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'We're really killing the game': Ex-Wallabies great slams rugby's latest trend
By AAP
Wallabies great Chris Latham has lamented the current state of rugby, saying overzealous officials are "killing the game".
Twenty-five penalties were blown in the Queensland Reds' stop-start defeat of the Fijian Drua a fortnight ago.
A week later Taniela Tupou escaped the wrath of the officials who reviewed his physical clean-out of Jahrome Brown in a tight loss to the Brumbies, only to be retrospectively charged with a red-card offence and offered a two-week suspension.
A SANZAAR foul play review committee determined Tupou had made high contact with Brown, but the Reds will fight that judgment at a Wednesday night judiciary panel that includes former Springboks enforcer De Wet Barry.
Retired fullback-turned coach Latham is adamant the crowd-pulling forward shouldn't have a case to answer as he aims to feature in Saturday's home game against the NSW Waratahs.
"Yes (it's frustrating) ... I can understand the health and safety aspect, and the mental health of players after football," he said.
"But from a pure rugby point of view, we're really killing the game with all these stoppages.
"And this one, cleared by video ref, the referee, the commentary team are experts in the game, they cleared it.
"Yet we still want to keep dragging it through.
"It baffles me that we're talking about this during the week of one of the biggest games of the calender, sweating on the outcome of one of the most high-profile players in Australia. It's ridiculous."
Latham's invited the referee to put the whistle away on Saturday night in a nod to the old school as the competition celebrates Heritage Round.
"You want fatigue to set in. I wanted the big boys to be tired, wanted to be running around them," Latham, who scored 40 Test tries, said.
"You want it tight, contested and then the smart rugby to come out in the back end of the game.
"That's when you see the beauty, free-flowing stuff we love to watch.
"With all these stoppages it just changes the way we're promoting the game.
"You pay a lot of money to watch a game of footy, you want to put on a show, not see players sitting around watching a replay (on the big screen)."
The Reds will welcome back Wallabies scrumhalf Tate McDermott from an ankle injury in the only change, with Jordan Petaia again set to wear the fullback's No.15.
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Latest Comments
The difference between Fassi and Le Roux?
Almost 100 tests. Fassi is growing from test to test and is already world class. It’s going to be difficult for Damian Willemse to usurp Fassi at 15 and may find himself destined as the utility back on the bomb squad.
South Africans love hating on their fullback. A proud tradition since Percy Montgomery (before he won us a World Cup). So I don’t pay much mind to the noise that follows anyone who puts on the 15 jersey for SA.
15 is a high risk, low reward position. You don’t dare drop a high ball, certainly don’t shank a kick into the stands. In fact if you’re not kicking 60m torpedoes into the opposition corners - stay at home.
And miss tackles? After everyone else on the team has let a break through - best you not miss!
Only Andre Joubert strikes me as a fullback that has been better than Willie. Yet Willie has been widely panned on a regular basis. Irritating.
Fassi is great. And I’m sure he’s learning a lot from Willie.
Go to commentsNo, Penney's win rate as a Super Rugby coach BEFORE he was given a 2 year contract here, was 23%. He came in with a very poor success rate at SR level.
This loser vibe was borne out over the SR season where we won only 4 games while losing 10. Finishing 9th in a 12 team competition & missing a QF spot was next level DOWN.
There's zero evidence that suggests we will win 10 games (70%) as you predict. I understand there may be new assistant coaches coming on board. At this stage, we can only hope for the best.
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