Thugs and pests in NZ footy
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I don't understand this criticism of Samipeni, which other forwards are managing to do it?
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@SouthernMann said in Thugs and pests in NZ footy:
With serial thug Antonio Shalfoon back in business again on the weekend. It made me think. Is he New Zealand rugby primary thug. While he has gone somewhat unpunished for some very below average play. He does seem to be the standout thug. Is a perfect one too. A mid-level player. When his name pops up, it isn't for being awesome on the field. More for one of two instances of thuggery. Like after the final whistle against Counties. I might be a bit harsh on him. I can admit I haven't watched him too much.
We do tend to have fewer thugs than other nations. The Argies have had a few, with the ringleader being future Highlander Tomas Lavanini. The South Africans plenty. Same with most of the European sides. Even the Aussies have had some decent ones.
We have bred more pests than thugs.
Dane Coles the ultimate. Jack Taylor is a bit of a new age version. Kirifi was a bit of a pest. Seems to have dropped it.
Reiko Ioane like to play the villain game. Hope that continues in Ireland when surrounded by his biggest fans.
Then we have the flat track bullies. Samipeni Finau is the first that comes to mind. Loves snapping 85kg first fives. Less enthused about having a go at guys his own size.
I enjoy a stereotype and pigeonholing players. Makes it it a bit fun.
As a nation we don't seem to breed out and out thugs like other countries. We tend to be a bit more petty than anything else.
Shalfoon plays hard does some silly things but doesn’t take a backward step.
Not a thug in my mind just goes hard.
Sort of player I used to play with and against all the time they were everywhere. -
Pretty hard to be an out an out thug these days, especially at the top level of the game with at least half-a-dozen cams on you.
Kiwis definitely dont make it into the top rank.
Two that stick in my mind from old times were Kevin de Klerk (SA), and Steve Finnane (Aus).
Kevin just thought punching and kicking were part of the game.
Same with Finnane pretty much, wasn't around long, but sure gained a rep. Belted all his opponents. Graham Price (Wales) was a real mess.
Just googled Steve, now a Sydney barrister. -
@SouthernMann What did Shalfoon do at the weekend?
I saw a bit of argie-bargy at the end and saw some commentary in the match-thread - but, if it was after the fulltime whistle - then the primary blame probably lies with the Counties clown who flipped the double bird. Show some class and grace when you win.
Shalfoon seems to be well hated in the south because of the JRK incident. I've never seen what happened there, but I don't believe he was cited or banned?
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@Chris-B said in Thugs and pests in NZ footy:
Shalfoon seems to be well hated in the south because of the JRK incident. I've never seen what happened there, but I don't believe he was cited or banned?
Should have been. It was pretty ordinary.
But am with you Christopher, haven't seen the game from Sunday yet. If someone would elucidate that would be appreciated.
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@booboo At the end of the game the ball got grubbered into the Counties in-goal.
One of the Counties reserves forced it. Rolled over to sit on his arse and flipped a double bird at someone (possibly Shalfoon). A dick move.
Following that, there was a bit of argie-bargie - didn't seem like much to me, but I wasn't paying much attention. Nowhere near the intensity of the scuffle at the end of the Canterbury Taranaki game.
Didn't look like anything Vic Cavanagh would have disapproved of!
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@Chris-B said in Thugs and pests in NZ footy:
@booboo At the end of the game the ball got grubbered into the Counties in-goal.
One of the Counties reserves forced it. Rolled over to sit on his arse and flipped a double bird at someone (possibly Shalfoon). A dick move.
Following that, there was a bit of argie-bargie - didn't seem like much to me, but I wasn't paying much attention. Nowhere near the intensity of the scuffle at the end of the Canterbury Taranaki game.
Didn't look like anything Vic Cavanagh would have disapproved of!
Wasn't there a late(ish) charge, possibly a shoulder charge, by Shalfoon around the time of the 'bird'?
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@Crazy-Horse Could have been, but I was busy draining the bitter dregs of my beer and ruminating that just because our players are all millionaires, there's no reason they have to play so profligately!
I wasn't paying too much attention.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Thugs and pests in NZ footy:
@Chris-B said in Thugs and pests in NZ footy:
@booboo At the end of the game the ball got grubbered into the Counties in-goal.
One of the Counties reserves forced it. Rolled over to sit on his arse and flipped a double bird at someone (possibly Shalfoon). A dick move.
Following that, there was a bit of argie-bargie - didn't seem like much to me, but I wasn't paying much attention. Nowhere near the intensity of the scuffle at the end of the Canterbury Taranaki game.
Didn't look like anything Vic Cavanagh would have disapproved of!
Wasn't there a late(ish) charge, possibly a shoulder charge, by Shalfoon around the time of the 'bird'?
Yes. Cheap no arm shot that went unpunished as the game was effectively over. Sums him up.
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Good grief. Shalfoon gets his own thread for this?
I had a look, because I'was expecting something egregious.
Shalfoon runs into someone and pushes him over - no wonder I didn't notice it. Might be a penalty?
I recall playing fullback and a ball being chipped beyond me. I ran back and dived on the ball to recover it. The opposition halfback, who happened to be a good friend of mine, booted me fair and squre in the kidney. A clear and obvious red card - but, he was not red-carded, because (i) we had no cameras; (ii) we had no TMO; and (ii) it preceded red cards.
We were playing under-11s at the time!
