Donald ducks a flying beer jug as Durban's dregs surface again. great copy line

DURBAN was again the venue for disgraceful crowd behaviour when Chiefs five-eighth Stephen Donald was twice pelted with missiles during their dramatic 19-18 win over the Sharks early yesterday.

The All Blacks five-eighth was forced to dodge a beer jug when converting the only try of the match, and objects were also thrown at him when kicking the final-minute penalty that won them the match.

Donald said after the game that he was probably not the target of the spectators' ire, and the objects might have been aimed at the referee, New Zealander Keith Brown, who made some contentious decisions during the Chiefs' late comeback.

Brown was widely criticised by the South African media, with complaints he had missed a number of knock-ons, obstructions and fouls. The crowd also appeared to be upset that Brown ran around during the game with his hand on his ear, as if listening to instructions.

''I don't know what their [the crowd's] problem was, but I think it was meant to hit the referee,'' Donald said. ''It's the first time things have gone a little bit pear-shaped for me as far as kicking and the crowds … they started to lose the plot. [The jug] got close but I had a pretty big tee boy today in [teammate] Sione Lauaki, so I felt pretty safe.''

In 2002, Springboks fan Pieter van Zyl ran on to the Durban pitch during the South Africa-New Zealand Tri Nations match, crash tackling the Irish referee David McHugh. All Blacks breakaway Richie McCaw intervened by wrestling van Zyl to the ground, before the intruder was escorted from the arena. McHugh sustained a dislocated shoulder.

Meanwhile, as the calls are getting louder for the Western Force to play James O'Connor at five-eighth, the talented Wallabies teenager is expected to remain at fullback or move to inside-centre. After just one round, the Force are reeling from the effects of losing their star recruit - Springbok five-eighth Andre Pretorius - before the tournament when he tore his hamstring off the bone. Mark Bartholomeusz was to replace Pretorius at five-eighth, but the 32-year-old missed the opener against the Brumbies in Perth on Friday night because of a neck problem, forcing Sam Harris to take over at No.10.

Harris had a miserable night, struggling with his kicks and options during the 24-15 loss. However, Force coach John Mitchell did not crucify Harris, saying: ''We really felt for him. Nothing went right for Sam, the poor bugger.''

Mitchell might have to persevere with Harris at No.10 against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday night, as Bartholomeusz is expected to be unavailable for three weeks.

The Force, having been given permission to find a replacement for Pretorius, have spoken to their former player Jimmy Hilgendorf, 27, who is playing in Kobe in Japan.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/do...0214-nziz.html