The ball went flat as Southlands' Tim Boys scored a try. Photo / Screengrab
The ball went flat as Southlands' Tim Boys scored a try. Photo / Screengrab
A rugby ball that burst during Northland's 27-18 loss to Southland in Whangarei at the weekend has blown up in a big way.
Many were left confounded by what caused it to deflate in the manner it did - so much so that it will likely be sent to adidas' headquarters in Germany for analysis.
The ball popped when Southlands' Tim Boys charged down a kick from Northland first-five Dan Hawkins.
One possibility is that Hawkins gave it one heck of a nudge prior to the explosion.
"I got all of it," Hawkins said of his clearance kick. "It just came off the old size-10 Nike quite nicely, I guess it's testament to the power of my right boot," he laughed.
With the anomaly acting as a possible turning point in the match, Boys' try, which occurred as a result of the chargedown of Hawkins' kick, may have just been enough to take the wind out of the Taniwha attack.
"A few of the boys were ducking for cover," Hawkins said. "It was like being in the trenches. When it hit Tim Boys' hands it made a noise like a shotgun going off."
Perplexed by the random deflation, Northland ITM Cup team manager and chief ball pumper, Brad Te Haara , said he would be looking to keep the balls at a lower pounds per square inch [psi] for Northland's remaining home games this season. "We inflated it to the correct psi, nine to 11 psi it's meant to be," Te Haara said.
Brad Te Haara, Northland ITM Cup team manager, is surpised the ball burst. Photo / John Stone
"We haven't had any issues in the last two to three years."
Te Haara said he hadn't heard whether any other rugby unions had experienced the same thing. "It'll be interesting to see what happened because you don't just hold a meeting in Germany for nothing."
adidas Nz spokesman Quentin Bleakley said the popping of the ball was a freak occurrence.
He said adidas rugby balls were rigourously tested to ensure they can withstand the "highest forces during the Secondary Schools, ITM, Super Rugby and All Blacks season".
"Once we receive the ball from Northland Rugby we intend to analyse it thoroughly, primarily looking at construction, wear and usage. It's likely that the ball will be sent to Germany for evaluation, however an emergency meeting has not been called."
