SA Rugby have announced that after consulting with their internal judicial committee, that they are going to fight world rugby against the charges that were put forward against them, AND Rassie Erasmus.
This is very surprising to me..... I honestly thought that SA Rugby would back down and just accept what sanction comes their way, especially for Rassie.
They clearly believe that they have a strong enough case, to fight this.
Interesting times ahead.
Well, they do have a strong case.
Everyone is only paying attention to the on field calls.
However, Rassie listed a good few instances where the refs didn't satisfy what is supposed to be their duties.
One instance of this was a change to the feedback protocol/norm which was seemingly not communicated to the Boks with the explanation being "This is how we did in the 6 Nations."
If, as Rassie says, timelt feedback is vital to a team's preparations, and the protocol is changed then we now have WR affecting a team's performance in the biggest series they'll play that year.
So the question is...who broke protocol first? If there should be repercussions for Rassie, what about the officials and decision making proxies for WR?
From a PR perspective this holds their feet to the fire a tad. If SARU fight it, the spotlight on WR breaking protocol will only be intensified in the media.
They'll back down. Probably all you can do when it's a fight where you'll take more damage than your opponent.
We've been shafted a lot through the years...not talking about reffing inconsistencies...off the field boardroom politics and "judiciary"...vagaries in the application of "the law"...
It will probably make things even worse...before it hopefully gets better.
"If, as Rassie says, timelt feedback is vital to a team's preparations, and the protocol is changed then we now have WR affecting a team's performance in the biggest series they'll play that year.
So the question is... who broke protocol first? If there should be repercussions for Rassie, what about the officials and decision making proxies for WR?
From a PR perspective this holds their feet to the fire a tad. If SARU fight it, the spotlight on WR breaking protocol will only be intensified in the media"
Spot on Plum.....
And if we can prove a history of this happening, with no joy going through the correct channels...
This is definitely not the first time...we've been taking it on the chin for like forever.
World Rugby Statement:
“World Rugby condemns any public criticism of their [officials] selection, performance or integrity which undermines their role, the well-established and trust-based coach-officials feedback process, and more importantly, the values that are at the heart of the sport".
“Having conducted a full review of all the available information, World Rugby is concerned that individuals from both teams have commented on the selection and /or performance of match officials,”
“However, the extensive and direct nature of the comments made by Rassie Erasmus within a video address, in particular, meets the threshold to be considered a breach of World Rugby Regulation 18 (Misconduct and Code of Conduct)
What a farce.... what a complete and utter embarrassment
If you read the exact application of this regulation 18, from that link provided, you would see what an absolute joke this whole thing has become..... that nothing is happening to anyone at all from the Lions...... who repeatedly broke these exact same regulations that world rugby are quoting here, to target SA Rugby.
You cannot apply this kind of regulation on "merits of the case"..... if you break it or go against any written protocol, rules, or regulations that are in place, you should be sanctioned for it.....albeit maybe different levels of sanctions depending on the case per individual...…. but both parties should definitely be summonsed to attend separate hearings.
This is just outright blatant bias from world rugby.
The rules in place are designed to cover up all manner of ills. They have also clearly allowed the IRB to ignore complaint as everything is kept under lock and key.
In one superb move Rassie blows them up sky high. He breaks the censorship and provides compelling evidence of serious wrongs via VIDEO evidence. Nobody can argue against the cumulative evidence provided by the outstanding evidence. Facts and truth trump lies and cover ups.
I am very glad SA Rugby is in full support of Rassie. The IRB will not have things all their own way. Indeed this may have opened up a whole can of worms.
These should of course be open hearings but I think the IRB will not want that one little bit.
All that was necessary initially was for Nic Berry to explain the REASON for various INTERPRETATIONS...that's not unreasonable...a coach or player has to understand, tell me HOW can that be disrepect.
When an adjudicator refuses to explain, it's a natural tendancy to ASSUME something amiss. You answer questions that are reasonable with explanation.
Personally I don't think Nic Berry intended any decei t but ego got in the way, he realised his "error" and instead of admitting it he covered it up by not answering it. All refs make errors, it's human to err but it takes an honest man to admit it...
"All that was necessary initially was for Nic Berry to explain the REASON for various INTERPRETATIONS...that's not unreasonable...a coach or player has to understand, tell me HOW can that be disrespect"
Precisely Seb, well said
Then Rassie decided to contact world rugby directly for feedback...… which also resulted with absolutely zero assistance.
Then Rassie still had to work through their "errors" …."mistakes", "misunderstood interpretations of any specific laws" which the ref would have provided feedback on, should they have actually met or discussed them.
Then Rassie would still have to call a team meeting to discuss these areas of concern that they were penalized for in that game and which were identified and pointed out by the ref in "that" feedback meeting.
Then Rassie would still have to make team selections based on the feedback session that he had on the identified issues of concern.
Then Rassie would still have to get those players to drill on any new combinations, moves etc etc at least a few times, before the official match day
Yeah ….. sure..... what a clear and unprejudiced way for a national coach to continue on with a series.... which only happens every 12 years.
What a crock of sh!t….. because every single possible obstacle was put in Rassie's way....to not succeed..... and whether that was intentional or not...it has to change.
Please stop this BS about Berry not cheating. Ox was lifted up by the Lions flanker right in front of Berry's eyes. Willie was tip tackled right in from of Berry .
These things cannot be explained in terms of errors. especially after TMO review.
But the TMO…an experienced South African….backed Berry’s call.
Maybe the world will just leave us to play the Currie Cup and our players like Stampkar can all be mercenaries for other nations. But the good news is the moment they retire they can forget about those false allegiances and come back to the lager.
Die kreun van ossewa was heard as the Springboks finally became the world’s worst losers.
What a great article on the Rassie debacle
From that article:"It may have been more “sportsmanlike” for Rassie to “suck it up”, but an important teachable moment would have been lost."
and
"They have already effectively acknowledged that it was Lions coach Warren Gatland who started the Whistle War. His clever but cynical mind games in the run-up to the first Test paid huge dividends for the Lions, while South Africa’s restraint only worked to their detriment."
Nice guys don't win.
"Nice guys don't win"
Yeah..... which is why I genuinely don't understand why some people just expected Rassie to sit down, shut up, and overlook the very obvious disparity with the officiating for both teams.... and then possibly lose a Lions series, which happens every 12 years..... and then just casually move on like nothing happened.
All this, whilst your opposition is very clearly playing with the press, to ensure that they get the 50 / 50 calls for their side, by putting unnecessary pressure on the match officials.
Bollocks
I really hope they dont go down this route and rather Rassie take it on the chin.
This " Priviledge" woke BS is a slippery slope they're on.
"This " Priviledge" woke BS is a slippery slope they're on"
I agree with you on this aspect
Edit:
There is no doubt in mind that there was a difference in how both captains were spoken to by the ref and the assistants, and I will not change my mind on that issue, but for one to start inferring that it was racist or privilege is dead wrong...… and I have not yet seen that from the Springboks.
If that is what people are assuming or perceiving it to be, that is their own interpretation of what was said.
Rassie and Siya said that he was disrespected as the Springbok captain, during the game in question, and he clearly was.... it is blatantly obvious to even the casual fan......so if people want to run with that and spice it up to make it a racist comment or statement, then so be it, that is their prerogative....
Now we know.... no player of colour can ever say that they were disrespected by an official on the field of play, because it infers racism....
This " Priviledge" woke BS is a slippery slope they're on.
Ja, that made me uneasy too...but it looks like they're heading there...
I hope it's not a case of:
No, can't be, Rooi is on the opposite side, we're still safe.
