Fri 22 Nov 2013 | 04:46
Wing JP Pietersen's big tackle on Eighthman David Denton

42
Comments

Springbok winger JP Pietersen marked his 50th Test by finishing off a fantastic try and making a thumping hit on Scotland number eight Dave Denton. Pietersen then got a bit overzealous and rubbed Denton's face in the dirt, quite literally.

Some fans and pundits weren’t amused by what he did, saying it was unsportsmanlike and a bit dirty. Others viewed it as simply a bit of gamesmanship, questioning why some are so sensitive in a sport that fundimentally involves getting the better of your opponents physically.

The tackle itself was perfect. It was a rare chance for Scotland but Pietersen ushered Denton towards the touchline then went in and smashed him. It wasn’t the first knock the South African schooled Scotland number eight took, as Fourie Du Preez also levelled him earlier in the game.

To Denton’s credit, in both cases he wasn’t entirely balanced and was there for the taking, and in terms of getting his face shoved into the ground, his non-reaction showed class.

If anything Pietersen let himself down a bit by doing that, a bit like Delon Armitage and George North did when they wagged their fingers at hapless defenders. It's not ideal and crosses the line a little, but the players themelves are aware that the excitement of the moment got the better of them. 

The Springboks will be looking for more dominant tackles and performances when they take on France in Paris on Saturday night. They haven't beaten the French in away since 1997, when they won 52-10. The last time the two sides met, in Cape Town in 2010, South Africa won 42-17.

The home side are coming off a solid performance against the All Blacks, where they impressed by nearly sneaking a draw, so will probably fancy their chances of springing an upset.

What was your reaction to the tackle and 'afters' from JP Pietersen?

42 Comments

  • eyetiebok
    10:58 AM 27/11/2013

    I'm a huge Bok supporter - but more than that, I am a rugby supporter. This was not rugby. This was an embarrassment to rugby and to the good Bok name. We pride ourselves in being different from football - because after a superb tackle like this, we would resort to picking the player up as a mark of respect. Rubbing his face in the dirt is savage, loutish behaviour that tarnishes the game of rugby. Pietersen should be banned for 2 or 3 games. End of.

  • drg
    9:53 AM 26/11/2013

    I mentioned it up there, but John Hopoate probably thought sticking his finger in another players arse wasn't a big deal. Just a bit of adrenaline, and hey, grow a pair guys, it's not like Hopoate nearly killed the guy is it!!!

    If we let JP's actions slide why shouldn't we let others go?

  • jimothy
    8:52 PM 25/11/2013

    Please explain. What did Denton do? I didn't see the whole game...

  • bootsy
    2:29 PM 25/11/2013

    Rugby players, like sportsmen and women whatever their activity, have a responsibility to uphold the standards of the game for themselves, their teams, the integrity of the sport and as a benchmark to children.

    Yes it was a good hit, not technically perfect by any means, but effective. The face-rub was petty but spiteful and completely needless.

    So what example does this set? Kids - once you've done completed the tackle and the whistle has gone / flag has been raised, make sure you get a cheap shot in for good measure - after all that's how the pros do it.

    All this 'heat of moment' stuff is an excuse not a reason. People do react sometimes to provocation, but there was none of that here Pietersen knew full well what he was doing.

    I agree that since it went unpunished on the pitch the IRB should make an example of him and give him a one match ban. The community game can't throw its hands up when children start behaving like playground bullies if the governing body turns a blind eye to it.

  • guy
    12:43 PM 25/11/2013

    So how often do you accidentally bump into the same person normally?

  • colombes
    11:59 AM 25/11/2013

    perfect cover tackle of JP
    perfect ridicule reaction of JP

  • fetchingfly
    8:06 AM 25/11/2013

    Whenever Catt played SA as he's South African - one of the many that has played/is playing for other countries.

  • mago
    2:10 AM 25/11/2013

    I like how for a lot of people this is okay, but celebrating tries soccer-style is a bit too much...

  • drg
    7:02 PM 24/11/2013

    Not saying I agree with him, but some teams have more of those types of players than others...

  • 5:15 PM 24/11/2013

    Here's the thing about what JP did, it can easily cause a massive brawl and perhaps the Scots would have been rightfully justified in reacting with some physical indignation to that. For that reason, and for sportsmanship, there should have been at least a penalty awarded to the scots. Now before all you tough guys out there start belittling me, think about it. How many tackles are made in a game? How many periods of contact occur? 100's? Could you imagine if every time someone got the best of their opponent they rubbed their face in the mud? There'd be league brawls every few minutes!

  • matt
    5:02 PM 24/11/2013

    I don't think it is a delicate approach at all, there are rules to this game, and when you don't follow them as blatantly and as willingly as Pieterson I think you should be made an example of.

  • 4:08 PM 24/11/2013

    Generalise much?

    Every team has those kind of players.

  • 12:00 PM 24/11/2013

    And that's the nature of the game. I'm 99% sure he won't lose it if or when he gets smashed next time.

    Grow a pair....

  • ruppansy
    4:07 AM 24/11/2013

    I couldn't agree more. It was an awesome tackle, JP was proud and wanted to send a message. Hell, looks like he may have been responding to an earlier message by Denton. A little face rub is simply the cherry on the sundae. Denton was effectively humiliated by JP in that tackle and knew it, which was why he didn't respond. JP got the better of him and handbags weren't going to accomplish anything.

  • drg
    5:58 PM 23/11/2013

    Katman do you read other posts or only what you want to read?

    Many have actually said the only reason they feel this shit SHOULD be policed is because the ability for players to self police has been taken out of the game. If Denton can't get up and clock the little prick/shoe him in the next ruck/rough him up etc without risk of being sent off, then his hands are tied and these petty little pathetic actions will become a constant in every game.

  • djmzie
    1:36 PM 23/11/2013

    Hand on head, rubbed into grass - less than 20cm away. What harm did JP do to Denton? It was the tackle. Perhaps people feel sorry for Denton because he secretly wanted to play for the Boks.

  • djmzie
    1:27 PM 23/11/2013

    The bigger man got smashed silly by a smaller one, and was on the winning team - leaving the home team scoreless. But good sportmanship from Denton though - didn't throw his handbag. Or was still shaken up by the collision.

  • djmzie
    1:21 PM 23/11/2013

    Yes. Us Saffas are seen as violent dirty players - the truth is most players are just like any other fellows one could meet at a pub or restuarant. As for the tackle - superb. The hand in the face - it wouldn't be rugby if the wasn't any sucker-shots. It was uncool, but things like this happen in an aggression-filled contact sport. Big hits wouldn't exist if players were filled with estrogen. All players have done done this at least 5 times in their careers. Man up.

  • katman
    10:41 AM 23/11/2013

    You never see this kind of shocking brutality in synchronised swimming. Maybe a couple of you should give that a try for a while?

  • jeri
    6:07 AM 23/11/2013

    Let him take away whatever trophy he felt he earned from that particular physical encounter. We could all see who actually came away the bigger man.

  • cheyanqui
    4:13 AM 23/11/2013

    if we as a rugby community allow this to build up, we'll turn into gridiron or rugby league... eventually standing over players and sledging while they're out cold from concussion.

    in the old days, players like JPP would be self-policed -- a good stamping at the next ruck comes to mind

    but with professionalism, the only way to stamp this out is with fines or sanctions.

  • totesmcgoates
    2:59 AM 23/11/2013

    Great tackle; what happens after isn't worth talking about. Definitely falls into the 'slack' category but it's a non-incident really.

  • drg
    1:38 AM 23/11/2013

    I actually agree with many of you that it's pathetic that we think the IRB should intervene. What is more pathetic however is how a player is protected and somewhat encouraged (by lack of intervention) to behave like JP did.

    Like I said up there, if we could revert to the old days (not even THAT OLD really!) and have Denton stand up and belt JP only to have the referee just award a penalty then no one would ask for IRB intervention. The fact remains though that if Denton HAD reacted, he could well find himself sitting out the rest of the game, hence my point about players being protected and encouraged to behave like anuses(?)...ani(?)... idk, whatever the plural is...

  • heavyhooker
    12:36 AM 23/11/2013

    The thing that makes me upset at this is the fact that the score in itself was humiliating enough. This was just a real show of poor sportsmanship. I look at the IRB handbook for and see what the principles are: Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and RESPECT and see that this player pretty much showed the total opposite. Rugby is a tough game, true, but this is not what we should be showing to the youth as any way to treat another player, especially when the game was so one sided. Disgraceful

  • henri
    10:31 PM 22/11/2013

    I kinda cringed when I saw this. I can't see a player like Habana ever do this. Really childish. Then conveniently stands up and away from Denton. Wasn't the tackle good enough for ya?

  • cheyanqui
    9:48 PM 22/11/2013

    Well, if he did this to Dan Carter, the Citing Commissioner would have already issued a 1 match suspension.

  • cheyanqui
    9:47 PM 22/11/2013

    Just seems to be endemic in certain teams and certain nations. Funny how JdV is a class act 99.999999% of the time, but several of his teammates live for this junk.

  • jeri
    9:20 PM 22/11/2013

    Not a major crime against rugby or anything but definitely a poor instance of character. As was mentioned by another user, the appropriate response was to just walk away - which Denton did.

  • eddie-g
    9:06 PM 22/11/2013

    Well said, Katman.

    Look, everyone has different mileage on gamesmanship, but no-one can seriously argue that something like this or George North's wave or the Splashdown or whatever presents a threat to the game.

    Somewhat douchey thing to do? Yes. Such an outrage that we now need the IRB to intervene? For heaven's sake, grow up.

    Hats off though to Denton, not taking the bait, some things on a rugby field you just shrug off.

  • badge
    9:02 PM 22/11/2013

    Show us how it's done chief.

  • drg
    9:00 PM 22/11/2013

    Yeh whats a little poke in the bum for fun.. John Hopoate...

  • benny
    8:58 PM 22/11/2013

    Can you imagine if that was McCaw/Cooper instead of Denton/JPP. There would be total chaos on this site and Quade might have his kiwi passport revoked! :)

  • katman
    7:33 PM 22/11/2013

    Is this Rugbydump or the Concerned Mom's Forum? I've never seen such indignant huff over absolutely nothing. He rubbed his face in the grass. Anybody who thinks this was anything more than playful gamesmanship needs to reconsider what they want from a contact sport. Seriously guys, if that's what you are...

  • katman
    7:27 PM 22/11/2013

    Really? Bin him? The biggest threat to this game is the attitude of people like you. Luckily the tackled player didn't seem to share your delicate approach to rugby.

  • backrovern
    6:51 PM 22/11/2013

    Unsportsmanlike? Yep. But if a wing clobbers a #8 like that he's earned the right to a little dig and Denton did the right thing by doing nothing.

  • brumbiesfan
    6:21 PM 22/11/2013

    I think it is disgraceful. They are not thugs playing rugby league. The scots should have decked him for that!

  • drg
    6:16 PM 22/11/2013

    Great tackle by Pieterson, sadly thats where it ends, I'd have had great respect for JP for just that tackle, but the afters just make him look like the Wanker Armitage brother.

    Credit to Denton for keeping his cool, or perhaps credit to the coaching staff for reinforcing the importance of discipline. Sadly I doubt I'd have enough self restraint, I'd have probably battered (or attempted to batter) that little shite and sadly it would be me that would end up getting sent off.

    Again to echo what others have said, I think it's important that officials pick up on this kind of faggotry. In the days gone by they're be a scrap and it would probably only end with a penalty at most, now someone does something like that and there is no instant retribution.

  • nzbougnat
    6:13 PM 22/11/2013

    I haven't seen the full game so can only speculate here. But I agree it does very much look like revenge. This would also explain why Denton is not retaliating (i.e., saw it coming?).
    Regardless, fantastic covering tackle by JPP!

  • 5:28 PM 22/11/2013

    Good tackle by Pieterson, well done Denton for not rising to the immature face-rub. All this does is take away from Pieterson's tackle and makes him look like a childish idiot.

  • badge
    5:17 PM 22/11/2013

    The tackle spoke for itself on this occasion, no need for the extra bit of sauce on the end. Kudos to Denton for keeping such a cool head, albeit it being run into the mud not two seconds prior to him standing up and laughing it off.

  • stereo_mike
    5:04 PM 22/11/2013

    Its both good and bad, I'm favour of a bit of attitude and agression it means that next time he carrys and hes your man you bury him in the tackle. As long as they can both shake hands at the end of the game what does it matter.

  • upthelowend
    4:53 PM 22/11/2013

    I've only seen him play on a handful of occasions and only on the international circuit but in every game i've seen he's done something which suggests a major attitude problem. Or is this just coincidence?