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Sir Graham Henry risking rugby ridicule
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Morrissey Breen
Jul 31, 2012, 2:34:18 PM7/31/12
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Sir Graham Henry risking rugby ridicule
20 July 2012
Former International Rugby Board referee selector Bob Francis fears
Sir Graham Henry will be "ridiculed" by the global rugby fraternity
following his controversial claims about the All Blacks' 2007 World
Cup quarter-final.
Henry claims he pushed for an IRB investigation following New
Zealand's loss to France in Cardiff.
In his biography, Graham Henry: Final Word, the former All Blacks
coach was highly critical of the performance of English referee Wayne
Barnes and his assistant referees.
Henry described the match as bizarre, claiming (without evidence) at
least 40 infringements committed by the French were overlooked.
Francis, on the IRB panel that selected Barnes to control the final,
described Henry's views as extreme.
He was also disappointed that Henry's legacy would take a hit after
having guided the All Blacks to World Cup glory last year.
He expected the IRB to shortly pen a critical response to Henry's
comments.
"There will be some support for his views within New Zealand," Francis
told NZ Newswire. "But having some knowledge of the northern
hemisphere scene, I think his comments will be ridiculed, without
doubt. The saddest part really is that Graham Henry bounced back from
2007 and did so well. He won the (2011) World Cup and was knighted and
so he left on a great note. I think this has taken some gloss off
that."
Francis, a former test referee and mayor of Masterton, said he and
former IRB referees boss Paddy O'Brien - also a New Zealander -
analysed the Cardiff Test for several hours the day after it was
played.
"We admitted all along there were some referee mistakes in the game,
or omissions," he said. "But we never at any stage believed it was
anywhere near the extent in this book. We reject the assertion totally
and would question the method of the analysis."
O'Brien refused to comment on the Henry revelations on Monday. He was
critical of the opprobrium aimed at Barnes in the weeks following the
defeat.
The NZRU produced a short statement on Monday distancing itself from
Henry's comments.
"It was well documented at the time and as part of our 2007 campaign
review, that there were concerns about the refereeing. We took our
concerns to the IRB, they listened, and everyone has moved on since
then," the statement said.
Grave questions remain about the way the South African referee Craig
Joubert seemed to collude with the New Zealand team's strategy of
persistent cheating in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final. Henry's claims
will now probably open up further questions about Joubert's failure,
and of possible undue influence by the New Zealand team, including
Henry himself.
Read more:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Sir-Graham-Henry-risking-rugby-ridicule---Francis/tabid/415/articleID/263193/Default.aspx#ixzz22E5EI6EQ
20 July 2012
Former International Rugby Board referee selector Bob Francis fears
Sir Graham Henry will be "ridiculed" by the global rugby fraternity
following his controversial claims about the All Blacks' 2007 World
Cup quarter-final.
Henry claims he pushed for an IRB investigation following New
Zealand's loss to France in Cardiff.
In his biography, Graham Henry: Final Word, the former All Blacks
coach was highly critical of the performance of English referee Wayne
Barnes and his assistant referees.
Henry described the match as bizarre, claiming (without evidence) at
least 40 infringements committed by the French were overlooked.
Francis, on the IRB panel that selected Barnes to control the final,
described Henry's views as extreme.
He was also disappointed that Henry's legacy would take a hit after
having guided the All Blacks to World Cup glory last year.
He expected the IRB to shortly pen a critical response to Henry's
comments.
"There will be some support for his views within New Zealand," Francis
told NZ Newswire. "But having some knowledge of the northern
hemisphere scene, I think his comments will be ridiculed, without
doubt. The saddest part really is that Graham Henry bounced back from
2007 and did so well. He won the (2011) World Cup and was knighted and
so he left on a great note. I think this has taken some gloss off
that."
Francis, a former test referee and mayor of Masterton, said he and
former IRB referees boss Paddy O'Brien - also a New Zealander -
analysed the Cardiff Test for several hours the day after it was
played.
"We admitted all along there were some referee mistakes in the game,
or omissions," he said. "But we never at any stage believed it was
anywhere near the extent in this book. We reject the assertion totally
and would question the method of the analysis."
O'Brien refused to comment on the Henry revelations on Monday. He was
critical of the opprobrium aimed at Barnes in the weeks following the
defeat.
The NZRU produced a short statement on Monday distancing itself from
Henry's comments.
"It was well documented at the time and as part of our 2007 campaign
review, that there were concerns about the refereeing. We took our
concerns to the IRB, they listened, and everyone has moved on since
then," the statement said.
Grave questions remain about the way the South African referee Craig
Joubert seemed to collude with the New Zealand team's strategy of
persistent cheating in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final. Henry's claims
will now probably open up further questions about Joubert's failure,
and of possible undue influence by the New Zealand team, including
Henry himself.
Read more:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Sir-Graham-Henry-risking-rugby-ridicule---Francis/tabid/415/articleID/263193/Default.aspx#ixzz22E5EI6EQ
dechucka
Jul 31, 2012, 6:22:13 PM7/31/12
to
"Morrissey Breen" <morriss...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:b8161fc8-3c71-4464...@a7g2000pbm.googlegroups.com...
> Sir Graham Henry risking rugby ridicule
> 20 July 2012
>
> Former International Rugby Board referee selector Bob Francis fears
> Sir Graham Henry will be "ridiculed" by the global rugby fraternity
> following his controversial claims about the All Blacks' 2007 World
> Cup quarter-final.
Risking?
> 20 July 2012
>
> Former International Rugby Board referee selector Bob Francis fears
> Sir Graham Henry will be "ridiculed" by the global rugby fraternity
> following his controversial claims about the All Blacks' 2007 World
> Cup quarter-final.
lord shineything
Jul 31, 2012, 10:52:22 PM7/31/12
to
On Aug 1, 10:22 am, "dechucka" <dechuc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "Morrissey Breen" <morrisseybr...@gmail.com> wrote in message
That was Lord Shiney's initial reaction, but the hysterical reaction
of Mr S Jones has Lord Shiney thinking there might be something to
Henry's suspicions after all.
The Welshman doth protest too much...
> "Morrissey Breen" <morrisseybr...@gmail.com> wrote in message
of Mr S Jones has Lord Shiney thinking there might be something to
Henry's suspicions after all.
The Welshman doth protest too much...
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