SANZAR get it wrong with Giteau fine

 
itsuckstobeyou Roar Pro

By itsuckstobeyou, 30 Apr 2010 itsuckstobeyou is a Roar Pro

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In the wake of the worst refereeing performance in local derby history, Matt Giteau has been fined $5,000 for offering an honest opinion to a journalist’s question.

The performance of Steve Walsh in the Waratahs-Brumbies clash was as bad as I’ve seen. The lack of respect shown to Brumbies’ captain Steve Hoiles and the Brumbies front row was abhorrent.

Worse than that was the disregard shown for the rules and the spirit of the game.

After missing a number of blatant knock-ons from both sides, the stage was set for a horror night of rugby when Walsh penalised Hoiles for not releasing the ball, when clearly the tackler had fallen off. After labelling the penalty “a rubbish call”, Hoiles was marched a further 10m and was then sledged by Walsh, saying “Good work. Good work”.

This led to a complete breakdown in communication between the two.

Shortly after, having awarded several penalties against the competition’s best performing prop Ben Alexander, Walsh convened a meeting of the Brumbies front row, asking them not to “hit on an angle”.

Acting hooker Salesi Ma’afu asked: “You know how you want us to pack square?” to which Walsh replied “I didn’t say that”. Ma’afu was left wondering what they were doing wrong.

This resulted in a flurry of scrum collapses which saw several penalties being handed out to both sides, despite each collapse being seemingly identical.

Then there was the Adam Ashley-Cooper try/penalty.

After awarding the penalty to the Tahs on the advice of a sideline official, Walsh could clearly be heard describing the penalty as being for a “double movement”. In rugby union, there is no such law.

This is a rugby league rule, and whether you thought it was a try or not, it is not acceptable for a referee to explain a penalty, citing a rule which does not exist.

On the flip-side, Walsh and Waugh seemed particularly pleased to catch up. Walsh could be seen laughing with Waugh, with the occasional wink and a smile.

I am not suggesting that Walsh cost the Brumbies the game.

In a game with so many disruptions, it is impossible to tell who the better side was. This was also not a simple case of a referee not allowing the game to flow.

This was poor refereeing in the sense that the rules of the game were not enforced and there was an in-balance as to how the teams were treated.

With this in mind, it is completely understandable that Matt Giteau said what he did.

To fine a man $5000 for stating the bleeding obvious is a crime in itself. Giteau’s remarks, however, have enabled SANZAR to cite him as the reason for the withdrawal of Walsh from this weekend’s Brumbies-Reds clash, as his participation would be untenable.

Walsh gets off scot-free with a week off and Giteau gets fined for being the only honest figure in the sport.

Yet again, an Australian sportsman is hammered back into line for straying from his pre-approved list of clichés.

In my opinion, the fine should be paid by Walsh and refunded to the fans that paid good money to watch that debacle.

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