Eddie Jones, the former Australia coach, believes the Bloodgate scandal needed to happen in order to flush a growing culture of cheating from the game.
Rugby union's reputation has been sullied following the incident during a European Cup match where Tom Williams, the Harlequins wing, was instructed to feign injury by using a vial of fake blood purchased from a joke shop.
The subsequent fall-out has seen the London side, who have long been seen as the aristocrats of English rugby, plunged into crisis.
Jones said "everyone" attempts to push the laws of the game to suit themselves. He also believes Harlequins are not the only club to have used a fake blood ruse.
The furore surrounding the incident, and the punitive action which followed, are likely to be a strong deterrent.
Dean Richards, who resigned as Harlequins coach, has been banned for three years, Williams received a reduced ban of four months, the club have been fined £215,000 (Dh1.28m) and former club physiotherapist Steph Brennan has been banned for two years. Chairman Charles Jillings has also resigned.
"These things need to happen every now and then," said Jones, the former Saracens coach.
"I think one or two clubs do it, and have done it previously. Apart from that, I don't think you will find many clubs that do it. It is a game that does require people to be cooperative in terms of the law.
"In the Premiership there is a lot of bending of the laws and I think you need something like this to ensure everyone does follow the laws.
"Rugby is a game where the interpretation of the laws is enormous, and you have to play it in the spirit of the game.
"Everyone tries to bend the laws as much as you can, but there is a limit you can go to and obviously the limit has been well and truly stepped over.
"The same thing has happened with scrummaging. Wasps, for example, have done it a number of times where they have gone to uncontested scrums at the end of the game."
Harlequins, without a coach, face Wasps in their first game of the English Premiership season at Twickenham on Saturday. Jones thinks they will be hard pushed to repeat last season's second-place finish. "Dean Richards was an enormously strong character there, and ran a very good club," he said. "Him not being there is going to hit that club, so they could struggle."
pradley@thenational.ae
For a preview of the English Premiership season, turn to s8-9.
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
The UAE squad for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
Women’s team: Mouza Al Shamsi, Wadeema Al Yafei, Reem Al Hashmi, Mahra Al Hanaei, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Hessa Thani, Salwa Al Ali.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
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Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
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Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
