Tuqiri Spear Overshadows New Zealand Triumph

As Scrumbag went un-updated on Monday, we completely failed to report on the Tri-Nations game at the weekend.  Apologies for that, here's a catch-up for those who were missing it.

New Zealand have retained their Tri-Nations crown after coming from behind to beat Australia in Auckland.  The All Blacks, who trailed 20-11 at half-time, have thus wrapped up the title with two games in hand, to be played in South Africa over the next two weekends.  Normally the best time to beat a seemingly unbeatable side, but somehow I don't think their current unbeaten run is something the ABs will give up cheaply.  Beneath the cut we deal with the real story of the game.

The game will be remembered more, though, for a spear tackle by Australia's Lote Tuqiri on Richie McCaw.  McCaw, who has been the player of the tournament so far in many people's eyes, seemed to be targetted for this treatment in order to nullify his influence on the game.  Tuqiri has since copped a five-match ban for the offence, of which only one game will be an international.  The ban seems unduly light for an offence which can end a player's career.  Flankers Rocky Elsom and Phil Waugh were also guilty of offences against McCaw, and given the player's recent form, it is unedifying to see such a cynical approach.

We here at Scrumbag have in the past (and, let's face it, present) been quick to lay into Tana Umaga for his similar, unpunished spear tackle on Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll last summer, and the New Zealand camp for their seeming insistence that nothing happened.  Regardless of who is performing the spear tackle, and who is being tackled, it is something that needs to be removed from the game.  Along with the equally sickening practice of pulling down a jumper at the line-out, the spear tackle is an offence which can have hideous consequences, the more so for the fact that a player's downward journey is not controlled. 

Both O'Driscoll and McCaw were able to comment on their experiences, but one wonders when a player of such profile might not be so lucky, given that this kind of tackle can leave a player paralysed or worse.  One wonders also whether this is what it might take to see the offence dealt with in the appropriate manner.  Hopefully not.  As rugby fans, we love the game for what it is.  Tough, bruising battles, even a little bit of blood in the right circumstances, give the game its edge.  Spear tackles, and worse, taking players out in the air, go against the spirit of the battle.  They are cowardly offences performed on unsuspecting sportsmen, and it is important that they are condemned from all sides.

Tuqiri's punishment is a joke.  As long as players feel they can get away with spear tackling, receiving at most a slap on the wrist, there will be players who are tempted to do it.  Neil Back was banned for six months for pushing a ref.  Inexcusable offence, but the ref was always going to stand up and walk away from it.  A punishment of similar severity, or longer, is needed for the clowns who drive or throw an opponent head-first towards the ground.  No excuse about the heat of the moment can mitigate the dangers of spear tackling.  And for all the excuses that might get offered up, it will happen less if moves are made to make it punishable by the harshest sanctions available.  Hopefully Tuqiri will take his time off to appreciate that he's being given a chance, and take that chance to never make another such tackle.