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Wed 19 Aug 2015 | 01:50
All Blacks fined for waterboy Liam Messam joining on field scuffle

17
Comments

The All Blacks management have been fined for a 'technical zone breach' following their 41-13 win over the Wallabies at the weekend. Liam Messam, acting as waterboy, took to the field to join in on a scuffle, which is totally against SANZAR regulations. 

In the first half an incident occured whereby Ma'a Nonu dropped his knee and pushed the ball into the face of Stephen Moore. There wasn't much in it but it sparked a bit of a push and shove brawl between the two sides, with Messam, wearing a waterboy bib and a beanie, suddenly appearing in the middle of it.

Under tournament rules, water carriers are not permitted within the playing enclosure while the match is in progress. While they often get away with being on the field at various time, getting involved in a scuffle draws huge attention to it, so SANZAR weren't too impressed.

The All Blacks team management were issued a fine of $2000 as a result.

"We fully accept that we breached the sideline protocols during the match on the weekend and we accept the fine. I have made it clear to the All Blacks team management that it was a mistake we can not repeat."

On the Sky NZ feed commentator Grant Nisbett was initially disgusted at what was going on. "There's a bloke with a beanie on in there involved in the scrap – for heaven's sake." Until he realised it was Messam, and laughed it off.

Posted By: Grant Constable

17 Comments

  • finedisregard
    5:31 AM 21/08/2015

    Who cares? Keep playing. You guys sound like a bunch of cops.

  • kadova
    7:51 PM 20/08/2015

    LOL ! That's exactly that ! Well said !

  • kadova
    7:49 PM 20/08/2015

    I believe they don't want all the teams facing the ABs to do something each and every time.
    BTW, Steve Hansen wanted the NZRU to pay the fine for us, because he believes it was stupid to fine us for answering the Haka :)

  • rememberthemer
    12:29 PM 20/08/2015

    Yep, in summary with .

    - Moore, who has a history of being a bit a bit of twonk, tackled Nonu unnecessarily, well after the whistle had gone.
    - Nonu, who has a history of being a bit of a twonk, responded in kind by bouncing the ball off Moore's head.
    - Nonu, in spite of his twonk-ish history, did not knee drop Moore in the face.
    - Pocock, who has a history of being a thoroughly admirable fellow, was "third man in" and therefore according to one poster above, should have been red carded.
    - Messam, who has a history of being a bit of a twonk, was a twonk.
    - Nigel Owens is the only adult in this particular playground.

  • rememberthemer
    12:14 PM 20/08/2015

    So Pocock should have been red carded?

  • oldflyhalf
    11:27 AM 20/08/2015

    ...subtle. :).

  • drg
    9:39 AM 20/08/2015

    I don't think 3rd man in should always be a red card, rarely in fact... I can see why, but when you look at this "brawl" I'd say it's 100% pushing and shoving, no one is swinging. The majority of "brawls" these days involve a large number of people trying to separate the whole lot, not get involved...

    I personally believe the reason players rush in these days is to stop their own lads getting themselves into trouble...

  • breakaway
    7:29 AM 20/08/2015

    Actually, I've had a rethink and I've decided to be insulted too. Hundreds of thousands? Nah, it should be millions and Messsam should be banned for life, and the All Blacks would be banned from the World Cup if it was up to me. I've never seen a national team who should know better do something so appalling. I'm appalled and insulted.

  • mattyp
    2:27 AM 20/08/2015

    3rd man in is supposed to always be a red card, because it's what escalates everything, whether or not the "intent" is to "break it up". Liam Messam has no business being involved at all as the "waterboy". Thankfully the rest of the AB and Wallabies pitch side support crew aren't as moronic as him and didn't rush out onto the field as well in a baseball style dug out clearing.

    If I was reffing your club match and you got involved as the waterboy, I would have you removed from the playing area and make a report to the club. Zero business being involved.

  • breakaway
    1:10 AM 20/08/2015

    Firstly, Messam had no business being in there and the fine is warranted, whether he was just getting between players or whatever.
    As to what actually happened, I assume that we're all watching the same video, but sometimes you really do wonder. It seems pretty clear that after the whistle goes, Moore runs a couple of paces towards Nonu and tackles him. Nonu objects and bounces the ball off Moore's head as they go to ground. A couple of the angles show Nonu landing on the ground, not on Moore as some are suggesting. Pocock sees the noggin-ball and grabs Nonu, and a few others join in. The Aussie commentator's remark about smashing into Moore's face is nonsense. I also disagree with RD's assertion that Nonu knee-dropped Moore, I don't think that's supported by the video. And Nisbett was obviously surprised when he saw a beanie in amongst it, but to say he sounded disgusted is a stretch.

  • reality
    10:25 PM 19/08/2015

    Considering that the French team were fined more than double that amount for coming a step too close to the precious haka, I'd say this fine is an absolute joke. I don't know how they could be so lenient - Paddy O'Brien isn't there to pull strings anymore.

  • kadova
    8:22 PM 19/08/2015

    I believe they saw that Messam was not entering for a fight , hence the small fine. It looks to me more a warning than an actual fine.
    Maybe Nonu was overreacting to something that happened just before?

    And i definitively love Nigel Owens :)

  • eddie-g
    6:34 PM 19/08/2015

    One answer is that Sanzar officials officiating a Sanzar game don't want to see a Sanzar player banned from the World Cup. Nonu has a shitty disciplinary record, one citing and he's at risk of a long ban.

    Anyway, there's never been consistency within rugby, they certainly aren't about to start now.

  • drg
    6:17 PM 19/08/2015

    $2000 is a joke if they want to make a stand...

    I can see why they don't like it, you've got the potential for a 30 man brawl, it's going to be hard enough to pick it apart and see what's going on without touchline folk joining in.

  • 45678
    5:36 PM 19/08/2015

    The obvious question is why Nonu hasn't been picked up for knee dropping a player on the floor. I think it was Conrad smith who dangerously took a player out in the air in this game also. In the France England game, Picamoles appeared to head-butt an English player. They'll happily sanction someone for a technical breach, but overlook far worse things. rugby needs much better consistency

  • mitch_tickler
    4:49 PM 19/08/2015

    Nah, you're not wrong... $2000 is just a slap on the wrist I suppose... I think Beale was fined $45,000 for a 'smutty' text msg... Both teams were fired up in that NZ-AUS match in the first half... Makes for entertaining TV commentary...

  • 4:27 PM 19/08/2015

    $2000.- ???? WOW THAT HURTS....

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