Unlucky: Geoff Parling
England second-row Geoff Parling has described South Africa's match-winning try at Twickenham on Saturday as the "luckiest in history."
South Africa produced the game's only try after a box kick from Ben Youngs ricocheted back towards the England try-line off JP Pietersen, with Tom Wood fumbling the loose ball forwards and Willem Alberts pouncing to score.
The try gave South Africa a crucial ten-point lead going into half-time, forcing England to claw their way back into the match and fall narrowly short of victory.
"It was probably the flukiest try I have ever seen in the history of rugby," said to Parling to The Leicester Mercury.
"It came at a crucial stage of the game. We fought back well, got into the game and finished on top.
"At the whistle, we were not very far away - but we cannot keep saying that. I am gutted. We feel like it's another game that we should have won.
"We were not clinical enough at certain times but we did some things really well. Our breakdown, our defence and our scrum were good.
"They didn't want to scrum against us, they just wanted to mess about.
"They don't attack much either, they play field position and then come at you. We felt we defended really well against them and their so-called 'big runners' kept getting knocked back.
"There is this fallacy about South Africa having this super-human pack - but they are just blokes. Good blokes - but they are just blokes.
"We want to be known as that big, damaging pack. But we have to start winning games."
Comments
DrDeath says...
@All
Wow! You guys are all a bit sensitive aren't you!! The local paper asked him a question, he said it was a lucky try and that they came up a bit short on the day.
How can you take offense in any of that??
I think we can all agree that the try was not the result of a brilliant training ground routine nor a touch of individual or collective brilliance? Therefore that leaves it as "lucky".
Peace brothers, no need to get your hackles up! You seem a very sensitive lot, good job we've not all had a drink! Lol
Posted 16:14 28th November 2012
dropkick says...
To all English fans, whining about Madame Fate's cruel blow I would say this. When you score a try, just one mind you, not lots, then you can judge how others get theirs. Until then shut it.
Posted 21:11 27th November 2012
TVaddict says...
@English people saying it wasn't a try, it really was. Wood played the South Africans on side when he knocked on. Let's not dwell on the matter.
Yes it was a fluky try, but these things happen and you have to control the things your can control. Losing so many lineouts was unacceptable. Inability to control so many restarts was unacceptable. Lack of creativity and finishing in the backs was unacceptable. The decision making was unacceptable. These are the controllables that lost us the game and these are things that need to be fixed.
Posted 15:55 27th November 2012
KingShark says...
@Timofporirua (2)
But then there is this 'under the 10-Metre Law' thing.
Law 11.4 OFFSIDE UNDER THE 10-METRE LAW
(a) When a team-mate of an offside player has kicked ahead, the offside player is considered to be taking part in the game if the player is in front of an imaginary line across the field which is 10 metres from the opponent waiting to play the ball, or from where the ball lands or may land. The offside player must immediately move behind the imaginary 10-metre line or the kicker if this is closer than 10 metres. While moving away, the player must not obstruct an opponent.
Sanction: Penalty kick
The 10-metre law is only from a kick. There is an obvious question here: did Pietersen kick the ball?
Law DEFINITION
Kick: a kick is made by hitting the ball with any part of the leg or foot, except the heel, and from knee to toe, but not including the knee. A kick must move a visible distance out of the hand.
First, it seemed that the ball hit Pietersen, rather than vice versa. Secondly, it hit him above the knee. That means that he did not kick the ball at all.
Pietersen did not kick the ball. Woodplayed the ball.
From this it would seem that the it was the correct decision to award the try."
Posted 06:35 27th November 2012
KingShark says...
@Timofporirua I'll quote from rugby365:
"Was Alberts offside?
Law 11 ¿ DEFINITIONS
In general play a player is offside if the player is in front of a team-mate who is carrying the ball, or in front of a team-mate who last played the ball. Offside means that a player is temporarily out of the game. Such players are liable to be penalised if they take part in the game.
The ball was last played by Morgan, an opponent.
Alberts was well in front of Pietersen when Pietersen played the ball but then Morgan played it.
Did Wood's action put Alberts onside?
Law 11.3 BEING PUT ONSIDE BY OPPONENTS
In general play, there are three ways by which an offside player can be put onside by an action of the opposing team. These three ways do not apply to a player who is offside under the 10-Metre Law.
(a) Runs 5 metres with ball. When an opponent carrying the ball runs 5 metres, the offside player is put onside.
(b) Kicks or passes. When an opponent kicks or passes the ball, the offside player is put onside.
(c) Intentionally touches ball. When an opponent intentionally touches the ball but does not catch it, the offside player is put onside.
Morgan intentionally touched the ball."
Posted 06:35 27th November 2012
willem says...
@ Timofporirua
The English player kicked the ball into JP Pietersen resulting in what is called a charge down. The rule states that if a kick is charged down everybody is onside.
Posted 06:25 27th November 2012
flyman says...
Methinks Mr Parling has opened his mouth to change feet! What a doos...
Posted 04:08 27th November 2012
doyley says...
Haha its hilarious on here, an English bloke says anything at all and there's so much rage about it! Don't read it if the fact an Englishman breathes gets your back up so much!
Posted 23:43 26th November 2012
Benny says...
Rather than blame bad luck, try blaming a back line that can't even score from an intercept. The slowest centre in world rugby can't score himself so the ball gets out to the greediest winger who doesn't know how to set up a try in a two-on-one position.
Posted 20:18 26th November 2012
WorldWary says...
What would have been 'lucky' is if you'd actually caught a line out ball all afternoon Geoff.
Posted 17:54 26th November 2012
JayStarr says...
HOGWASH. I can think of at least 5 tries in Super Rugby which were luckier than this one... It was a bloody rebound and collect - have you never seen that happen before !? How many times has a "lucky" bounce lead to a try? This is rugby - the ball is oval - that is the idea. Get over it, loser.
Posted 16:10 26th November 2012
jonesy2 says...
haha every single quote you hear from a pommy player is just unbelievably funny. "another game they should've won", "flukiest try ever" blah blah blah. fact is if south africa hadnt got that try they probably would have got one a bit later or something like that, another game they shouldve won? what other games should they have won? they were never a chance against australia and never looked like winning it so i fail to see how these comments are being made. are the whole of england delusional and in denial because the players cant seriously think they have just been unlucky? coming up against injury riddled wallabies and springboks after a full year of rugby at the highest level. they have over achieved immensely if anything. and lastly, who is geoff parling? i have seriously never heard of him and i like to think i know a bit about rugby even that stuff they play in europe. "we want to be known as the damagin pack",, england are like the spoilt coaches son in under 10s who is terrible but puts on an act like they should be the best and get all bitter when the other kids are naturally far better and having a way better time
Posted 13:47 26th November 2012
Capedcrusader says...
box kick??????? more like a hack cos he didn't want to pick it up. Very poor decision making more like - I don't think Youngs would be best pleased with that assessment....
@Timofporirua. Thanks for clearing that up - you should apply to be a TMO. Should have gone to specsavers comes to mind.
Posted 13:16 26th November 2012
mort5000 says...
Please fix the article's title.
Seems he said "flukiest", which is a correct reflection on the try.
It wasn't lucky in the slightest. Or if it was, then the 179 incorrect calls against the Bok scrum were also all 'luck'.
Posted 12:52 26th November 2012
Pienaar1995 says...
Parling. You need to earn the right to make comments like that about opponents who have just defeated you. On Saturday there was no huge gulf in skill etc. SA won because they wanted it a bit more than you. And the try was a result of an England mistake under pressure and then a fumble under pressure and the quick reaction and handling by Alberts. But yes, you carry on believing that you were robbed. It is that attitude that consigns you to being a consistent also-ran.
Posted 12:25 26th November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
bare in mind that SA were not at full strength, so well done the springboks.
England, saturday was a vast improvement, but I've seen these backlashes too many times to be suckered into thinking its a new dawn. Everytime england mess up badly they get all indignant about the deserved criticism and throw in the sort of performance that should be the norm from the biggest rugby playing nation on the planet. Just remember the level of effort and commitment on show this weekend. just keep it in your head as the bench mark where we should be at. Now its up to England to be that motivated every time they take to the field. Not just when they've blown last week's match big time.
Posted 12:12 26th November 2012
zambokke says...
Wow Parling, it looks as though England really did destroy our 'normal bloke' pack. I guess that we were just too scared of the powerful English pack to engage them at scrum time! Parling, apologies for our fluke try and we bow down to your omnipotent forwards (who we used for tackling practice)! The ABs must be really worried that they'll get any ball. By the way, you didn't mention how many line outs did you win/lose?
Posted 11:56 26th November 2012
gazzabok says...
Nice effort at having a dig at the Boks, young man. I think you will find it was your props doing the messing around. I think you will also find that Willem Alberts and co never once went backwards. The try was a lucky one however.
The simple fact is that you lost. I do hope that you and your media realise that. I believe that's 11 against us without a win now. Believe what you will.
Posted 11:34 26th November 2012
undecided says...
Geoff Parling needs to remember that SA were in that position, camped on the Egnlish line after some very good phases to put them under pressure....and secure that "lucky" try. I also believe the SA pack were already dreaming about sunshine and boerewors at the end of a very long season....until next time then Geoff.
Posted 11:01 26th November 2012
Spartacus says...
Whingeing Pom alert!
Yes, the bounce was lucky, but if you want predictable bounce then play with a round ball! The Boks still reacted quicker and got the try, so get over it Parling!
Winning teams ride their luck, losing teams whine like f...!
Posted 10:44 26th November 2012