Hendrikse’s wink failed to deter Crowley but raises the question of sportsmanship in rugby

POOR SPORTSMANSHIP? Jaden Henrikse went down with "cramp" after hitting his kick in the place kicking competition delaying Jack Crowley's kick but his wink to the Munster man failed to deter the Irish place kicker. Pic: ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart

URC quarter-final: Shark 24 Munster 24 (Sharks win on place kicking competition 6-4)

Munster coach Ian Costello did not address “the wink” with local media following his side’s 6-4 penalty shootout defeat in the United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final at Kings Park on Saturday.

It might not even have been a topic of discussion in the Munster dressing room because for all the subsequent online furore, it was a fairly commonplace act in the modern game.

The wink though, certainly caused a social media hullaballoo that seemed disproportionate to the alleged offence.

The incident in question was when Sharks scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse went down with “cramp” after landing his second kick of a penalty shootout after the URC quarter-final against the Sharks had ended 24-24.

Sharks phyios came on the pitch to treat the canny Bok halfback, all within a few feet of Munster flyhalf Jack Crowley, who was waiting to attempt his second kick at goal.

Crowley let his feelings be known, telling the Sharks medical staff to “f*&k off.” Hendrikse, on his back, winked at Crowley in response. Cue indignation from keyboards around the world.

The image of the wink spread through social media like only social media outrage can spread.

For the record, Crowley nailed his kick anyway, and no harm was done. It’s also possible that Hendrikse was genuinely cramping. And it’s also possible that he was able to wink at Crowley and cramp at the same time – the two actions are not mutually exclusive.

The real damage in the shootout was done without any noticeable gamesmanship when Rory Scannell missed his first attempt, from 15 metres in from touch on the 22-metre line.

That happened minutes before the Hendrikse wink.

It wasn’t the wink that shaped the course of the shootout. Despite social media’s predictable outrage there, Hendrikse genuinely appeared to cramp up as soon as he struck his second kick in the shootout.

Players swear, nudge, blow kisses, occasionally wink at each other and more worryingly, fall about feigning injury over 80 minutes as a matter of course these days.

There is seldom, if ever outrage. Suddenly, in a shootout, it’s deemed unacceptable by many people on social media who are happy to hurl insults at those disagreeing with them.

No one, including Crowley, knew Hendrikse's precise physical state. His painful reaction following his second kick, looked authentic. Whether it was or wasn’t, is conjecture.

His wink was clearly intended to rile Crowley up. It had the opposite effect, and apparently added to Crowley’s determination as he slotted his kick.

So, it’s safe to deduce that Hendrikse’s wink, as an act of disrupting the opponent, failed.

Which only leaves one to navel gaze about whether it was in the spirit of the game, yet another dangerous road to go down.

Players literally cheat, or attempt to cheat throughout a rugby match. A jersey tug here, hands in the ruck there, holding a player down for a few seconds longer, berating the ref, or the particularly English act of screaming in the faces of opposition for winning a scrum/penalty/breakdown.

Hendrike’s wink was a bit of shithousery that is commonplace in rugby, as it is in most sports.

Crowley used it as fuel and channelled it successfully. There really was nothing to see, which is probably why neither coach bothered to address the wink, if they had even seen it.

For Munster the lasting take away was how close they came to an upset and how well they defended in the second half when the momentum shifted to the home team.

“I’m devastated and gutted for the team, for what they invested into that,” Costello said.

“The Sharks had an exceptional set piece, but we didn’t take a step back all day and when they went ahead, we came back.

“It’s all a blur, but I’m unbelievably proud of them and it’s heartbreaking to lose a game like that.

“In terms of processing it I’m devastated for the boys for how much they put into it and for how much they've invested into this in the build-up and on the field.

“It was exceptional and I’m proud of the fight, the character and the quality that they showed tonight. Games like that at this level, playing away from home, come down to moments. And we just came out slightly on the wrong end of moments. Simple as that.” 

SHARKS: A Fassi; E Hooker, L Am, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Koch; E Etzebeth (c), J Jenkins; J Venter, V Tshituka, S Kolisi.

Replacements: F Mbatha, N Mchunu, H Jacobs, E van Heerden, P Buthelezi, B Davids, F Venter, Y Penxe.

MUNSTER: T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, D Kilgallen; J Crowley, C Casey; M Milne, N Scannell, S Archer; J Kleyn, T Beirne (c); P O’Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes.

Replacements: D Barron, J Wycherley, J Ryan, T Ahern, A Kendellen, C Murray, R Scannell, M Haley.

Referee: Mike Adamson