Aisle be Back: I see red

Meanwhile, Brad Shields and the Wellington pack climb into their work against Otago last Saturday. They play Southland on Saturday at the Hutt Rec Photo: Caswell Images. 

• By Kevin McCarthy

England are a poor rugby side right now. They will probably squeak into the quarterfinals, courtesy of the weakest of the groups at the Rugby World Cup.

Yet here they are hogging the headlines, courtesy of young Owen Farrell, the thinking man’s tackler.

If you’ve been under a rock or possibly suffering concussion from a Farrell head shot, you will have missed his extraordinary escaping of a further penalty for his no arms tackle in the pre-cup return fixture at Twickenham against Wales. The game red card was effectively ruled out and the England captain thus unhampered from taking part in the Cup.

Not so lucky was Tonga’s George Moala, guilty of a tip tackle and now effectively banned from the big event.

No wonder World Rugby is now appealing the Farrell decision, given it makes a mockery of rugby citings on the eve of the big show.

Either way that won’t help George Moala or quieten perceptions that tier 2 nations are always going to get the big end of the stick, and the big boys the soggy bus tickets.

However, I wouldn’t necessarily be practising my French phrasebook quite yet if I were Farrell.

On the flip side, how long into the World Cup before his tackle technique fails once more and earns him another red.

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I’m guilty of it above, with my description of the ‘weakest‘ group. From an outside viewpoint, its quite possible to view any tournament draw, especially this lopsided one, as having pools that are tougher or weaker than others.

But actually, from the perspective of the teams in those weak groups, that is C and D, their draw may feel nothing like weak.

For example, does England feel that confident of disposing of Argentina and Japan. They are struggling, and Argentina must surely fancy their chances. Japan are not flattering themselves in  the buildup, But both those sides tend to over-excel at world cups.

In Group C, Eddie’s kindergarten experiment could be spectacularly successful, or come unstuck in match one against Georgian muscle. Fiji must think they’re a prospect to finally stop underachieving at this level – and claim either the scalp of the Welsh or the Australians, or both.

The All Blacks may feel miffed to face such a tough road through the quarters and beyond, but actually the team with the stiffest task is Scotland, with South Africa and Ireland to get past.

Not that the Scots view it as a mission impossible – and given two bravura efforts against a rusty France in recent weeks, who’s to say that it can’t happen.

I can feel a few upsets coming on – and more than usual. Except perhaps they won’t be as much of an upset as we imagine.

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Rugby bosses should – I mean how could they not – study the FIFA women’s world cup.  Although we know that women’s rugby is highly attractive, based on last year’s home world cup, it was still quite a thing to see New Zealanders selling out clashes between teams from other countries.

Novelty factor sure, but it can’t just be that. Someone knows how to market itself, and that someone doesn’t start with R.

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I only had time and energy for a quick glance at the super Pacific draw for next season. The Hurricanes kick off with two Aussie away trips, usually a preferable option – and then a couple of derbies.

First impression is that the draw is a bit more even than last year’s which tended to make the Canes look better placed than they really were foremost of the comp.

Not their fault, in saying that. You play what’s put in front of you.