Corne Krige apologises to Matt Dawson for 2002

[Puja]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46059572

Fair play to him for apologising properly, but he did have a lot to be ashamed of that day.



Puja

[Spiffy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46059572

Fair play to him for apologising properly, but he did have a lot to be ashamed of that day.



Puja

Fair play be buggered - He was a dirty player and a cheap shot merchant his whole career. He wasn't even all that good a flanker and probably never should have been capped in the first place on merit, let alone made captain of South Africa. An apology after all these years means nothing. Rugby fans will remember him for what he did on the field of play. Better to have said nothing at all than to tweak memories about what a twat he was. I put him in the same category as Jamie Joseph - the scummy AB flanker who did not quite succeed in breaking K. Bracken's ankle with a vicious and deliberate stomp in a game at Twickenham. I think he's now coaching Japan. These guys have added a big fat nothing to the sporting traditions of the game of rugby.

[OptimisticJock]

He doesn't seem to have accepted it though.

[WaspInWales]

Fair play be buggered - He was a dirty player and a cheap shot merchant his whole career. He wasn't even all that good a flanker and probably never should have been capped in the first place on merit, let alone made captain of South Africa. An apology after all these years means nothing. Rugby fans will remember him for what he did on the field of play. Better to have said nothing at all than to tweak memories about what a twat he was. I put him in the same category as Jamie Joseph - the scummy AB flanker who did not quite succeed in breaking K. Bracken's ankle with a vicious and deliberate stomp in a game at Twickenham. I think he's now coaching Japan. These guys have added a big fat nothing to the sporting traditions of the game of rugby.

This!

[Lizard]

In the old days, we knew how to deal with the Afrikaans thug.

[Mellsblue]

I’ll expect a Twatter apology.

[Tigersman]

Can’t wait in 20 years time for clark’s apology to Hawkins on what ever social media thing is popular by then followed by plenty of class bloke and you have nothing good to be sorry for replies.....

[Puja]

He doesn't seem to have accepted it though.

More than that, he actively confirmed that Northampton signing Krige was the reason for his abrupt move to Wasps.

I can see both sides - I appreciate that Krige hasn't tried to sugarcoat it or claim that rugby was different back then, but said he was ashamed of that day and hopes his kids never see the video. It's been 16 years and I'm willing to believe someone can change and be remorseful for being a tw*t in their youth.

On the other, I've got no problems with Dawson not accepting the apology - Krige's behaviour was egregious and Dawson has no requirement to forgive him.

Rewatched the highlights the other night - funny that Labuschagne got a straight red for something that was a little harsh, whereas Krige got away scott-free (without even being cited, IIRC) when he could have had 5 reds. Hell, under current laws, they'd've been down to 12 at points with some of the other cheap shots that came in.

Puja

[Big D]

The guy is a scum bag. That wasn't "hard" or "the good old days" it was dirty and malicious. As a player I could and have forgiven one moment of madness. That was a concerted effort to injure.

[Oakboy]

Was there no citing system at the time?

[Puja]

Was there no citing system at the time?

I think there was the same quality of citing system that is around today. Someone probably got banned for 5 weeks for a mild shove the week after.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Ironically, as bad an example of thuggery as this was, the NZ assault on BOD was worse, IMO, in terms of career-threatening, deliberately-inflicted injury. From memory, rather than get the players to apologise, NZ fiddled a whitewash.

[Insouciant]

I love his comment about not concussing their own players then Barnes point out the right hook he gives Venter (??) that stops Venter playing on.

From that footage the dude was a thug.

[Peej]

That game was absolutely mad. It really beggars belief that the officials allowed it. Wasn't it the same one where Phil Christophers nearly got decapitated a metre from the line (which was given as a penalty try, I think)?

Sad thing is Dawson has also stated that 'rugby's not for my kids', which is a bit shocking from such a decorated player.

[OptimisticJock]

He doesn't seem to have accepted it though.

More than that, he actively confirmed that Northampton signing Krige was the reason for his abrupt move to Wasps.

I can see both sides - I appreciate that Krige hasn't tried to sugarcoat it or claim that rugby was different back then, but said he was ashamed of that day and hopes his kids never see the video. It's been 16 years and I'm willing to believe someone can change and be remorseful for being a tw*t in their youth.

On the other, I've got no problems with Dawson not accepting the apology - Krige's behaviour was egregious and Dawson has no requirement to forgive him.

Rewatched the highlights the other night - funny that Labuschagne got a straight red for something that was a little harsh, whereas Krige got away scott-free (without even being cited, IIRC) when he could have had 5 reds. Hell, under current laws, they'd've been down to 12 at points with some of the other cheap shots that came in.

Puja

Aye I seen that. Certainly don't hold it against him not accepting it.

[Puja]

That game was absolutely mad. It really beggars belief that the officials allowed it. Wasn't it the same one where Phil Christophers nearly got decapitated a metre from the line (which was given as a penalty try, I think)?

It was indeed:



Bit of a shame really, as it would probably have been the best try of Christophers' career had he been allowed to finish it. Underrated player.

Puja

[Stom]

Lol. If that was today... Straight red.

[16th man]

World rugby has a potential tidal wave of legal damage coming. We're not playing tiddlywinks won't stand up in court.

There was a lot of nasty stuff in the game in the 70s and 80s that didn't get recorded, but from the mid 90s on there's all sorts of video of players putting in brutal shots that weren't punished despite clearly being caught on film.

There will be plenty of players who have suffered serious long term health implications who will be able to get footage and highlight moments in games where serious foul play was committed against them, but no action taken.

If he was so minded BOD could quite easily have a pop at cleaning out NZ rugby and the IRB for what happened to him on the Lions tour. Lewis Moody could have the same pair for Kev the Christians head butt whilst he was pinned on the floor. The list goes on really.

Edit: IRB not RFU.

[Mr Mwenda]

How were the RFU involved again?

Rewatching that really reminded me how much I disliked Paddy O'Brien's refereeing.

[WaspInWales]

That match was mental. There was niggle from start to finish. Krige on Robinson early on...although, I think that was ok, Krige lined him up, but timed it just about ok, but it set the scene. Greeff had words with Hill on the deck after England won a penalty, Jonno reacted immediately. Then Fleck swung at Cohen which got a final warning for cards and a 10m gain.

Labuschagne's red was a joke considering the rest. Definite yellow though.

Cohen's and Greenwood's tries were beauts!

We had one hell of an offload game.

Watching SA play back then was like reading a Tom Sharpe novel about a SA police team playing against the locals.