Man Hater
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- Mar 23, 2006
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Cheap shot king
By Steve Mascord and Dean Ritchie
AUSTRALIA coach Ricky Stuart says his forwards are seething over David Kidwell's hit on Willie Mason and last night challenged the New Zealand backrower to run at them next Saturday night.
In a biting assessment of Kidwell's 25th-minute shoulder charge on prop Mason during Saturday night's 30-18 win at Mount Smart Stadium, Stuart questioned the Melbourne veteran's courage in running the ball.
Stuart's anger comes amid urgent calls for changes to the Tri-Nations judiciary system to prevent the tournament degenerating into a wild farce.
"I'm actually quite excited that the boys are dirty on it," Stuart told the Daily Telegraph at Auckland Airport late yesterday.
"David Kidwell got Petero Civoniceva with a cheap shot in the grand final. He came from side-on with Willie.
"That's all fine but then David won't run the ball back at these blokes.
"David will get the football and he'll be running at Johnathan Thurston. It's all well and good playing tough in defence. I haven't seen David Kidwell play too tough with the football."
The comments threaten to turn Saturday night's return encounter into a powderkeg. With Kidwell a Melbourne favourite, his annointing as public enemy No. 1 by the Australians should guarantee promoters a huge crowd at Telstra Dome.
Stuart continued: "Passion is terrific – as long as people can take what you give. That's one thing David Kidwell is yet to live up to. Kidwell's happy to give it. I'll drop this subject when I see Kidwell wanting to run the ball in and around the middle of our forward pack, more so than running at Johnathan Thurston.
"I know a lot of our boys are aware of that fact."
Kidwell claimed after the incident, which left Mason with severe bruising below his left eye and has him needing scans today for a possible facial fracture, that it was already "forgotten" among the players. But Stuart said: "It's all forgotten if you want to take your end of the deal too.
"It's easy to come in and take a cheap shot when blokes are running the football and then you get the football, you run at the halves. The way he got Petero with a cheap shot in the grand final and then the shot on Willie – it doesn't go un-noticed by the boys."
Australian centre Matt King said he expected the tough nature of Saturday night's Test to be a theme for the rest of the series.
"This series is going to be fired up," King said.
"(Great Britain prop) Stuart Fielden is already talking about the Poms and how physical they're going to be.
"I think it will be an old school series, which I think everyone is looking forward to."
A flaw in the triangular series' judiciary process has raised fears about the amount of foul play fans will be subjected to in coming Tests.
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad last night endorsed calls for an independent committee to review suspected foul play during the remaining six Tri-Nations Tests.
Under the current rules, no disciplinary action can be taken against a player unless he is placed on report or sent off by a referee.
Referee Ashley Klein did not place Kidwell on report.
Both teams also have a small 30-minute window after a game to lodge a protest against any incident.
The matter will be further discussed this week and Noad agreed an independent body must be used to review foul play.
"I'd support that theory," Noad said. "I think the NRL system works pretty well in general.
"I can't see any reason why that system couldn't be implemented. They could use an independent body."
It's going to be a cracker
Source: Telecrap
By Steve Mascord and Dean Ritchie
AUSTRALIA coach Ricky Stuart says his forwards are seething over David Kidwell's hit on Willie Mason and last night challenged the New Zealand backrower to run at them next Saturday night.
In a biting assessment of Kidwell's 25th-minute shoulder charge on prop Mason during Saturday night's 30-18 win at Mount Smart Stadium, Stuart questioned the Melbourne veteran's courage in running the ball.
Stuart's anger comes amid urgent calls for changes to the Tri-Nations judiciary system to prevent the tournament degenerating into a wild farce.
"I'm actually quite excited that the boys are dirty on it," Stuart told the Daily Telegraph at Auckland Airport late yesterday.
"David Kidwell got Petero Civoniceva with a cheap shot in the grand final. He came from side-on with Willie.
"That's all fine but then David won't run the ball back at these blokes.
"David will get the football and he'll be running at Johnathan Thurston. It's all well and good playing tough in defence. I haven't seen David Kidwell play too tough with the football."
The comments threaten to turn Saturday night's return encounter into a powderkeg. With Kidwell a Melbourne favourite, his annointing as public enemy No. 1 by the Australians should guarantee promoters a huge crowd at Telstra Dome.
Stuart continued: "Passion is terrific – as long as people can take what you give. That's one thing David Kidwell is yet to live up to. Kidwell's happy to give it. I'll drop this subject when I see Kidwell wanting to run the ball in and around the middle of our forward pack, more so than running at Johnathan Thurston.
"I know a lot of our boys are aware of that fact."
Kidwell claimed after the incident, which left Mason with severe bruising below his left eye and has him needing scans today for a possible facial fracture, that it was already "forgotten" among the players. But Stuart said: "It's all forgotten if you want to take your end of the deal too.
"It's easy to come in and take a cheap shot when blokes are running the football and then you get the football, you run at the halves. The way he got Petero with a cheap shot in the grand final and then the shot on Willie – it doesn't go un-noticed by the boys."
Australian centre Matt King said he expected the tough nature of Saturday night's Test to be a theme for the rest of the series.
"This series is going to be fired up," King said.
"(Great Britain prop) Stuart Fielden is already talking about the Poms and how physical they're going to be.
"I think it will be an old school series, which I think everyone is looking forward to."
A flaw in the triangular series' judiciary process has raised fears about the amount of foul play fans will be subjected to in coming Tests.
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad last night endorsed calls for an independent committee to review suspected foul play during the remaining six Tri-Nations Tests.
Under the current rules, no disciplinary action can be taken against a player unless he is placed on report or sent off by a referee.
Referee Ashley Klein did not place Kidwell on report.
Both teams also have a small 30-minute window after a game to lodge a protest against any incident.
The matter will be further discussed this week and Noad agreed an independent body must be used to review foul play.
"I'd support that theory," Noad said. "I think the NRL system works pretty well in general.
"I can't see any reason why that system couldn't be implemented. They could use an independent body."
It's going to be a cracker
Source: Telecrap
