How referee Romain Poite could not use the TMO for such a crucial decision, in such a crucial match, is beyond inept, it is a disgrace, and the IRB need to show some teeth and act on it.
Tank Lanning
Like a hot air balloon that had been pierced by a javelin … or being let loose at an all you can eat steak and chop buffet with your lips stitched together … it was just such a disappointing and frustrating way for the biggest Springbok Test of the year to end.
Sure, they have been the top two sides in world rugby for a while now, but one got the feeling that the Boks could for the first time in a long time, actually match the All Blacks, even on the hallowed fortress that is Eden Park.
And while the All Blacks were deserved leaders at half time, they had lost both potent playmakers Dan Carter and Israel Dagg to injury, the Bok scrum was looking pretty decent, and having eventually decided to keep the ball in hand rather than kick it away, the Boks were looking so much better in winning the attacking collisions rather than the defensive ones they had had to endure for a lot of the half.
And then enter stage left, the same man who allowed Alasdair Strokosch free reign at the breakdown in the Bok’s narrow win over Scotland in June, referee Romain Poite, who through error and ineptitude, completely ruined the game as a contest.
The IRB have confirmed that it was incorrect for Poite to issue the first yellow card to Bismarck du Plessis (for an alleged high tackle with no use of the arms on Dan Carter), describing the decision as “An unfortunate case of human error by the match officials, who, having reviewed the match, fully recognise and accept that they made a mistake in the application of law.”
But the SA Referees website takes it a step further saying “The reasons the referee gave for sending Du Plessis to the sin bin were wrong. It was a refereeing mistake. Mistakes happen but in this case it was so unnecessary. The referee had time to consult his assistants and the TMO and to look at the evidence on the big screen. He, an experienced Test referee, did none of those things but relied on his single impression in real time – and he was wrong.”
And therein lies the rub. The IRB simply have to get tougher inept reffing performances. For too long, match officials have been wrapped in cotton wool, not allowed to be criticised by coaches or players, and seemingly above any sort of sanction, barring the odd slap on the wrist.
This while their decisions have direct consequences on both coach and payer livelihoods.
Rugby is not only governed by a very complex set of laws, it is also a set of laws that is perhaps the most open to interpretation out of any sport on earth. The fact that one man’s interpretation of the laws can have such a direct bearing on a match result is probably the biggest problem facing the sport today (and we all know it is facing a few!)
So when tools like the TMO are brought in, and given extended powers so as to try and reduce said power of interpretation, they need to be used. How Poite could not use the TMO in such a crucial decision, in such a crucial match, is beyond inept. It is a disgrace.
The above first appeared on eNCA.com as a column
I am a rugby fan but also the first to admit I am not fully aware of all the rules. I am as disappointed in Poite as everybody else for handing out the yellow to Bismarck for the tackle on Carter as it was just wrong and he had the technology to rectify it. I agree, refs can make a mistake and I think the Bokke did well to minimise that first 10 minute loss of a player. Bismarck then received another yellow which resulted in him being send off. I think it is a difficult call whether or not that was a yellow or not, I agree it was accidental and don’t believe it was on purpose. However, I also understand that it is potential dangerous play and unless the refs act harsh on it, it will soon become the norm for dirty players to go purposefully for the throat thereby endanger the players.
The above is the things most people are upset about, but for me, what really irked me about the ref was his inconsistency. I would appreciate if some people more knowledgably than me can comment on these please:
1. Lambi’s try in the corner. Morne kicked, Zaine clapped the ball back, and Lambi went into the air to collect the ball, Lambi was manhandled in the air. Surely that is not allowed and if I recall correctly JP Peters (or was it Habana) was sent off for playing a man in the air in a previous game.
2. Scrums. South Africa was penalised on a number of occasions for illegal scrumming and for bringing the scrum downs. In the best of cases it is 50/50 calls those in any event. Now I do not believe that our scrums are that bad, irrespective of whether or not it is Bismarck or Strauss playing. As such, one would expect that the calls around the scrums will be more or less even between Springboks and All Blacks, but that did not appear to be the case.
3. Breakdowns. South Africa was at a disadvantage with one less loose forward, but it just appeared that the All Blacks was able to “protect” the scrum-half much better, but when the Bokke did that, they were penalised. Question is, am I just a bit biased towards the team I am supporting or was there a couple of strange calls?
4. Dirty play. I appreciate rugby will always have dangerous play and potential dirty players. It is part of the game. However, I would have thought that the shoulder charge on Jean de Villiers, should have received a red card. It would not have made much difference in the game since there was only 9 minutes left. However, a red card will mean that a citing will take place and the result is that the All Blacks could potentially miss a key player in the remainder of the championship thereby enhancing our odds of winning the tournament. I appreciate the ref’s call, but in a case like that, can Meyer / De Villiers not request a citing post the game?
5. The crowd. There are no doubt that the crowd plays a big role in the game. All Blacks are as passionate about rugby as we are, so I am curious do anybody else think that perhaps the crowd was booing the ref’s decision for sending off Bismarck. I would like to believe it, but I am not convinced as it is very difficult to see what the crowed have seen. Looking at the replays, it is clear that they were looking at the same thing the TV-viewers was seeing, so I guess not unless the big screen displayed a different image as Bismarck walks off.
I play a lot of sport (and also ref on occasions), and I understand that it is very difficult to ref a game 100% accurately. However, I do not mind the incorrect call every now and again (as a player), as long as the ref makes the same calls to both players. In Poite case though, there was no reason not to use the TMO for the big decisions.
Comments anybody?