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Video - Nonu and Parisse forced to restrain teammate after he puts hands on refereee
By Ian Cameron
Ma'a Nonu and Sergio Parisse were forced to restrain a Toulon teammate after his remonstrations with the referee saw him place his hands on the official.
Toulon were playing away to Bayonne in the Top 14 when the incident occurred. In the 72 second minute replacement centre Theo Dachary demanded that referee Pierre Baptiste Nuchy refer to the TMO after he was unhappy with a decision, with the result still in the balance at 35 - 29 with eight minutes left to go.
After the irate Dachary advanced on the referee, Italian legend Parisse grabbed the centre and pushed him away after put his hands on the referee's shoulder, letting out a roar in the process.
Dachary wasn't done though and had to be grabbed by All Blacks legend Ma'a Nonu, who didn't look too impressed with his teamamate's behaviour.
It was a fiery match, with three yellow cards doled out in the final 10 minutes. Toulon went on to the lose the game.
But it wasn't done there, with Toulon head coach Patrice Collazo confronting the referee, after he felt Toulon had been too heavily penalised. He then took a pop at his own players after the game: "Even if in the second half, there was a collective reaction, it wasn't is not a character issue. I think it's mostly an investment problem... When you don't want to tackle, you tackle high. As in the first half, we pretended to tackle, we expose ourselves."
It is yet to be seen if Dachary will face any further punishment for his behaviour from the LNR, although both the actions of Parisse and Nonu likely stopped the incident from escalating further. Toulon currently sit fifth on the Top 14 ladder, with eight games played.
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Latest Comments
The way Ratima has been treated he needs to look OS. Same with Perofeta and Love, Hothem too. Razor is a token coach. Gives debuts but very few mins. Also DM too. Just go earn millions elsewhere DM as all you get in NZ is bagging.
BB is coaches favourite and I say let him have BB right thru to the next 2 or maybe even 3 World cups.😁😁 Have JB outside him at 12...That just works so well.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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