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Brock James
2003
The picture is copyright to The Australian
newspaper and was taken by Patrick Hamilton, 3rd February 2003, Ballymore
Send-off snuffs out upset hopes
Brian Burke World Rugby Seven
The Australian Monday February 3 2003
Australian fly-half Brock James was a forlorn figure yesterday
after his "nightmare" sending off proved to be the turning point
in Australia's loss to Fiji in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane leg of
the IRB World Sevens at Ballymore.
James was red-carded by New Zealand referee Paddy O'Brien for his
second match infringement - a professional foul for throwing the ball into
the crowd at a stoppage - 4min 34sec into the second half, with Australia
leading 7-0 against the highly fancied Fijians. James was later suspended
by the Sevens judiciary from the rest of the tournament, missing
Australia's Plate final 47-12 win against Samoa.
" After all the hard work we did this week, to let everyone
down is really disappointing." A distraught James, 20, said. James
also had a yellow card for stomping in the first half and was sidelined
for the mandatory two minutes.
That infringement cost Australia a certain try, with Chris Latham
called back after thinking he had scored. But James's send-off was the
killer for the defending Brisbane champions who "ran out of
legs" against the flamboyant Fijians. They scored twice
in his absence to post a 12-7 win.
Despite James's dismissal Australia rallied magnificently and had a
chance to snatch an unlikely win in the final minute, but rookie centre
Tom Carter dropped a simple pass 20m out with Australia on the attack from
a penalty.
Deflated Australian coach Bill Millard was full of praise for his
squad's commitment. But he conceded Brock's ill-discipline proved crucial.
I thought we fought tremendously well, but one guy's had a bad game and
it's impossible to win a Sevens game against a side like Fiji with six
men." He said.
"We'd played perfect Sevens rugby then had the disallowed try
and then down to six men. It was a nightmare."
The Australian camp, including the players, did not dispute
O'Brien's red-card ruling despite the ball being thrown back by a
spectator and no time being lost by James's petulant display.
"We were all warned before the tournament not to throw the
ball away and waste time, and that anyone who did would be
penalised," Australian team manager Glen Ella said.
Flyhalf James' two yellow cards spell end for
Australia
Jim Tucker
Courier-Mail, Monday February 3rd 2003
Two yellow cards against ill-disciplined flyhalf Brock James
sent Australia crashing to its earliest exit at Brisbane's World Rugby
Sevens yesterday. Not even a brave effort from six exhausted men for half
the game could undo the damage in a a shattering 12-7 quarter-final loss
to Fiji.
The Fijians could not capitalise on the let-off because they came
unstuck in the final to impressive giantkillers England (28-14). Pocket
livewire Ben Golling scooted clear for the clinching try in the final to
fully justify his honour as player of the tournament.
The home side had the 10,840-strong crowd on their feet at
Ballymore when they led Fiji 7-0, yet the quarter-final lead should have
been doubled. In the third minute, James's hassling defence looked to have
set up a dream opening try for Wallaby Chris Latham. Instead, the try was
disallowed for the over-eager James stomping on the back of Nasoni
Rokobiau in his effort to free the ball.
The Sydney University youngster was sin-binned for two minutes but
the second half was no sooner under way than he was off for good. Flinging
the ball into the crowd as a delaying tactic earned a second yellow card
and a red-card exit from Kiwi referee Paddy O'Brien.
There could be little sympathy for the villain of Ballymore
because team manager Glen Ella had stressed a refereeing crackdown on just
that offence before the tournament.
Amazingly, the Australians still had possession and a chance with
just 40 seconds to play but tired forward Tom Carter split a simple
pass.
The Australians won a memorable final last year and reached the
decider in 2000 so they nursed the hurt of coming up short. The salve was
seven tries and a comprehensive 47-12 win over Samoa in the Plate
final.
"It's a nightmare. To have that try pulled back kills you in
sevens." Australian coach Bill Millard said. "For the same guy
to do it twice (with yellow cards), simply just let his team-mates
down."
James was contrite: "The second call (for throwing away the
ball) was tough but it was ill-discipline. "I let everyone
down."
… the rest of the article talks about Marshall Milroy, Lote Tuqiri
and England's defeat of New Zealand in the semi-final
IRB
WORLD SEVENS SERIES - BRISBANE
2 February, 2003
Fiji fall at final hurdle
Hong Kong champions England once more got the better of Fiji at the
Brisbane 7s at Ballymore on Sunday, running out 28-14 winners in the
final.
The young Fijian side had ousted home favourites Australia in the
quarters then accounted for surprise semi-finalists France, but
found the energetic English just too organised and too composed.
However, England did Fiji a favour in the semis by knocking out New
Zealand, thus reducing the Kiwis' lead in the IRB table to four
points.
In the final, Mes Davu and Sailosi Naiteqe touched down for Fiji,
who had been reduced to six men for two minutes in the first half
when playmaker Nasoni Roko was sin-binned as the penalty count
mounted up against Fiji.
But by half-time, Fiji had pulled level. And two minutes into the
second period, Naiteqe put Fiji 12-7 up before a touchline
conversion from Roko made it 14-7.
England speedster Ugo Monye changed the course of the game with a
brace of tries to return the advantage to England. Then, Ben
Gollings finished matters off with England's fourth try of the final
to complete the scoring.
Fiji had turned in their best performance of the tournament to
defeat France 26-19 and move into the final showdown with England.
Skipper Sireli Bobo powered his way to two tries as Fiji entertained
the Ballymore crowd with some majestic running rugby. Roko and Ray
Rodan also chipped in with tries as the Fijians built up a 26-5
lead.
To their credit, the outclassed French chased hard and managed a
couple of late consolation tries to narrow the margin. But this was
Fiji’s match all along.
Fiji earlier stunned Australia in the quarter-finals, knocking out
the star-studded defending champions 12-7 to silence the large,
vocal crowd.
The Aussies dominated the first half, and had one try disallowed
when play was brought back after skipper Rob McDonald had touched
down. Brock James was adjudged to have rucked a man on the deck and
was sin-binned.
But Australia held firm, and went onto the lead just before the
break when Chris Yates converted his own try for a 7-0 advantage.
And for once, the refereeing of Paddy O’Brien gave Fiji some
assistance as the New Zealander showed James a red card early in the
second half for throwing the ball away.
Moments later, Fiji halfback Jone Daunivucu scored in the corner to
narrow the deficit to 7-5.
Then, as Australia held on, retaining possession well with a man
short, nippy Nawaka winger Rodan intercepted a stray pass and darted
over for what turned out to be the winning try.
A few nervous minutes remained when Roko was also sin-binned for
killing the ball as Australia went forward. But a knock-on by Tom
Carter ended any chance Australia had of snatching a win.
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