Rugby Championship
Ridiculous Boks prop couldn't play tight-head
Craig Dowd
July 29, 2015
South Africa 20-27 New Zealand (Australia only)

The All Blacks showed again at the weekend that when top players are not available they can replace them with quality; new players step up because they want it so badly. What the All Blacks have now is great depth right across every position in the team.

By comparison the Springboks lacked the experience that New Zealand could call on. That was seen with their call on the field when their loose-head prop replacement said he couldn't play at tight-head. That's just absolutely madness. I'm sure every forward in the All Black went "Phew!". Down to seven men, defending their own line from five metres out, they would have appreciated the let-off.

That was the turning point of the game. Instead of all the whingeing that has been going on about the lineout try, they should be pointing the finger inwards and saying what a stupid decision that was. There's no excuse. If you're a prop and you're sitting on the bench and you can't actually do your job then don't sit there. I've had Under-12 teams where I put a kid in the front-row who had never played there before; but he was so keen to get a run that he was happy to try.

There's more chance of that kid having an injury than someone who has a lifetime in a gym pumping iron, strengthening their neck, strengthening their core and not be able to get into a scrum against someone of equal strength and hold it up.

My God, get over it. It is absolute garbage. These guys are paid professional athletes and they are too delicate to get into the front-row even though they wear a number like one or three is just ludicrous. It is PC gone wrong in the world of rugby.

He has labelled himself a loose-head for life and when he starts chasing big bucks in Europe he should put on his CV: "Can't play tighthead". Who would want to sign him? The thing is tight-head props are worth twice as much as a loose-head. Any club will tell you that.

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