vocal, suggesting that expecting de Jager to lower his altitude further was asking the man to defy physics. "How tall is Lood de Jager – two-plus metres? I don’t think he could’ve got any lower," Ta'avao lamented on The Breakdown.
"The whole red-card process was confusing. For me, that’s not a full-blown red where you’re gone for 40 minutes."
Ex-All Blacks flyhalf Stephen Donald chimed in, criticizing the slow-motion review for making a mountain out of a molehill. "In real time it looks completely different to slow-mo. He’d already dipped and committed to that tackle height. Slow it down and Ramos is on his knees and looks a sitting duck – real time tells another story," said Donald.
Mils Muliaina, another All Blacks legend, also expressed his displeasure over the clarity of the red-card process. "I don’t like that we ended up with a straight red you can’t replace, but the pathway to get there was messy," Muliaina pointed out. "If it’s a red, say so – don’t blur it with the review process."
Despite the controversy, praise was also heaped on the Springboks' ability to keep their cool under the French onslaught.
"They withstood a huge early barrage, then changed the pace at set piece,"
Muliaina observed, highlighting the Boks' strategic adaptability that left the hefty French pack gasping for air.Donald also applauded the Boks’ resilience. "Early on the French forwards threw all of their weight around what, a 930kg pack? They started to get some dominance. But the Boks still found ways to win moments," he noted.
The season has been marked as a success for the Springboks, with an insider noting, "South Africa know how to win, pure and simple. They handle pressure, they can change their game, and they’ve continued to grow while giving others opportunities."
As the dust settles, the debates will no doubt continue, but one thing is clear: the Springboks and their towering enforcer Lood de Jager remain as formidable as ever, both on and off the field.