In the dock: Andrew Hore
New Zealand hooker Andrew Hore has been cited for his clash with Wales lock Bradley Davies in the opening minutes on Saturday.
Neither referee Craig Joubert nor his assistants saw the ugly incident, but New Zealand coach Steve Hansen admitted he expected his hooker to be cited.
Wales coach Warren Gatland was enraged by the incident.
"It does not look the best in the world. It looks like he (Davies) has been caught from behind,' he said.
"You do not associate the All Blacks as being a side that resort to cheap shots, and I hope that is not the case and that maybe it was an accident.
"Bradley was a big loss to us and it took us a bit of time to cope."
Comments
bigb6969 says...
dropkick says...I totally agree with you, of course we are both of a mind that Hore gets a ban because it was pretty bad. From behind you can see him stumble and that landed his knee accidentally. You can "sort of" defend an incident like this, like the Samoan guy who smashed the Welsh guy in the face last week, he was cleaning out the ruck as happens and his shoulder contacted with the face, was there a citing ? A head high could also be accidental act, as they are taking an action that is part of the game, but high (and rightly punished, sometimes)
However can't defend an eye gouge, head butt, and flying elbows, acts that have not the slightest part of the game
I feel the punishment will be harder than Andy Powell got in 2010 because McCaw got back up.
Posted 00:56 26th November 2012
simojukes says...
plain and simple it was a disgusting act from Hore. glad to see most people agree as well.
As an Englishman i thought that the ban on Thompson was ludicrous, and just people getting too precious, the scot even said he thought it was an accident. And yet the IRB appealed to have it extended by another week... very silly. This matter on the other hand, should see a lengthy ban. Hartley got 8 weeks for biting a while back, i fully expect this to be at least the same length. i justify that length by the fact that a finger was stuck in hartley's mouth, so he bit (very silly of him) but none the less its a human reaction. what Hore did was clearly premeditated, and was an act intending to cause harm, i would liken it more to calum clark and the breaking of rob hawkins' arm (although obviously not quite as extreme!)
this is one of the occasions where the TMO having the power in the norther hemisphere to intervene on acts of foul play should have been used in these test. Joubert even saw it on the big screen in the stadium, but knew there was nothing he could do, that must be very frustrating for a ref.
Posted 00:41 26th November 2012
Isograford says...
Well i see people like Eddie Butler are spouting off about the All Blacks having a long history of thuggery. What rubbish. I'm pretty sure most teams have had their share of actual serial thugs (Grewcock, Hartley, Bakkies etc)., or players who do a stupid act once in a while
Hore is not generally a cheap shot player, and yes he deserves a good ban for his stupidity, but the whole blowing out of proportion stuff by the British Press and fans is just laughable. All these end of year tours by the All Blacks do is confirm how bitter most of the fans over there are.
Posted 00:34 26th November 2012
prenton says...
Unfortunately for Hore the outcome of his actions couldn't have been predicted. There was 'little' swinging arm involved, more a friendly yank to remove a player in a illegal position (you will note that the Welsh player was impeding the ruck forming and not taking the most obvious path to get back onside). To me it looks like the Welsh player got knocked out hitting the deck, either from the initial impact or Hore tripping over him.
You see all the time players doing exactly what Hore did with no detriment to the offending opposition.
Just unfortunate, hopefully no more that 2 weeks ban and the English press can move on back to bagging their own team again.
Posted 23:42 25th November 2012
Sharkies says...
Ahhh, and the Boks are dirty......Minimum 8 weeks I reckon. the AB's are as dirty as any other team, funny how you think the Welsh guy was at fault. The reason why McCaw gets biffed is he is in the ruck/offside slowing the ball down but the AB's can never do any wrong......
Posted 23:15 25th November 2012
cliffguy says...
jamangod is hilarious; 'Hore's clumsiness' -- that was the best 'clumsy' punch I've see for a long time! OK the ABs are a dirty, violent side, we know that,and it is a real pity, because they are so full of ability that I don't think they need to do it! But to violently take out a key opposition player in minute 1 of a test is beyond belief. I suppose NZ is a long.long way from civilisation......
Posted 23:09 25th November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
In full motion (referee time) i didn't think it that bad! but after watching a few replays..well it looks far worse. Hore (seal killer) is a FOOL..It is clear the All Blacks expect their hooker to get a lengthy suspension. Jabba Hansons words are
"If there is an incident and if you've done it, you've done it. You've got to take accountability, ownership and responsibility for it," n.z herald. The immediate outcry to Hore's act implies the All Blacks used thuggish, cowardly and disgraceful tactics. That perception in the northern hemisphere is normal...And the only reason they think we win I reckon (cant be that we are better). The sad truth is the all blacks pride themselves at being good at everything they possibly can..which includes being physical & not taking a backwards step! as our opposition will do nothing less. SA has proven that the best way to beat the AB's is to hustle & harras us into mistakes.
Posted 23:09 25th November 2012
melkdave says...
Was there any dought he wuld becited for such a cheap shot??.Should be a 8-12 week /game ban ,but given what a mess the citing process is atm ,anything is possible .
Posted 22:56 25th November 2012
Spartacus says...
Looked at this a few times, and believe it was entirely accidental rather than a cheap shot. NZ get away with a lot, but it will be a travesty if Hore gets the book thrown at him for this. At worse you could call him clumsy and make hime wear a dunce hat, but no more.
Posted 22:39 25th November 2012
dropkick says...
Looks bad and Hore should be disciplined accordingly. All the froth and foam is a bit over the top however. Two points to note. ABs regularly the targets of off the ball treatment. Richie McCaw is almost constantly biffed, belted, held down and kneed in the head by all and sundry. Second you will note that the Welsh player placed himslef directly in the line of fire by attempting the obstruct ABs setting up ruck - the oldest trick in the book (and before the trolls fire up I will note that players like Ali Williams and one or two others play out this little drollery repeatedly but the worst offenders are SA and England). I'm not saying the Welshman got what was coming to him by any stretch but the question that won't get asked and should be is WTF was he doing there in the first place.
Posted 22:25 25th November 2012
SilverSurfer says...
Presumably he will get the same punishment that Andy Powell got for his cheap shot on McCaw in 2010.
Posted 22:17 25th November 2012
isthatrightref says...
Time for a ref who knows or suspects that somehing untoward has happened that neither he nor his assistants have seen to have recourse to the TMO. It won't be perfect but it'll be a helluva lot better than this: everyone inside the Stadium knowing damn well that a player should've been sent off but the ref's hands are tied.
Posted 22:09 25th November 2012
bigb6969 says...
i should think so, his only hope of not being cited would have been to do it Ritchie McCaw. Unlike the regular offenses against the ABs on tour this will not be swept under the rug.
I can sort of see what he was doing, clearing out a trailing player into the ruck. Later in the game Conrad Smith was trailing into the ruck, and he was tackled by the Welsh player straight into the ruck, tackled in the back, and Wales got a penalty out of it for Smith joining the Welsh side of the ruck. From the side it it was not so obvious, I think it was more accidental rather than deliberate, he stumbled going to the ruck. However I would certainly expect at least 4 weeks, even if not deliberate, and a review from the video ref would probably be a red card.
Unlike some other coaches (Pdivvy and Robbie Deans) he admits to see it and expecting a citing
Posted 21:58 25th November 2012
curveball says...
The use of the word "clash" in this article might be a bit generous, the following terms are used by the NZ Herald - cheap shot, swinging arm, thuggery and crass stiff arm
Posted 21:49 25th November 2012
SoftPom says...
A pretty dumb move by Hore indeed, and given his age, I'd be surprised to see him wear the black jersey ever again. However, having seen Gatland's post-match press conference, I think he was suprisingly subdued about the incident. Quite the opposite of 'enraged'.
Posted 21:44 25th November 2012
Cats_Meow says...
Putting aside any and all past incidents, intent, premeditation, purpose, what ever... the fact is - he knocked a player out and put him in hospital with a swinging arm. This action requires the correct amount of legislated punishment. IRB, stick to the facts.
And PR, surely you can stick to your word and review all comments before posting them. People are entitled to their opinions but surely you have the right to disallow posts from idiots who condone or congratulate violent behaviour... no?
Posted 21:32 25th November 2012
Mjmack says...
I'm pretty embarrased by what Andrew Hore did over the weekend, no place for him or that sort of thing in Rugby, as a Kiwi we enthuse over the All Black brand but not this. He deserves everything he gets. He's always been a bit suspect, this the guy who was convicted for shooting seals off the Otago Coastline from a boat on his way back from a fishing trip! He is a good player...but his antics have no place on a rugby field or in an All Black team, the Highlanders are welcome to him. Shame as it really did deflect from another (mostly) very good AB performance
Posted 21:29 25th November 2012
marko72 says...
Apparently Davies had shepherded Hore to touch while he chased a ball in the previous play, so obviously he deserved what he got... '(
Posted 21:11 25th November 2012
swiwi says...
I trust he gets a big ban. Cowardly act, for which I felt ashamed. Wales, our apologies!
Posted 20:43 25th November 2012
jmanngod says...
This is a pity. Stats show that the ABs are the most disciplined team in the top tier and Hore's clumsiness reflects back on a darker age of AB rugby. especially after the harmless action by Thompson recently which was (as usual) utterly blown out of proportion by the NH media.
It is interesting that the last 3 incidents involving ABs that I remember (going back to 2005) all occurred with opposition players trying to disrupt the ruck (and getting smashed for it). Hopefully if some good comes from it - it will be those teams developing a healthy fear of trying to slow down AB ball.
Oh well Horey old fella - guess you'll get a nice rest at the start of the S15 and be in fine shape for the June tests. The sun is shining and the beach is starting to look good... feet up brother!
Posted 20:37 25th November 2012