Dislike of the 'Ash Splash' shows that rugby fans still hold old prejudices

by Mike Martin   @thefootietweet

When Bebeto scored for Brazil against Holland in the 1994 World Cup quarter final, he and a couple of his mates celebrated by pretending to rock his new baby in their arms.  If the Dutch found the celebration 'disrespectful' they certainly kept it to themselves and perhaps retorted in the best way: fighting back from two goals down to 2-2 in the space of fourteen minutes.

When Chris Ashton scores a try for England, which he seems to do about every fourteen minutes at the moment, he celebrates in a less extravagant way.  He does a jump.  Occasionally he raises a finger, though not as much as, say, Ian Rush.

The first time he did this a fortnight ago at Twickenham, an Italian opponent was so overcome with rage that he looked for a moment like he might give Ashton a smack.  Rugby players give each other a smack quite a lot but extensive research at the university of Hull Kingston Rovers has concluded that that is absolutely fine.

Commentator Brian Moore – the rugby one, that is – usually greets the sight of a rugby player rolling around on the floor with words to the effect of "Get up, footballer."  Moore is usually a very good co-commentator – "You can't have people who are just there for running about otherwise you just look like Australia" – but here he has fallen for rugby's oldest lie.  When a football player cheats, it is football's fault.  When a rugby player cheats, it is football's fault.

I watch both sports and see just as much cheating and far more thuggery in the oval-ball game, be it union or league.  The reaction to Ashton's celebration is an example of rugby union's biggest blandishment: piety.  If FC Barcelona were a sport, they would be rugby union.

What lies behind dislike of the 'Ash Splash' is a cocktail of old rugby union prejudices.  There is, of course, an anti-football element but also an anti-rugby league feeling that clearly still runs deep among the buttoned-up followers of English rugby.  Ashton is northern and used to play league for Wigan, which is enough to give the Queen's Counsels and hedge fund managers who fill Twickenham palpitations.

Union may have gone professional but it still holds dear the sporting sacred cow of the Corinthian ethos.  Maybe this is why the game is so useless at dealing with thuggery.  When Schalk Burger gouged the eye of Luke Fitzgerald in the second Test of the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa, his punishment was a ten-minute sin-binning.  He went on to have a decisive part in a largely undeserved match and series win for a pretty dismal Springbok side.  In the previous Lions tour four years earlier, a couple of witless neanderthals from New Zealand spear-tackled Brian O'Driscoll, who dislocated his shoulder in trying to protect his head, ending his tour two minutes into the first Test.  The All Blacks, of course, are allowed to cheat and Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu escaped without censure.

Rugby still holds the notion that everybody on the pitch is a sound chap and that no gentleman would cheat or assault an opponent on a rugby pitch.  That idea was dated fifty years ago.  The game became professional in 1995 but the naïve amateur ethos still renders its disciplinary procedures ineffectual.  There are still those who think that Ashton, as a former league player, should not be allowed to type 'Twickenham' into google.

Rugby is not even the worst.  At least it is a reasonably entertaining way of passing eighty minutes.  Don't get me started on golf.  That it is an abundantly ridiculous game of which the sole redeeming feature is that it keeps City of London dullards away from our money for a few hours is axiomatic and need not detain us here.  The rules of golf are mostly bewilderingly pointless yet are worshipped by club players, who probably keep the Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2011 book on the bedside table next to the Financial Times and a portrait of Norman Lamont.  At least footballers don't claim to be morally righteous, which is probably just as well.  Give me that over the pious tedium of the golf or rugby clubhouse any day.

A re-run of Arsenal vs Barcelona - WAHS's Minute by minute

By Paul WAHS

Here's a recount of last night's minute by minute, with spelling errors corrected!

Tip: Read from bottom to top!

whatahitsonblog

1. Arsenal were superb tonight.#jack_wilshere best midfielder on the pitch. I bet he turns out to be really Argentinian or something. MMabout 20 hours ago via web
2. @basslady I agree!about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck in reply to basslady
3.  NATTERFOOTBALL @whatahitsonblog I bow down to you. You were right! Hail "The Predictor"...about 21 hours ago via web in reply to whatahitsonblogRetweeted by whatahitsonblog
4.  arseblogWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!about 21 hours ago via Twitter for MacRetweeted by whatahitsonblog and 100+ others
5. What an exceptional game of football - I'm going to catch my breath! ta ta nowabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
6. I called it 2-1 to Arsenal, I'm smug but VERY proud of Arsenalabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
7. ITS OVER 2-1 ARSENAL!about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
8. Inside the final minute of injury timeabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
9. 2 mins added onabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
10.  gafferfootball Szczesny really has made the number 53 shirt his own. #arsenal #barcelonaabout 21 hours ago via GravityRetweeted by whatahitsonblog and 8 others
11. Inside the last minute at the Emiratesabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
12. sorry, in the second half I meantabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
13. Iniesta has been poor tonightabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
14. Barca sub: Off Inesta on Adrianoabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
15. 88th Minute - Arsenal 2-1 Barcelonaabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
16. No mistakes now Arsenal, the whole of England are behind youabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
17. 3 to go at the Emiratesabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
18. Barcelona should have kept David Villa on.....about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
19. 86: Arsenal are making Barcelona look VERY average here - Bendtner nearly made it 3about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
20. Robin van persie bookedabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
21. 5 to goabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
22. I'd have loved to have seen @Chris_kammy 's reaction to that goal!!!about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
23. 7 minutes to go. Don't blow this Arsenalabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
24. Fabregas breaks away, plays it back to the edge of the box and Arshavin drills in to the far post. Exceptionalabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
25. ARSENAL ARE 2-1 UP HERE. UNBELIEVABLEabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
26. 83: ARSENAL 2- BARCELONA!about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
27. GOOOOOALLLLLLL!!!about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
28. If anyone deserves to get the winner tonight, it's that lad Jack Wilshereabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
29. Barca on the ropes hereabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
30. 10 to go, 1-1about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
31. @RobbieSavage8 never, just a great strike savage you plebabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck in reply to RobbieSavage8
32.  Joffey That was better than Rooney's goal!!about 21 hours ago via EchofonRetweeted by whatahitsonblog
33. there is a new sense of vigour here, the crowd is up and Barca are losing disciplineabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
34. my 2-1 prediction could come true?about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
35. Massive goal for Arsenal, massiveabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
36. GAME ONabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
37. Excellent goal from Van Persie! ridiculous angle beats the keeper at his near postabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
38. WOW WOW WOWabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
39. WOWabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
40. GOAL ARSENAL 1-1 BARCELONAabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
41. 77: Wenger showing his zip who's boss......about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
42. 76: Wilshere has been a colossusabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
43. ARSENAL substitution: Walcott (off) Bendtner (on)about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
44. @oneloveFC an in-form van Persieabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck in reply to oneloveFC
45. 74: it's back to barca controlling the game again......about 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
46. No Idea where Arshavin is, or where he's playingabout 21 hours ago via TweetDeck
47. So Barca go defensive and Arsenal go offensive?about 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
48. ARSENAL SUB: OFF (Song) ON (Arshavin)about 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
49. 67: BARCELONA SUB: OFF (Villa) ON (Keita)about 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
50. 67: Messi misses again. He ghosts past Eboue but hits the side nettingabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
51. Arsenal have to be more forceful up frontabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
52. 64: good chance for Arsenal, v.Persie hits it from the edge of the box, good height for Valdes to pluck it out of the airabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
53.  lloydjames26 Piques done well with shakira lololabout 22 hours ago via Twitter for iPadRetweeted by whatahitsonblog
54. Maybe it's time for Arsenal to do the old Sunday league tactic of wind up the booked centre back?about 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
55. 61: Terrific from Arsenal, Nasri sets a teasing ball up for v.Persie who is beaten to itabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
56.  Washington_AFC Howay @itvfootball who's on the replay button? Wake him up!!!about 22 hours ago via Twitter for iPhoneRetweeted by whatahitsonblog and 1 other
57. Quite obvious that Barcelona deliberately slowed the game down there at the free kick, Arsenal are down a gear againabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
58. 59: Fabregas's freekick goes staright to Valdes, Barca's mind games win thereabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
59. Pique will miss the second legabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
60. 58: Free Kick to Arsenal, 20 Yards out to the keeper's far rightabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
61. 57: Arsenal corner is fumbled, Arsenal look afraid of shootingabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
62. 55: Good play from Walcott, great run but delivery let the move down. v.Persie hits is high and wideabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
63. Personal opinion time, the ref has been kind to Barcelona tonight: Just sayingabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
64. Xavi volleys from the edge of the box, wideabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
65. Much better from Arsenal, they just need to gamble a little....about 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
66. 49: Arsenal are playing with a little more verveabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
67. Turn of the night from Alex Song, superbabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
68. 47: Wilshire plays a one-two with Fabregas around the Barca box, straight at Valdesabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
69. 46: Arsenal have clearly got a rollocking here, they're straight out of the blocksabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
70. 45: v. Persie gets in behing Busquets, offsideabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
71. Peep Peep! We're offabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
72. @NATTERFOOTBALL it's all about Walcott getting in behind Maxwell. One goal changes this for Arsenalabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck in reply to NATTERFOOTBALL
73. @NATTERFOOTBALL I do, I said 2-1 Arsenal at the start and i stick to it!!about 22 hours ago via TweetDeck in reply to NATTERFOOTBALL
74. There's a lot of people writing Arsenal off here, I wouldn't be so sureabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
75. HALF TIME : ARSENAL 0-1 BARCELONA (no added minutes)about 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
76. Ever since the Barca goal the tension has dropped and it's almost been Arsenal being scared to concede, rather than get an equaliserabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
77. 44: More Barca passingabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
78. 43: Nasri drops a cross towards v.Persie, who's header is high and off-targetabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
79. 42: Arsenal need to keep it tight for the last 3 minutes here, or nick a goal!about 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
80. Thats at the Olympicoabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
81. Shaktar have gone 3-1 up against Romaabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
82. 41: Arsenal enjoying some time on the ball, they need to start tightening the screws on Barcaabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
83. Koscielny NEEDS to start picking the runners upabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
84. 36: GOAL - OFFISDE!!! Messi heads in but was give offsideabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
85. 36: Barca slowing the match right downabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
86. 35: Eboue breaking towards the Barca box but chooses the wrong pass, poor at this level when you are 1-0 downabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
87. Shaktar Donetsk are 2-1 up against Roma #FYIabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
88. 34; A glimpse of the Arsenal counter attack: Koscielny battling, move ends with v.Persie hitting it straight at Abidalabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
89. 33: Arsenal are struggling to get forward like they were in the first period of this halfabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
90.  coolandbreezy Barcelona play beautiful football. No matter who you support you gotta admit that. I could watch them play for hours.about 22 hours ago via webRetweeted by whatahitsonblog and 1 other
91. Barca are trying to wear Arsenal down here - The Gunners must stay disciplinedabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
92. 31: Barca knocking it about like it's a training sessionabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
93. I'm still saying 2-1 Arsenal....If any Rugby fans out there want an advert for why football is better, turn ITV1 on NOWabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
94. 28: OOH! Villa picks out Xavi who hits it into the Arsenal defendersENd to End, I can't keep up - v.Persie with a glorious chance on the counter attackabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
95. about 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
96.  Zonal_Marking Big period for Arsenal before HT.about 22 hours ago via Twitter for iPhoneRetweeted by whatahitsonblog and 2 others
97. 27: HANDBAGS! Nasri booked for an altercation with Messiabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
98. so, the old cliché - you can't do that against Barcelona, switch off that isabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
99. Classic counter attacks, a ball slipped into Villa by Messi, he pokes it under Szczesny into the far corner. Unfortunate for the gunnersabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
100. 25: GOAL! Arsenal 0-1Barceloan (David Villa)about 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
101. 24: Walcott breaks, exceptional ball, Fabregas spins it towards an unmarked v.Persie but Abidal nips in. It was a banker if Abidal had missabout 22 hours ago via TweetDeck
102. Arsenal are in..... NO!about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
103.  JamesHorncastle If Messi is a Playstation player he just pressed X instead of O ;)about 23 hours ago via TweetDeckRetweeted by whatahitsonblog and 31 others
104. 22: Messi danced into the box, weaker foot tries to lob Szczesny. failsabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
105. Maybe that's a bit rash, he did hit that hat trick for England a while backabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
106. Walcott has given possibly the best 20 mins of his career in this matchabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
107.  gregtheoharis My homage to #Barcelona >>http://bit.ly/h3ZAh6 >> for all you lot tweeting and not watching! #afc #arsenalabout 23 hours ago via webRetweeted by whatahitsonblog and 2 others
108. 20 minutes gone and it's mesmerising....about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
109. 18: v.Persie springs the Barca back four but Pique herds him to give away a goal kickabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
110. just so y'all know @piersmorgan has said Messi is 'Overrated'about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
111. Eboue just gave Villa a North London hello....about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
112. Barcelona have got their mojo back and are now controlling the pace of the gameabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
113. Messi is still to score in England.....about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
114. There's that class Barcelona have, right thereabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
115. 14: OOOOH! Messi sprung the back four, messi bearing down on goal chipping towards the far post but it's wideabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
116. apologies for the caps there,!about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
117. The referee is having a fantastic game, allowing a lot of ADVANTAGES AND KEEPING HIS EYE ON ALL CHALLENGES. REFRESHINGabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
118. 11: Classic Arsenal back four stepping up to leave Messi and Pedro offisdeabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
119. 11: This isn't the Barcelona that are tearing La Liga apartabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
120. Arsenal's central midfielders, Song and Fabregas, are doubling up on Xaviabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
121. 9: It's gettng warmer, suspicious chest from Abidal, may have used a hand on the edge of the boxabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
122. 8: Arsenal have started so positively here, they look relaxed and are enjoying the lions share of the playabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
123. Just seen a replay of the v.Persie chance - Maxwell didn't have a clue what to do - this has to be exploitedabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
124. maybe Wenger will swich Nasri and Walcott around to keep the full-back's on thier toesabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
125. 7: Barca don't look settled, they are struggling to get the passes offabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
126. 6: Messi fouled by Alex Song - Song bookedabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
127. 5: Walcott is enjoying this, a flick into the box finds van Persie who hits it straight at Valdesabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
128. 5: OOOH OOOH!about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
129. 4: Just seen Walcott's running, maybe Barca will struggle with him?about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
130. 3:OOOH! Nasri's ball goes straight through the box into Valdes's handsabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
131. 3: Arsenal freekick, 35 yards out....about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
132. 2: we've seen Pedro getting into Clichy here alreadyabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
133. 1: we're getting an idea of the passing from Barca here, they are holding on to the ballabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
134. we're offabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
135. barca to kick offabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
136. @sidlowe heard you on 5 live Sid, sounded strange not being on a grainy phoneabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck in reply to sidlowe
137. the teams are walking outabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
138. Paul's personal opinion on tonight: Tight, but I back Arsenal to win 2-1about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
139. last year, Barcelona scored both in the second half in the 2-2 draw that finished 6-3 on aggregateabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
140. Barcelona starting XI: Valdes, Dani Alves, Pique, Abidal, Maxwell, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Villa.about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
141. Arsenal starting XI: Szczesny, Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri, van Persieabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
142. 10 minutes until kick off at the Emiratesabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
143. @IanTaylor7 WhatAHitSonBlog thinks 2-1 Arsenal!about 23 hours ago via TweetDeck in reply to IanTaylor7
144. What's the key to victory tonight for #AFC? Well, double up on Maxwell at left backl - Walcott could have a field day if he can unsettle himabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
145. headlines: Nasri starts, Arshavin on the bench. Puyol out for Barca, Front three of Messi, Villa and Pedroabout 23 hours ago via TweetDeck
146. Welcome to another WAHS minbymin - featuring two teams that need no introduction: Arsenal vs Barca is 15 minutes away from kicking off