I have been quite outspoken in the past regarding the shortcomings of the IRB/SANZAR bias shown when it comes to post match citings. There has been a huge gap in the transparency and fairness of this process for some time now, but it has been marked down as more Safa whinging.

Well, last week we “whinging Safa’s” were somewhat vindicated when our good mates at Green and Gold Rugby (The Aussie rugby blog) posted a very interesting review of the All Blacks’ illegal techniques at the breakdown, and how they managed to get away with said techniques.

The video basically went viral within hours, and suddenly there was more to the alleged bias than just “Safa whinging”. It seemed as if the clear gap was becoming increasingly noticeable, and surely would result in some kind of stricter control to rectify these shortcomings.

Enter 2010 Bledisloe II, in Christchurch, where Tony Woodcock maliciously charged into Wallaby hooker, Saia Fianga, in an action that could very well have caused permanent injury to the young Wallaby. Surely with the standard set so far in this year’s competition, Woodcock would be handed his marching orders, and a subsequent ban would ensue.

This was, however, not the outcome. Woodcock was penalised, and that my friends, was the end of it, further highlighting the clear fact that the All Blacks are receiving preferential treatment in regards with what they can and can’t do in the field of play.

I have put together this clip, making a comparison between this weekend’s incident and a similar incident during the 2009 B&I Lions tour to South Africa, in which Bakkies Botha was cited and received a 2 week ban.

I understand that many of you might not like the example I have used, as it is from last season, and Bakkies Botha is a serial offender, it is however just an example to put things into context, take it as that, and you decide which is worse:

*Note: I have left the original sound in so you can hear the commentators’ reactions

Woodcock VS Fianga compared to Botha VS Jones [BlogSpotRugby]

  • Are the All Blacks receiving preferential treatment? When will this bullshit end? It’s killing the beautiful game!
  • The Citing Commissioner must have been pissed! Try a Castle Lite mate!