Cane’troversy
By Richard Keane
Should we allow the video referee more powers over a rugby game than just determine whether a try has been scored? The answer is of course we should, do not bore me with such ridiculous questions.
Firstly let me tell you that I am a one eyed supporter of the most brilliant Super 14 team the world has ever known, the Hurricanes. I refuse to listen to bogus comments from other punters hinting that the ‘Canes – as we affectionately know them – are not the best team. I ignore their current sixth position on the points table or that they’ve never won the Super 14 title. To all those who throw around those irrelevant facts like loose garbage, my defensive stance is that the Hurricanes would have won Super 14 2005 had it not been for smoke machines the Crusaders had employed to disrupt our players in the final. Unfair.
Also unfair is the undeniable fact that our glorious stadium in Wellington has been the target of verbal graffiti using the unimaginative label of “The Cake Tin”. Ok, sure the stadium is large, silver, perfectly rounded and an ideal shape for titanic baking but that doesn’t give people the excuse to call it harsh names. I notice that the appropriate names for our stadium like “The Coliseum” and “Epic Centre” were poo-pooed and believe me, I don’t take the term poo-poo lightly as poo-poo inspires fear into the heart of many a brave man. Again, unfair.
But I digress. Week after week I go through the emotional roller coaster ride that is watching my beloved team the Hurricanes, as they go through the rigmarole of beating the best and losing to the worst.
Last week we came up against the Sharks, Super 14 2007 runners up and an in form team, winning seven from seven. Naturally as the Sharks are a quality team the Hurricanes should have beaten them. Using a combination of reverse logic, the Duckworth-Lewis system and last weeks Lotto results, my predictions had the ‘Canes down for winning the game 20-13. Imagine my shock when the final result was 13-13. Thirteen all. Thirteen a piece. A draw. Tied. Even.
Drawing a game is like going to the movies and it finishes without ending, eg, The Matrix Reloaded. Its like being told your new office is on the 35th floor only to find out that you’re facing away from the window. In short, a draw is the expectation of an emotional response which is then quickly replaced by nothingness, a complete lack of feelings. At least if the team loses, the crazed fan has an outlet for their passion, usually anger or resentment, mostly directed at the opposition. Once again, unfair.
But that’s not what hurts the most. I can live with a draw. I can take it, I’m a big man. What I can’t live with is knowing that the Hurricanes should have won but due to a terrible decision by the match referee Paul Marks, the ‘Canes lost. Well no marks to Mr Marks which saw him mistakenly rule a knock on by the Hurricanes which was actually a tap back by the Sharks. Blow of the whistle, game over, good night nurse. We were robbed. Bugger.
