04/25/24
November 06, 2006
I went to a fight and a game broke out...: The latest brutal instalment of the International Rules series lived up to its pre-match billing with bitterness and borderline criminal behaviour. During the last series (in Australia) things got a little out of hand [YouTube]. Sounds like the fireworks were going off before the game even started at the weekend in Dublin. "... before the start of the second leg... players were trading punches, with two of them having to be sin-binned just so the match could start." Game Report here [YouTube]
That first video is nuts! Usually when stuff like this appears, it's always oversold and not as bad as it's made out to be but HOLY COW! He clotheslined the fucker! Then took down two more players. It looks like someone crossed UFC with rugby:)
posted by Drood at 01:00 PM on November 06, 2006
I managed to catch this on the overseas service of Australian TV. I particularly enjoyed the contrast between the coaches in the post game interviews. Does this series have a future? "No". "Yes".* *Maybe they should let the coaches sort it out behind the stands?
posted by owlhouse at 02:13 PM on November 06, 2006
Holy fuck, that straight-arm smash is insane. As JJ says, borderline criminal... And I thought Willie Mason's performance in the Aus/GB rugby league match was bad. Here's a dodgy youtube video of his first punch, which put the lights out for Stuart Fielden, and there was an even more outrageous late tackle that came afterwards.
"Obviously playing for Australia, I'm very patriotic and he's one of their team's enforcers," Mason said under questioning from his QC. "He said 'Come on, you ******* Aussie ****,' I said ' **** you ******** Pommie.' He was saying 'let's go, let's go' when we get up. 'I'll belt you, you Aussie ****'. "He pushed me. I saw his right hand cocked, so I thought I'd hit him first."He got a one match ban.
posted by afx237vi at 03:27 PM on November 06, 2006
Then took down two more players. He really showed off his fighting ability, being able to take down players while several of his teammates kept them from actually having a chance to fight him. The clothesline was just brutal though.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:58 PM on November 06, 2006
That tackle of Geraghty in the second clip is pretty brutal too. Is his shoulder still there?
posted by SummersEve at 04:15 PM on November 06, 2006
I've never seen an "international rules" game before, but this particular example looks like sanctioned assault. Those refs should have their qualifications revoked. Did the press interview them at all? And did they ask them whether they thought they had the game under control. I'd like to see that video. And the second clip with the spinning body slam tackle is a text book method to paralyze your opponent. High on grotesque appeal. And that's about it.
posted by garfield at 04:22 PM on November 06, 2006
Have to say I'd watch it if it aired here:)
posted by Drood at 05:22 PM on November 06, 2006
Seán Boylon, the Irish manager took his players off at the end of the first quarter and said he didn't want them going back on because he didn't think that it was football that was being played. But the players wanted to, it is their only chance to represent their country after all, and so after a delay they came back on. To little credit, a fair few members of the crowd near me weren't at all happy with the Irish display, and lack of catching and kicking. I think the main difference is that we don't have that sort of tackle at all in our game, all our fouls are little niggly things. Though that being said fights do break out in GAA matches, but not to that extent, and it is never seen as being part of the game. The Australian tackle is something that I don't think the Irish players have ever gotten used to. One of the refs is Irish, and so usually biased in favour of the Irish and their interpretation of the rules. The other Australian and so biased in the other direction. Makes for uneven and, imo, crap reffing when the referees can't agree on what is and isn't a foul. But what can you do with what is, in essence, an exhibition game. It is only ever played two times a year and the rest of the year the players play a different game.
posted by Fence at 05:32 PM on November 06, 2006
all our fouls are little niggly things* This is true for AFL as well. The judiciary in Australia hands out very long suspensions for foul play during the regular season. I think part of the problem in the International Rules fixtures is that there is no similar punishment for 'on the field indiscretions'. Neither is there a 'send off' rule that means a team plays with one short - red cards mean that you personally won't be coming back, but you can be replaced by another player. The only result - violence, basically because you and your team can get away with it. * However that knee in the back in the first minute or so made me wince!
posted by owlhouse at 05:59 PM on November 06, 2006
Sorry owlhouse, should have said that *most* of our fouls in GAA matches are niggly things, GAA players are just as capable as anyone else of violence on the pitch. I think the other part of the problem is that the Australians are, in the majority of cases, a lot bigger and stronger than the Irish players, simply because they are full time professional footballers. GAA players are amateurs and have to have "proper" jobs so don't have the same amount of time to spend on weights etc.
posted by Fence at 03:21 AM on November 07, 2006
It was a total joke of a match, I won't be going again I'll tell you that much. Fair play to the Australians, they were more skillfull and a lot fitter, but the levels of violence were just ridiculous. And the refs? Beyond a joke, one would call for a stop in play, the other would indicate play on and the players could listen to either, or more likely neither. Still at least nothing similar happened in the Shinty match beforehand, cause with those sticks it would've been murder. And congrats to Scotland for winning their first ever Shinty/hurling match on Irish soil. And congrats to the Irish women's International Rules team, who despite fielding an illegal player and so having all the points they'd scored till then (42) taken from them, still won.