In this week's On The Sidelines, Scotty dives into the All Blacks' controversial narrow defeat to France over the weekend, and covers the latest action in PHL and HBJ.
ALL BLACKS
TMO calls continue to flummox fans
Let's just be clear about this: a couple of final quarter forensic calls from the television match officials didn't cost the All Blacks victory in Paris, but questions have to be asked about their expanded powers, and indeed the creation of another boffin on a screen role for a separate 'foul play' tsar.
To all intents and purposes, the three most qualified referees in the game are on the field. One has the whistle and two have flags. They are the men in the middle with an innate understanding of the momentum in the game and the 'pictures' painted by the protagonists. They are not going to see everything, but they have the best chance of gauging whether any transgression has had a material impact on proceedings.
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In this week's On The Sidelines, Scotty dives into the All Blacks' controversial narrow defeat to France over the weekend, and covers the latest action in PHL and HBJ. (Source: 1News)
Granted, there will be some crucial things missed, and some level of oversight can benefit the fairness of any given contest. But if you are going to have an official solely focused on finding infringements, they are going to be duty-bound to call them. However, there is a problem with this. As Patrick McKendry pointed out in this week's review of the test (Test Digest can be viewed now on TVNZ+), if that is the job, then it's the job for the full 80 minutes, not just for any frantic final quarter.
If a television official is going to find something in the final 10 minutes of a test, especially one as hotly contested as that in Paris on Saturday night, then it stands to reason there was every chance he or she could have found other such transgressions in the preceding 70 minutes.
It seems it was also squeaky clean until then, though. At least in the wonderful world of the TMO. For Patrick McKendry's full analysis read here.
RUGBY
England's woes continue as Boks finish over the top
England's rugby fortunes continue to bob on a rising tide of disappointment, as the Sprinboks handed Steve Borthwick's men their fifth straight loss on the weekend. England, who were encouraged by a strong showing against the All Blacks back in July, have now been beaten by the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa in consecutive weeks.
The English were value for money in a tight first half, with Sleightholme and Underhill both scoring tries to turn for the second half just two points adrift. England must have believed they were a fighter's chance, having been pipped at the post by the Wallabies and squandered a victory against the All Blacks.
Alas, what they produced in the second half was nothing short of a creative wasteland as the Boks imposed themselves on the contest. The final 29-20 score suggests England at least fought with some gumption and determination, but they currently have no answer when teams accelerate — and the Boks didn't exactly have to get out of third gear.
It is back to the drawing board for Steve Borthwick, although England can at least look forward to welcoming back the Great Imposter, Eddie Jones, as they host his underwhelming Japan in their final test of the year. Mind you, just imagine if...
HOCKEY
PHL continues to thrill as hockey gets time in the sun
It was another intense round of the premier hockey league as action moved to Wellington and Tauranga over the weekend. The Falcons hosted the Alpiners who escaped their South Island base for the first time this season and may have wished they had stayed home.
The Falcons took the women's match 6-2 with Kelsey Smith converting two field goals for a personal 4-goal tally, while Olivia Shannon and Kaitlin Cotter added a goal apiece. The Alpiners managed two penalty corners but were no match this week for the table-topping birds.
The men's game turned into an absolute thriller with Dom Dixon starring in goal for the home side. The Alpiners, without their captain Sam Lane, held the advantage heading into the third quarter but watched the Falcons come back to level the scores and send the game into shoot out. Dom Dixon, who had earlier saved a penalty stroke, proved too good in goal, and the Falcons took the shoot-out, 4-3.
In Tauranga, honours were shared by the Mavericks and the Tridents. It was another keeper Brodie Cochrane who provided the goods for the Mavs as they held out the more favoured Tridents and claimed their first win of the season. Greer Findlay's converted field goal was the difference between the two sides.
The Mavs men had no such luck. Trailing by four goals at quarter time, they could not find any rhythm against a tenacious Tridents defence that fed more than enough opportunities to the strike line. Among many, Isaac Houlbrooke, Zander Fraser and Ryan Parr had great showings while James Hickson's first goal will be a contender for goal of the year.
You can catch up on all the PHL action and watch every round LIVE on TVNZ+.
CRICKET
White Ferns dominate HBJ action, future looks bright
The Black Caps took on Sri Lanka in the second One Day International overnight and the result will have landed in your inboxes before Sidelines this morning so time for us to focus on the domestic game and the first two matches of the women's ODI competition, the Hallyburton-Johnstone Shield, or HBJ.
It was a double success for the defending champions, the Otago Sparks as they took down the Canterbury Magicians in back-to-back matches. There was a bright side for the home side, with legend of the team Frankie McKay becoming the most prolific list A run-scorer for a single team, moving past Amy Satterthwaite's total of 5147. McKay would have gladly taken the personal milestone but would have swapped that for competition points. The Magicians also may have lost fast bowler and White Ferns fast bowler Lea Tahuhu, who left the field after injuring herself while bowling.
Elsewhere, Auckland and Northern Districts shared the spoils, with 18-year-old future star Eve Wolland seeing northern home in the second match with a career-high 48, after Maddy Green had posted her fifth List A century and second for the Hearts.
Bowlers were the talk of the town in the Central Districts matches against Wellington. Another 18-year-old, Wellington's Hannah Francis, claimed 4-18 in the Blaze victory, while Ocean Bartlett and Rosemary Mair took six-wicket bags for CD on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Mair claimed 6-21, while Bartlett took 6-27.
HBJ action resumes in two weeks' time as preparations continue for the White Ferns' series against Australia in December.
COMING UP
What's to come today and this week
The Black Caps take on Sri Lanka in the second ODI overnight and we'll have a full recap on 1News.co.nz this morning.
The All Whites continue their world cup qualification quest when they face Samoa in Auckland this evening. After trouncing Vanuatu 8-1 in Hamilton, Striker Chris Wood has asked for even more against the Samoans. This could be a job for the abacus.
Liam Lawson will be back in action this coming weekend when the F1 circus descends on Sin City. Las Vegas's Street Circuit will provide one of the series' most incredible back drops — the perfect setting for Lawson to continue taking all the risks.
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