Coaches unperturbed by scraps

Press, 28 June 1989, Page 64

Coaches unperturbed by scraps

PA Rotorua The touring French rugby team’s 22-18 win over Bay of Plenty in Rotorua yesterday was punctuated by physical exchanges, but both sides adopted an understanding attitude after the match.

Apart from outbreaks of fisticuffs, there were boots flying at rucks and the occasional high tackle. Bay of Plenty lost two of its players, includ-

ing the No. 8, Steven Van der Leeden, who left the field in a groggy state eight minutes from the end.

Television cameras picked up the French prop, Marc Pujolle, stepping on Van der Leeden’s head on his way to joining a ruck. But the Bay of Plenty coach, John Brake, had no complaints about the nature of the match, saying rugby was a hard

game. “You take your knocks. We weren’t saints ourselves.”

The French coach, Jacques Fouroux, said his players were still learning about rucking, which he added did not happen in France. “In France, we don’t ruck, because you get suspended for 12 months if you stomp on anyone,” he said.

“We have no complaints about rucking, but both teams must be al-

lowed to do it.” The All Black prop, Steve McDowall — unavailable for the Bay of Plenty side as he was recovering from a knee injury —■ said he felt Pujolle should have been sent off. He said some of the problems during the game could have arisen because of different interpretations of what was permitted in a tackled ball situation.