O'Briens Apology accepted

The following from News24:-

"Sevens referee Matt O’Brien has apologised to the Springbok Sevens team for his performance in last weekend’s controversial Wellington Sevens final.

O’Brien met with Bok Sevens coach Neil Powell on Wednesday in Sydney ahead of this weekend’s Sydney Sevens along with World Rugby Sevens assessor Tappe Henning and delivered a “heartfelt” apology for the way he refereed the final of the tournament.

It was little consolation to the Bok sevens side, who led 21-7 before O’Brien put in some of the worst calls on the Sevens circuit, penalising the dominant team with a 9-1 penalty count against them and allowing New Zealand to come back and score three tries in the last three minutes of the game to take the title.

O’Brien has since been lambasted across the globe for his performance, as well as the fact he is the son of World Rugby Sevens Referees boss Paddy, grew up in New Zealand and was appointed to referee a final involving the All Blacks as well.

While the apology will not do any good in the greater scheme of things, Powell told Supersport.comthe team had accepted it and moved on and were now concentrating on this weekend’s tournament and underlying their lead in the HSBC Sevens series.

O’Brien will referee this weekend’s Sydney Sevens but will not referee any of the Springbok Sevens’ pool games. Whether this is by design or on purpose isn’t clear, but the Blitzboks could run into him in the Cup knockout rounds if they make it that far.

Still, Powell believes the matter is now buried, and accepted the apology, which he believes was heartfelt.

“I sat with him and we went through the second half of the game and he explained his decisions. It was really honest and open, and I think he realised at times he had made big mistakes. I think his apologies were sincere and he had tears in his eyes.

“He apologised to me for the way he refereed the game.”

“I’m obviously still disappointed with what happened and I’m not a guy for records, but it would have been nice to win it, because we’ve only won Wellington once before. We don’t normally concentrate on the result, but in this case we would have really wanted to win the Sevens there. In that aspect we are disappointed in how we lost, but we can’t fault the effort and performance of the players. They really put their hearts and bodies on the line, we couldn’t look at one game and say there was someone who wasn’t up for it.

“I’m very proud of the guys and the effort they put in. As I said after the tournament they deserved better than second place.”

That being said, Powell now needs to get his side up for this weekend’s pool round on Saturday, where they once again face Scotland and Russia while Kenya are this time the third side in their pool.

While the team had done exceptionally on defence Powell said he would be looking for them to not make the “little mistakes” they had made in the Wellington tournament, which mostly were missing one-on-one tackles.

But while they expected the task to be just as difficult, Powell and his team know at least what to expect from day one of the tournament in Sydney.

Impressive loose forward Tim Agaba will also make his debut during the tournament, with the Blitzboks ravaged by injury and without regulars Kyle Brown, Frankie Horne, Cecil Afrika, Branco du Preez and Justin Geduld will have to rely heavily on a very inexperienced bench for the weekend outing."

Lets put this aspect to rest and accept that even O'Brien recognized he was incompetent in the way he handled a game the Blitzbokke should have won.

Nice to see somebody with the decency to apologize. Ironical that it's reported by you Tokkie, given your inability to get the time right.....and craven refusal to apologize for your ignorant comments. The fact that this fellow has apologized for other stuff doesn't l et you off the hook.

 Oh dear. The poor man must either be a good bloke, or he got instructions from Daddy. ..Judging by his priors, I prefer the former...the moment just got too big for him. Shame,  I hope he survives....
Mike, I  see what you've done there. The link is broken. The article is a spoof, ain't it? The alleged tears gave it away. Naughty-naughty Maaaik!

 Legit it seems? WTF, he did nothing wrong, just ask any Kiwi....he must have gotten death threats, hence the tears...poi-e?

Should people from New Zealand be allowed to referee a rugby match, that is the question? it just might not be possible for them to be objective in a final?

 Yup, he sounds like a good bloke, must have kiwi ancestry.

 They are saints, they never ever get anything wrong and it's always sour grapes if the losing team complains...unless its them, then it's positive critique.
If this story is true and a real reflection of what happened,  hats off to the lad...gutsy, but then the blame must shift from him to Daddy AND WR, who makes this kinda thing possible...impartial my arse!!!!

  Draad
I copied the article from News24 and the same article was also on Supersport Rugby - so I accepted that the article was Legit and not a spoof.  However, you cleared it up afterwards.  I am sorry for the poor chap - he made a foul-up and realized it afterwards.   it could be career-ending - and the fact that Powell said the air was cleared make me think he will get support from the latter to continue reffing in Sevens.

 

 Mike, I was jesting a bit,  but my radar went off. A ref asking SA's forgiveness is unprecedented ...for more than a century...a nd a Kiwi to boot? I think the drought is broken and we should immediately start preparing for flooding rains.
PS, you should retract your comments about him and his dad being the greatest cheats ever. Brycy and Dickonson can rest assured at the top again?

I don't see this "news" on any of the big rugby sites yet. We will see if it proves legit.

 Media 24 and Brenden Nel is legit(not a fan myself, but he's mainstream rugby journo in the Republic)....rest of the rugga world's not too keen on running this story....bit embarrassed methinks.

 PS, Media 24 is owned by Naspers. Net worth: $ 67B. Not too shabby?

 If the story is true then O'Brien is an honest and brave man. This is a story that most rugby main news sites would have been glad to push. It is so unusual in sports for a ref to be open about his mistakes even non-rugby sports sites would be interested. 
Let's see who else picks up this story. 

 Agreed JW, it does sound too good to be true.

 World Rugby says it never happened. Powell says it did.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/76617645/sevens-referee-matt-obrien-hasnt-apologised-to-south-africa-for-wellington-final-world-rugby

 Well that is not the full story - the match was reviewed during that sit-down between O'Brien and it is not clear what was said.  Powell said he was "misquoted" - so what exactly did Powell say to the media that was "misquoted"?   There needs to be a corrected version put in the papers.
What is clear remains that O'Brien made a balls-up of the game and that World Rugby is trying to cover up for the whole situation.  
Time to get a public version about what really happened at that review?   Was O'Brien found to be correct in his decisions?  Were there mistakes made?  What did O'Brien say about the mistakes - if it was found that he did make mistakes?   World Rugby has to cover for incidents involving their officials - and since they are not a secret authority that cannot be queried - the full version should be published.  That will not happen since WR  is basically untrustworthy and do not want to embarrass themselves.          

 O’Brien met with Bok Sevens coach Neil Powell on Wednesday in Sydney ahead of this weekend’s Sydney Sevens along with World Rugby Sevens assessor Tappe Henning and delivered a “heartfelt” apology for the way he refereed the final of the tournament.

It was little consolation to the Bok sevens side, who led 21-7 before O’Brien put in some of the worst calls on the Sevens circuit, penalising the dominant team with a 9-1 penalty count against them and allowing New Zealand to come back and score three tries in the last three minutes of the game to take the title.

O’Brien has since been lambasted across the globe for his performance, as well as the fact he is the son of World Rugby Sevens Referees boss Paddy, grew up in New Zealand and was appointed to referee a final involving the All Blacks as well.

WELL WELL WELL. Oaks when will we see the end of nz cheating!! This is the son of that  cheater wee paddy o'brien who was got rid by the  IRB  after manipulating the RWC.How did nz arrange to have a ref in pocket for the final.
Doubtless his tears were about being found out.Isn't it time the rugby world gave nz the good message. Shape up or ship out! why is this tolerated. Why aren't nz held accountable? 
They should be stripped of the title. Just like the cheating cruz campaigners should be stripped of teh Iowa result. Action needs to be taken!!!!! Strip them of RWC titles as well and tri nation titles. How many have they fairly won?Here is a perfect opportunity to set an example
However the big losers are the kbbs denialists.  Mountains of egg land. None more so that the dark duck whose grip on reality is tenuous at best! I am trying to reform him but his genetic layout is fighting all efforts! Bwahahhahahahahahaha

 Umm Draad, I never said he did make errors, I just didn't accuse him of cheating or bias, you did.  
This apology will hopefully keep the death threats and Facebook campaigns at bay, we want referees to feel safe in the republic, they already have to endure a crumbling society teetering on the brink of collapse.

The Trump-pette is in full bleat 
Beeno, the story is disputed so you are premature in your rush to judgement yet again. 
The real story is be how far will reporters & the rabid SABB (South African Bird Brain) fan go to deal with a loss in rugby. Please check your prescriptions Beeno, the meds are not working.
                      Dr Moz at work
                   
Could all th e lunacy be caused by the good Doctor?

 Beeno
World Rugby said that there was no apology by O'Brien and Powell said there was.  Who is correct?   It is time that the substance of the discussions on Wednesday was made known to the public - but World Rugby will try to cover it up and refuse to do so.  Powell said he was "misquoted" - but it was clear that he is also trying to dilute what happened at the meeting.
The following in inverted commas in the above report:-
“I sat with him and we went through the second half of the game and he explained his decisions. It was really honest and open, and I think he realised at times he had made big mistakes. I think his apologies were sincere and he had tears in his eyes.

“He apologised to me for the way he refereed the game.”  
That means the actual words of Powell was used and that is not open to a misquote.  I think WR is trying to cover up the whole issue by their statement - they have to protect their officials and Powell has been asked by them to water down his statement - hence the "misquote" statement.   

... amazing the lengths the press will go to in South Africa making up fairy stories like this...as pakie has correctly pointed out it never happened...Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility and obviously seriously lacking in RSA.....NZ kicked the yarpies butt fair and square and no apology offered so bad luck ...

JW
I know that World Rugby is trying to cover up the issue and protect their officials - so we will not get the real story in this case.   Powell also stated he was misquoted, which is unlikely - since his statement was in inverted commas  
What is clear to me is that O'Brien made a complete mess of the game and he did admit he made mistakes.   That may have been interpreted as an apology and I think we can get the matter to rest there.

     

Here is the article:
Link to world rugby article denying apology

 " Umm Draad, I never said he did make errors, I just didn't accuse him of cheating or bias, you did.  
This apology will hopefully keep the death threats and Facebook campaigns at bay, we want referees to feel safe in the republic, they already have to endure a crumbling society teetering on the brink of collapse."
I did not say that. I did not even hint at it. In fact I said that I don't believe he is a cheat or that if mistakes were made that it was intentional. I said he is not a neutral ref. The fact that he refs for Ozz and lives there does not make him any less NZ than his dad. You do understand the differences between Neutral, biased, objective and subjective...don't ya?

I don't believe this
Protecting something because it has now made the mainstream media.
That's what I think..............

 Usual BS from the SA media in an obvious attempt to cover up the atrocious choking of the Bozoboks.Can they stoop any lower? Probably.......

 Norma l BS from the NZ media is more believable?  If the two sat down and go through the match what was actually said - was O'Brein correct in interpretation - yes or no?  This clearly is a cover-up and that is a fact.  
Can your referees stoop any lower ? Probably .............
I ask some clear questions about what happened at the Wednesday meeting and there was no answers.   There must be minutes of the said discussion and that could easily be provided to clear the matter - but that was not done - just an obvious cover-up of the WR officials.
  

moolaa
 
Status: Bok regular 
Posts: 1094RE: O'Briens Apology accepted
February 05, 2016, 11:16:14

 Usual BS from the SA media in an obvious attempt to cover up the atrocious choking of the Bozoboks.

Can they stoop any lower? Probably.......

 Really...quite a bold statement there
So if this is proven to be true, would you be prepared to recant that accusation and apologize.....
Doubt it

 Na, all they did was correct what the desperate SA press dreamed up as an apology.Yet again more egg for you Mike. This is like taking candy from a baby....By the way, is "Normasl" an Afrikaans' word? Never heard of it....

 Now we can't say A*rikaans???

Well to be fair, O'Brien got a lambasting from at least one NZ journo as well. 

 Moolaa 
Your attack on the SA Press and South Africans in general is uncalled for and I merely asked some very logical questions about this issue.  The egg - I am afraid - is in your face - since you never asked anything about what actually happened at the Wednesday meeting.   
If World Rugby is not protecting some of their match officials in this case - why not give the minutes of the meeting - or a report on it - to the press.
I smell a cover-up by the NZ press and the mystery WR official who is never mentioned by name who send an e-mail which was not even in inverted commas - but given as fact.  Also in the report it is mentioned that Powell said he was misquoted - which sound very mysterious as well.   Why not a full quote of what Powell did say.
In the end it would have been clearer what happened if WR makes available a report on the discussions on Wednesday to clarify what really happened and if a full statement of Powell be obtained and put in the paper.
This is a very weird NZ news report - vague and poorly investigated.   Very poor journalism.   But if you are happy with it - you are welcome to it.   I think it is a cover-up to protect the O'Neils.  Was the mystery e-mail referred to being sent by Paddy O'Neil?  Would not be surprised if that was the case - he is low enough to do that.  
    

...it all points to the fact that SA head coach Neil Powell has been caught telling porkies...what a dopey yarpy...reminds me of another dopey yarpy that specialises in fairytales ay Bean Brain...

 moolaa, Naspers is the media company that owns News 24. Naspers' net worth was $67 billion (that's American Dollars BTW). We have a very professional and independent journalism fraternity here in the republic, with checks and balances. I don't know what you have in NZ and I don't know who owns Fairfax Media, but I would wager they are a bit smaller...not that that make any difference to the content, but like Mike said, that article was poorly referenced. Bigger media houses are normally under bigger scrutiny, so the have better systems in place to prevent embarrassments and to improve their accountability, which leads to better more accurate news. They have a lot to lose if their credibility takes a knock.

 Draad
I posted the following on the Supersport Rugby Website as to their report on the issue and am hoping f or a response:-
"This report about the apology was denied in the NZ Press. It was said that there was no apology made or called for and that Powell said he was misquoted. Can we please get a full report on the issue of the denial and also whether Powell said he was "misquoted". ie the following website : Stuff.co.nz website.
What is the real position in this case - since Supersport is directly accused of manufacturing a false report on the issue. This needs to be clarified and the sooner the better."

 The following comments on this issue on the issue on the Supersport site:-
"With Supersport "breaking" the story, why do World Rugby's secret spokesman send an e- mail to Stuff and apparently not to Supersport?" 

 S

 .

 Well the floor is yours Draad, when you're done spamming the sh!t out of every thread, explain how when you question a refs neutrality that you're not also accusing him of bias, international or otherwise.
This should be good. 

 Poe-i...No, I  can't be blamed for your lack of comprehension.  I spammed every thread to get rid of the threads marketing counterfeit money, DL's and Passports. I was bored, call the police if you think it warrants.