IRB kowtow to British laptops on Horwill

Momentum is built on moments, and perhaps the telling one in Australia’s victory in Melbourne came early in the second half when Brian O’Driscoll managed to achieve what the Wallabies had largely failed to do.

He passed the ball to Israel Folau.

Although there was still half an hour left, James Horwill’s men were beginning to look vulnerable as the Lions mounted one of their rare attacks on the Wallaby tryline. Had O’Driscoll’s floater found George North rather than Folau, it may have been try time for the Lions and good night, God bless for the Wallabies. The home side was noticeably buoyed at getting out of their own territory and although they didn’t score for another 26 minutes, it was the energy-reviving boost required.

With nine minutes on the clock, Horwill had the chance to call up Christian Leali’ifano to slot a sitter and decrease the deficit from six to three. Taking the shot would have the double bonus of letting his troops grab some breath for a final assault. He opted for a scrum and on that decision he may find himself in a club of one, because it is unlikely many international captains, in that same circumstance, would have ignored the offered gift. The seven points on which he’d punted his captaincy credibility, came a few minutes later, and should the Wallabies go on to win the series, Horwill’s call will be one for the ages.

Of course, he may not get to play in Saturday night’s decider because the IRB has bowed to the pressure of the British media to re-hear his stamping charge from the first Test.

Whether the big Queensland lock should have been suspended or not is not the issue here. The IRB’s own appointed judicial officer, Nigel Hampton QC, was enlisted to hear the case and after three and a half hours arrived at the decision to exonerate Horwill.

The politically correct brigade who can’t quite distinguish the difference between thuggery and what happens in contact sport, went to town on their laptops, and the IRB kowtowed.

Horwill surely wishes he had the same retrospective rights as the game’s ruling body because he’d then be able to have the last few seconds of the first Test played again and get someone other than Kurtley Beale to attempt that match winning penalty, because his choice of kicker didn’t get the result he wanted. The Wallabies would have won the series by now.

A clean player and an honourable man, Horwill claimed from the get-go he had no idea he had made any contact with Alun Wyn-Jones. (Horwill’s 130 professional matches in the hurly-burly of forward play without once being cited suggests cheap shots are not his MO.)

Nevertheless, the IRB have decided to question the Australian captain’s integrity, while at the same time telling the legal man they trusted to do their duty for them, that he didn’t come up with the answer they wanted. They don’t actually call him a dope, but read into it what you wish.

The whole issue is almost as farcical as the one week suspension of Rebels winger Lachlan Mitchell for a perfectly legal tackle in the midweek game leading up the Test. His opponent, Irish winger Simon Zebo, fell awkwardly, but that was in no way Mitchell’s fault.

It’s all very right and noble of the IRB to make the game as safe as it can be. However, to go crawling to those who have no concept of what a contact sport entails, is ludicrous and potentially self-defeating.

Regardless of whether Horwill ends up playing or not, it’s to be hoped the final Test in Sydney is more reminiscent of the thrill a minute Brisbane Test than Melbourne’s drab affair.

I’m sick of carrying on about the disregard for the offside law, but Craig Joubert and his assistants seemed intent on ignoring it. Both teams were offside at the phase play all night, and when that is allowed to occur, real rugby won’t happen. The IRB should be less concerned about misinterpreting physical contact as foul play and more concerned with allowing the game to be played as it was intended, and spectators and players would all be better off.

I watched the game with a 10-year-old girl who made the point that by the 71st minute neither side had even got close to the try line. Who needs to be a devotee to tell it how it is?

Adam Ashley-Cooper’s try saved Australia and the game from embarrassment, but the reality is that it was not what it should have been.

The players were not blameless. The error rate, particularly handling, was well below international standard. Forget the atmosphere and the economic benefits. As an advertisement for the code in AFL-obsessed Melbourne, the game was a failure.

* Former Wallaby captain Andy Slack writes for the Sunday Mail in Brisbane. Don’t miss him next Monday.