Antipodean Random Ravings 5

I hear a lot of complaints over the effective banning of rucking and we start to think that the game has gone so soft just because of reaction by the uninitiated to scenes on TV and that the risks of injury are mere pretexts.

The nancification of rucking, scrumming, where will it end?

Everyone knows that Samoa takes on England this weekend.

In widely distributed news outlets the All Black great, Michael Jones now the Samoan coach. laments the softening of the tackle and says if he were taking up the game he'd plump for rugby league.

Michael Jones (All Black) now the Samoan coach.

"We're having to change our style and tone down things, because it's crucial to avoid yellow and red cards, but it goes against the grain because it's part of our DNA to tackle hard. There's no malicious intent. It's just good, hard, physical tackling. If we don't get in big, strong, early hits, the opposition can get into their stride. They start thinking, 'Well, it's not as bad as we thought it would be.' That's what happened against Tonga.

"I understand that we're trying to ensure safety. We were pre-warned, there were clear lines on what was not acceptable, and we've had a few weeks to stress that with our boys. But it's interesting what Jerry Collins said about the game getting sanitised for young Pacific players. If it carries on, I'll be telling my son to go play rugby league. And if I were playing now, I think I'd go and play rugby league."

At least the Georgians have added a muscular aspect to the game, a sort of hybrid wrestling. I guess that will be banned soon.

I'm not asking to bring back the biff, just shake out the wuss.

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