mens
international
Rob Valetini could be happy. World Rugby’s new offside penalty is yet to be confirmed after the Wallabies back-rower lost a late match All black people winger Leroy Carter with a potentially serious ankle injury.
The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup with a 50-19 win at Eden Park and their 12th consecutive Test defeat against the Wallabies extended their unbeaten run at the stadium to 54.
Valetini’s desperate effort to stop Carter’s effort in the 67th minute forced the winger off the park.
Coming from behind, Valletini’s weight appeared to fall on Carter’s legs as he fell to the ground.
“It didn’t look good. Kind of like a hip-drop shot, landed on the back of his ankle,” New Zealand coach Dave Rennie said.
The world Rugbyafter years of serious injuries in similar matches, he followed the NRL and NFL and moved earlier in the week to specifically mention the hip drop in the global game’s rulebook.
There is currently nothing in the laws to punish the action, but from November 1 it will result in at least a penalty and a potential suspension.
“I’ll leave that for the officials,” Rennie said when asked if the match should be penalized.
“I’m sure it’s not intentional, but that’s the way the game goes.”
Captain Codie Taylor said the All Blacks, who have lost three in a row against South Africa, were boosted by Tan Umaga’s “spray” earlier this week.
Umaga, now an assistant coach, was on teams that won and retained Bledisloe in the late 1990s, early 2000s.
“The right kind of fear,” Taylor said of how it ignited the sidelines.
“What you need when you play for Bled in Eden Park.”
Wallabies center Len Ikitau failed to have a head injury assessed and is set to miss the second leg in Sydney next Saturday, while All Blacks lock Scott Barrett also suffered concussion, but Rennie was hopeful he would pass protocols to feature.
