Opinion: Hore's cheap shot a black mark on Hansen's 'clean team'

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Opinion: Hore's cheap shot mars clean team

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All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore's hit on Wales’ lock Bradley Davies had all the hallmarks of a cheap shot (Photosport file)

All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore's hit on Wales’ lock Bradley Davies had all the hallmarks of a cheap shot (Photosport file)

Opinion By Jim Kayes, at Millennium Stadium

All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore's hit on Wales’ lock Bradley Davies had all the hallmarks of a cheap shot. It was from behind and Davies didn't have the ball.

In a week when the All Blacks, and coach Steve Hansen in particular, have been quietly steaming at the "injustice" of the IRB's appeal against flanker Adam Thomson's one week suspension for stomping, Hore's hit is a terrible look.

Having wing Cory Jane sin binned (perhaps a bit harshly) for a deliberate knock on didn't improve the image.

Hore's hit will probably see further action from the judiciary, and the hooker could be the second All Black banned on this short European tour.

That would be hugely embarrassing for Hansen, who has preached long and hard about how the All Blacks are a tough but clean team. It will be intriguing to hear his thoughts on Hore's clubbing of Davies from behind. If he's struggling to find the right words, he should think about what he'd say if Hore's type of hit had been on All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw.

The pity about Hore's shot is that the aftermath will take the focus off an entertaining 33-10 win by the All Blacks against a Wales team that played with plenty of spirit, passion and skill right to the end - the try to wing Alex Cuthbert in the 76th minute evidence of that.

Hore's piece of thuggery, and any subsequent judicial issues, will be an unwanted distraction for Hansen in the lead up to the final test against England at Twickenham. It could also leave the All Blacks with a hooking crisis if Hore is banned and Keven Mealamu's calf doesn't improve.

Hore's hit forced Davies from the field at almost the same time prop Aaron Jarvis limped off - Wales losing two players before two minutes had gone.

If they were up against it before kick off, that didn't help. Losing midfielder Jamie Roberts in the 18th minute added to the misery - then the All Blacks kicked into gear.

To lead 23-0 by halftime against the Six Nations champions, on their patch, before a boisterous crowd of 72,372 isn't a bad effort, even if Wales were ravaged by injuries before kick off, and then soon after.

The try that flanker Liam Messam scored should be a late entry in the IRB's try of the year competition (though Wales' try from a near 15-man drive was pretty amazing too).

Messam's try began with fullback Israel Dagg in all sorts of trouble in his own 22 metre line, some how he escaped, winger Julian Savea surged down field and from the ruck the ball was swung wide to Messam ranging on the wing. It was a superb example of the All Blacks attacking mindset. A more positive attacking mindset than Hore's.

The only injury concern from the match was the sight of loosehead prop Tony Woodcock limping from the field in the 50th minute.

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Comments

29/11/2012 9:56:04 a.m.

Julie wrote:

If a Welsh player did the same to one of our All Blacks, there would be a real hue and cry. So think about that! It was a disgraceful attack and 5 weeks isn't long enough. As for AB coach, he has been too casual about the incident and does not impress me. The AB will be tarnished by this attack and be known as thugs. Should be out for the year.

28/11/2012 12:43:21 p.m.

leigh wrote:

I cant beleive that there is so much crying about this incident get over it, He has not tarnised the allblacks or rugby in general down at grass roots level no one is talking about it,Anybody would think that he has ended that guys career the way people are going on. It will be dealt with and what he receives they will deal with it.What I'm trying to say is get over it.

26/11/2012 11:25:17 p.m.

Henry wrote:

As a New Zealander living in Europe, I want to say how embarrassed I am by the Andrew Hore incident. It was ugly and deserved a red card. The All Blacks have a reputation in the Northern Hemisphere for a certain level of thugary (think the Brian O'Driscoll incident) that is deserved. Perhaps, by very nature of being the All Blacks, they get away with too much. I like watching New Zealand win – but I want to watch them win the right way. What really infuriates me is the hypocrisy – if anyone is deemed to have targeted Richie McCaw they are demonized in New Zealand.

26/11/2012 10:56:44 p.m.

Rugby Fan wrote:

Im deeply distressed at this cowardly and stupid action by Hore.Im an Aussie who loves this game with Passion and Pride.I will say that although not quite up there with the worst it is as close to Loes incident as can be and I hope they throw the book at you You are a disgrace to our wonderful game and you will always be remembered as a coward.There is no longer any respect for you nor forgiveness.

26/11/2012 10:17:05 p.m.

Mark Greenwood wrote:

The Blacks are the team I've always looked forward to watching since I started playing rugby at secondary school in 1971. At full flow they're awesome and it's always taken exceptional England teams to beat them (2001-2003 etc). That, however, was a nasty cheap shot. The action of a coward who oughtn't wear the Black again.

26/11/2012 1:34:47 p.m.

Jeff wrote:

Where was the welshmen? Getting in the way at the back of the All Blacks ruck. A bad team can occupy the area at the back of their oppositions ruck and slow the ball down all day and not get pinged by the ref. Funny how the Scots where lying on the ball, they got rucked and ball came out. Teams are just cheating to stay in games with better teams. The refs just let players stand offside and get away with it. At club level you get a shunt in the back or rucked big time for being on the wrong side.

26/11/2012 10:06:10 a.m.

Ian wrote:

He is a convicted killer of a protected species, and should never have been allowed to play for the All Blacks. Never someone to be looked up to.

26/11/2012 2:21:54 a.m.

Ronald Ferreira wrote:

It is easy to guess where most of the comments are coming from. The European nations, particularly their supporters should stop being so santimonious. Every team on earth at some time or the other commits cheap fouls, check the records. You will find that the All Blacks are far from being the worst offenders. This is the usual case of "sour grapes". But objectively European teams have illusions about competing with the All Blacks. It is clear to any unbiased observer that the All Blacks have a different level of skill to anything seen in European rugby, it's like comparing thorough bred race horses to farm hacks. When the All Blacks play indifferently they still beat European teams most of the time; when they play at their best it's a massacre. And to a lesser degree it's the same story for Australia and South Africa against Europe. Check the record. But of course Its all due to foul play and biased referees. A little realism and humility might not be out of place, Europe should get back to basics and learn to play rugby instead of blaming others for their lack of ability. And now of course we will get all the media bullshit but it won't make much difference. The All Blacks will crush England next week because matches are won on the field by superior skill not the jingostic popular press.

25/11/2012 11:45:50 p.m.

J.P. wrote:

Irrelevant of the shirts being worn that was absolutely shocking from Hore. Hopefully will deal with it appropriately, he may be made an example of due to the previous stuff. irrelevant of what the IRB do though I'd like to see the NZRU take action themselves, I think that's possibly more important than what the IRB do. Would the match have been different if he'd gone the red card he deserved? Not really worth talking about as you always have to go on what the officials judge to be correct and there are far to many variables involved to say that it would have been different. Sometimes teams seem to sharpen up when down to 14 even though they would essentially have been off for the whole match. There's a lot of talk now in some places that this behaviour is endemic in the NZRU which I'm not convinced is true, if Hansen in some way is coaching this then he needs to be removed as irrelevant of his results he's doing more damage than good for the team. I would really hope that it's down to individual stupidity. I say this as a Welsh supporter, I would hate to see any team have that sort of reputation but in particularly the World Champions as well as being the top of the world rankings. How many people would have seen Hore's attack last night on TV? It's a shame that's what is being remembered but it's good to see that irrelevant of the country it's been condemned everywhere. Such a shame and as annoyed as I am that we lost I'm even more disappointed due to Hore's actions.

25/11/2012 5:51:09 p.m.

Ruz wrote:

I don't care how good he is at playing rugby. Get rid of him!!