Gouging not on, but IRB give Pumas cause for ire

On Rugby: No doubt there'll be hard-nosed aficionados of a bygone era who will have scoffed at the Irish management going public with cries of foul play against Argentina. "Cry babies", more like, and better to leave such matters where they belong, on the field of play, will go the argument. But Eddie O'Sullivan and the Irish management were right to break the macho code of omertá which for too long existed in rugby.

Allegations of eye-gouging are relatively uncommon in rugby and while this specific act of skulduggery is assuredly not as prevalent nowadays - what with the increased number of cameras at games and the higher price to be paid in the professional era - in the vast majority of cases clearly the victims felt obliged to stay quiet.

True, the allegations of gouging could not, unlike after the World Cup meeting in the Adelaide Oval, be substantiated by the match commissioner Alberto Recaldini on foot of reviewing the tape of Saturday's 21-19 victory at Lansdowne Road. Which shows how hard it still is to prove.

Other acts of foul play, such as punching or stamping, are easier to identify, but gouging is equally violent, and arguably more cowardly and cynical. It shouldn't have any place in any sport.

Although innocent until proven guilty, Argentina do have some form in this matter, all of which serves to dilute one's sympathy when they complain, justifiably, about the bum deal they're given generally by the rugby game globally and the International Rugby Board especially. Los Pumas undoubtedly foster an us-against-the-world mentality which serves them well on the field and come kick-off last Saturday they had plenty to feel aggrieved about.

Although Saturday's Test against South Africa in Buenos Aires has been approved by the IRB, the latter have chosen not to enforce regulation 9 whereby players must be released for an international or else be prevented from playing for their clubs for 10 days.

Some French clubs have said they will release their Argentinian players, such as Ulster's opponents next Saturday in Paris, Stade Français, who Pichot, Juan Martín Hernández and Rodrigo Roncero play for. So, too, have Leinster's opponents Bourgoin, who have Matias Albina, Augusto Petrilli and Miguel-Angel Ruiz on their books, and Montpellier, who Martin Durand plays for.

Another 10 haven't been, including Leinster's Felipe Contepomi. While acknowledging that Leinster have had no European Cup return on the euros they've spent on Contepomi (through no fault of his own), and that his absence this week would have a ripple effect on his readiness for the return match in Bourgoin given the travel demands, Leinster have the cover to release the Puma outhalf, and it would be a grand gesture.

Furthermore, although the IRB have vowed to divvy out a "£30 million investment commitment over the next three years to new development initiatives for Tier One and Tier Two Nations", Pichot and Marcelo Loffreda claimed none of this was targeted for Argentina.

Argentina and Samoa have been the freshest thing to hit world rugby in decades. Without them, the game globally would be all the duller. Bearing in mind their itinerary at the last World Cup, their treatment is a scandal.

"We need the help of you guys. I tell you, after this week, we are complexly isolated. Up to yesterday we were begging with the president to release players," Pichot said, and invited one journalist to come and play for the Pumas against the Springboks next Saturday so short were they of players. "As things stand, we have no chance."

Though the second tier nations are grateful for the fixtures this past month, and Pichot publicly thanked France and Ireland, they don't pocket any of the gate receipts. For example, the English RFU reportedly earned a surplus of about £3 million from the gate receipts from their facile 70-0 win over Canada last Saturday week, yet Rugby Canada received not a penny, as is the case in all these rounds of autumn internationals.

Mismatches apart, it was a gripping month of Test rugby, punctuated by some outstanding games. Last Saturday, an assortment of pundits and former players gave their top six ranking for the Guardian, and hardly agreed. They'll probably all have revised their opinions after Saturday's games.

Despite coming to the end of long, hard seasons, the big southern hemisphere trio inflicted home defeats on France, England and Scotland, all keeping their best performances of the month till last. Indeed, it may be no coincidence that the All Blacks and South Africa did so after each making seven changes, while even the Wallabies were forced to reshuffle their back line due to injuries.

As Irish tours have shown in recent times as well that benchwarmers and other fringe players are often hungrier and mentally fresher than those who've carried more of a load during a long season.

The IRB world rankings probably have it right, the All Blacks having brilliantly cemented their place in the top spot when throwing down a marker for next year's Lions series with their destruction of France. In all points of contact, especially in the collisions and at ruck time, they obliterated the French, Tana Umaga and co and a rampant backrow making offloads in the tackle at will.

France, who suddenly look in drastic need of overhaul, have slipped below South Africa to fifth while England can hardly complain about Australia leapfrogging them into second place after their win at Twickenham - cue the end of a short honeymoon.

Ireland - the only side other than New Zealand to emerge unbeaten over the month - have consolidated sixth place above Argentina, which is probably about right, after a very good year which yielded seven wins out of 10, a first Triple Crown in 19 years and a first win over the Boks in 39. The next calendar year, and specifically the Six Nations, offers a very realistic chance of climbing higher.

While the rest slip further behind, the autumn series underlined that this is an unusually volatile and interesting time for the top eight, within which almost anybody can beat anybody else on a given day, as Wales almost proved against the All Blacks.