Yesterday, New Zealand defeated South Africa 19-8 in the first-ever international rugby union match played under the Experimental Law Variations (albeit a more experimental set than those to be used worldwide starting in August). After the match, Springbok captain John Smit was nonplussed with the new laws, noting that the match “certainly wasn’t the most fun I’ve had.”
It may indeed have been the new laws that had Smit displeased with the match. It may have been the final scoreline. Or maybe, just maybe, this illegal dump tackle off the ball from Brad Thorn (who gets in trouble on the field rather than off it, noting over the weekend that he’s no longer a drinker) had a little bit to do with Smit’s dour outlook:
