After Johnny Sexton revealed the details of his spat with Rieko Ioane during the Rugby World Cup, we take a look at some of the most infamous spats, chirps and sledges in rugby’s history.
This list is by no means exhaustive but we have picked out some of the funniest, most brutal and legendary one-liners and stories.
Johnny Sexton v Rieko Ioane and the ‘sh*t Richie McCaw’
Ioane’s remarks in the quarter-final clash in France came off the back of sledges from the Irish players during the 2022 tour to New Zealand where Andy Farrell’s side clinched a first-ever victory over the All Blacks in the land of the long white cloud.
At the time Sam Cane – then All Blacks captain – was under the cosh with scrutiny over his position in the starting line-up and with Ireland en route to a famous win, Peter O’Mahony reportedly delivered a brutal sledge saying: “Who do you think you are? You’re a sh*t Richie McCaw pal.”
The one-liner hasn’t been confirmed by either party. But All Blacks players said that there were plenty of verbals being thrown around during the Test match which they did not forget. This made for a feisty encounter during the World Cup and after defeating Ireland, Ioane and teammate Brodie Retallick took their opportunity to land sledges of their own.
The Irish Times published extracts of his autobiography where Sexton revealed Ioane’s remarks and took a swipe of his own.
“And as I stand there, hands on hips, staring in disbelief at Barnes, Rieko Ioane still comes up to me and tells me, ‘Get back ten metres.’
“‘Huh?’
“‘Penalty,’ he says. ‘Back ten.’ And then, after Barnes blows the final whistle, he says, ‘Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you c***.’
“So much for the All Blacks’ famous ‘no d***heads’ policy. So much for their humility. I walk after Ioane and call him a fake-humble f****r. It doesn’t look great, me having a go at one of them just after we’ve lost. But I can’t be expected to ignore that.”
Johnny Sexton slams ‘fake-humble f****r’ Rieko Ioane as Ireland legend opens up on Rugby World Cup rant
Meanwhile, Retallick revealed that he took up the opportunity to land a jab on O’Mahony as he borrowed George Gregan’s famous one-liner.
It was reported that the All Blacks lock said: “Oi, Peter! Four more years, you ****wit.”
On James Marshall’s What a Lad podcast, Retallick confirmed: “I said what was reported.”
There really isn’t love lost between the All Blacks and Sexton with Dane Coles also taking a swipe at the Irish fly-half during a Test match in Dublin. Sexton was mouthing off to the referee with Coles remarking: “F*** he is a mouthy c*** isn’t he.”
All Blacks great Brodie Retallick opens up on ‘f***wit’ sledge at Peter O’Mahony during the World Cup
George Gregan
On the topic of the Wallabies’ legendary scrum-half, he was well-renowned for his trash talk and sledges.
Retallick borrowed the ex-Australia captain’s infamous quote that he delivered to All Blacks counterpart Byron Kelleher in the dying stages of the Wallabies’ 22-10 semi-final win over their rivals during the 2003 World Cup.
Gregan rubbed salt into New Zealand’s wound with the one-liner as the All Blacks crashed out of the tournament but what the Wallaby great did not realise is that he too would have to wait “four more years” for another shot at the title as Jonny Wilkson landed a drop goal to win England the World Cup the following week.
Still, that was not the only brutal putdown that the half-back produced during his storied career as he took aim at England nine Matt Dawson during the 2001 British and Irish Lions series. Usually, the touring side would play midweek games against a club or invitational team and the Test side on the weekends. Gregan used this knowledge in his takedown of the England scrum-half.
“Dawse, what are you doing here, mate? It’s Saturday. You only play on Wednesdays,” he said during a Test.
Again, the list is not exhaustive and we could do an entire catalogue of the Wallaby legend with a sharp tongue.
Julian Montoya
A bit of a trend developing here with the captains… Make of that what you will.
But Julian Montoya is not one to shy away from a quip or a chirp and has been clearly influenced by the South African players at Leicester Tigers.
The Pumas great has used his knowledge of Afrikaans on two occasions in recent memory when fronting up against the All Blacks and Scotland.
During a Test match against New Zealand, the Argentine hooker was clearly annoyed by the actions of then All Blacks rookie Will Jordan and used an Afrikaans swear word as he laid into the back.
“Hey, hey don’t be a p**s, don’t show off…you are too young to show off,” he said with his comments clearly taking South African referee Jaco Peyper by surprise.
Julián Montoya calling Will Jordan a Po3$ 😂 #RugbyChampionship #ARGvNZL pic.twitter.com/1DdXVeZmhP
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) September 18, 2021
The experienced rake again used his insight about South Africa to rip into the Scotland players during a Test in the Autumn. It was a fiery encounter between the two sides and referee Karl Dickson had to separate the players on more than one occasion.
South African-born winger Duhan van der Merwe and Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie were on the wrong end of Montoya’s sledges that day, with the hooker overheard on the referee’s mic asking, “Do you want me to speak in Afrikaans?” after a scuffle involving the big wing.
Ritchie responded to Montoya, telling him to “set an example, big fella”.
The Pumas captain had the last laugh on this occasion as Ritchie was yellow carded, along with Thomas Gallo, after a scuffle two minutes later, Montoya responded, saying, “Really good example; you must be proud,” before sarcastically clapping the flanker off the field.
Julian Montoya (AGAIN) to Scotland players: “Do you want me to speak Afrikaans?” pic.twitter.com/eQ3O8mJal1
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 3, 2024
Bobby Windsor
We come back to the British and Irish Lions, this time from the 1974 tour to South Africa and a massive phone bill…
The story goes that as the Lions checked out of their hotel in Johannesburg after the fourth Test draw, the management got the phone bills for the team and it was an enormous one, all to the same number.
Willie John McBride called the team together; “Right lads, I want the person who kept calling this number to own up rather than me calling them out…”
There was no response.
McBride continued: “OK if you’re not gonna be honest I will tell you the number was Pontypool 428273. Who did this?”
Quick as a flash Pontypool and Wales hooker Bobby Windsor stands up and bellows “Right lads, own up! Which one of you f***ers has been ringing my f***ing missus then?”
Eddie Jones on the All Blacks
Eddie Jones is also renowned for his quips and sharp responses and one of his most infamous ones was during an interview with Sky Sports NZ.
The then-England boss was asked about what he expected to see in Super Rugby Aotearoa and he was brutal in his response.
He replied: “Just so many good young players, mate. I dunno how you do it there…nah, I do, ‘cause you’ve got three of the best academies in the world; Fiji, Samoa and Tonga!”
Eddie Jones on the quality of players in New Zealand:
“Just so many good young players, mate. I dunno how you do it there…nah, I do, ‘cause you’ve got three of the best academies in the world; Fiji, Samoa and Tonga!” pic.twitter.com/Q3ACwGjVNj
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 3, 2024
Permission to tackle Dan Carter
A real throwback to the days when Dan Carter and Ma’a Nonu were still playing Super Rugby for the Crusaders and Hurricanes respectively.
During the match, the centre landed a hefty tackle on his All Blacks fly-half which prompted the officials to sanction Nonu, something that ‘Canes captain Andrew Hore was baffled by.
The hooker quipped to the referee: “Are we not allowed to tackle Carter?”
have to share this one!
Andrew Hore after Ma’a Nonu was penalised for a dangerous tackle on Dan Carter:
“Are we not allowed to tackle Carter?” pic.twitter.com/LxwXUa2twG
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 3, 2024
Nigel Owens
Another rugby personality that we could do an entire article on but we have picked out just one of former referee Nigel Owens’ funniest remarks.
During a Champions Cup match, the gay official brilliantly chirped Harlequins hooker Dave Ward’s throw, simply stating “I’m straighter than that one.”
Nigel Owens on Dave Ward’s throw: “I’m straighter than that one.” pic.twitter.com/F1x5Md1bgS
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 3, 2024
Jonah Lomu > Austin Healey
The next story comes from ex-England head coach Sir Clive Woodward and Will Greenwood’s honest, yet brutal, putdown on Austin Healey.
Woodward paid tribute to legendary All Blacks star Jonah Lomu with the hilarious tale of his pre-game talk for England’s clash against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup.
“The night before a game I used to list the two teams, and I said in a team meeting ‘There’s absolutely nobody I’d swap man for man’,” Woodard explained.
“I was doing my motivational talk. I got to the end and Will Greenwood put his hand up and said: ‘Clive we’re all with you, but on behalf of all the team I think we’d swap Austin Healey for Jonah Lomu’.”
Mark ‘Ronnie’ Regan v John Smit
Ex-England hooker Mark ‘Ronnie’ Regan is another interesting character in the rugby world and Planet Rugby has simply decided just to focus on his exchanges with Springboks captain John Smit this time around – there is more than enough stories to fill several books.
During the 2000s, England had a formidable front-row and coming up against the Springboks on one occasion, the following events unfolded.
Camped on England’s line, the Boks had a scrum and went for the kill. Regan was the England hooker…
As the Boks went for the shove, Smit bellowed “1, 2, 3 HEAVE….” England stood firm. Smit repeated the command “1, 2, 3 HEAVE….” And again “1, 2, 3 HEAVE….” – still England repelled, whereupon Ronnie from deep inside the scrum bellowed; “Ere John, in case you’re wondering, 4 comes after 3….”
The pair locked horns in 2007 and the banter between Regan and Smit continued. Regan talked through every scrum and always at Smit….as they packed down for yet another scrum Regan said to Smit, “Here we go again, you coming for me big boy?” to which Smit replied, “Boet, shut the f**k up – you’ve talked to me more this year than my f**king wife….”
Our final Regan tale occurred during England’s 36-0 loss to South Africa.
At half-time, the hooker attempted to inspire his teammates and said: “Lads, lads, we’re 20-0 down but we must not panic. This is a new half – we’re going to rise like a pheasant from the ashes and beat these bastards…..”
England flank Martin Corry replied “Ronnie – surely you mean ‘rise like a Phoenix from the ashes?’
“Arrr…..yes, that’s it….I knew it was some f*cking bird beginning with ‘F’’” was Ronnie’s immortal replay.
Wade Dooley
A hard-nosed England lock, Wade Dooley was known as the Blackpool Tower due to his 6 feet 8 inches tall frame and him being a police officer with Lancashire Constabulary in Blackpool.
The second-rower was always up for a quick chirp or a humorous remark, one of which was at the expense of Wallabies legend John Eales in an England team meeting.
Then England captain Will Carling had asked his players to come up with a technical study on their direct Test opponent.
“Wade – who is your opponent tomorrow?” Carling asked.
Dooley responded: “Errr…my opponent is…John Eales.”
“Yes Wade – and what do you know about him?” said Carling.
“He…he is…he’s a f***ing art student…” he replied.
Carling added: “Great – what else do you know about him?”
“That,” Wade said, “is all I fucking need to know….!”
Staying with Dooley and we go back to 1992 for a brutal match between England and France in Paris, a clash known by the French as Le Punch.
During the game French lock Olivier Roumat threw a haymaker punch, flooring Dooley.
And as he was getting the blood wiped from his nose, referee Stephen Hilditch walked over to check if the England lock was alright.
Dooley pointed at Roumat and said to the referee: “Stephen whatever you f***ing do, do not send that c*** off until I’ve dealt with him.”
READ MORE: ‘In your head’ – Rieko Ioane taunts Johnny Sexton as All Blacks star brutally hits back at Ireland legend
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source link
