There’s strong mail that tonight’s Wales-Wallabies clash at Millennium Stadium will be controversial South African referee Jonathan Kaplan’s last hurrah. Hallelujah, there is a rugby god after all. And about time.
But why let the 67-Test world record holder loose on the Wallabies?
That smacks of a quirky decision by IRB ref’s boss Paddy O’Brien, who was no great shakes as an international referee during his 38-game career.
And Kiwi O’Brien hasn’t improved his judgment sitting behind his Dublin desk.
The quirk? There’s no love lost between Kaplan and Robbie Deans’ men. Kaplan has refereed the men in gold four times on Deans’ watch.
The results tell the story:
* Lost to the All Blacks 28-24 at Suncorp in 2008.
* Lost to the All Blacks 19-18 at Stadium Australia in 2009.
* Drew with Ireland 20-20 at Croke Park Dublin in 2009.
* And lost to the All Blacks 20-10 at Jade Stadium Christchurch in 2010.
Not one win in four, even worse than Kaplan’s track record refereeing NSW, where the Waratahs have lost 14 of 16 matches.
It’s taken a long time for the penny to drop on Kaplan’s inability to control a game by not refereeing both sides. His arrogance towards the players has done the rest.
Prior to the recent RWC in New Zealand, Kaplan was far and away the most-capped referee in rugby history with 63.
* Next best and daylight – 48 for Irishman Alain Rolland’s, who controlled the 2007 RWC final between the Boks and England.
* 46 for Kiwi Paul Honiss, now retired.
* 44 for Welshman Derek Bevan, also retired, who reffed the 1991 RWC final between the Wallabies and England.
* 43 for Australian Stuart Dickinson, retired as well.
* 38 for South African Andre Watson, retired as the only two-time RWC final ref – 1999 Wallabies-France, and 2003 Wallabies-England.
* Kiwi-born Australian Steve Walsh is the next best of the current refs with 37.
* Englishman Wayne Barnes has 27, along with Welshman Nigel Owen.
* South African Craig Joubert has 22.
That made Kaplan a laydown misere to referee the recent RWC final, if the Boks failed to reach the decider.
But compatriot Joubert won the honour, and deservedly so, despite his “junior” standing.
Kaplan didn’t even make the quarters after just four unimportant group games: Tonga-Canada, Canada-Japan, England-Georgia, and Ireland-Italy.
The writing was on the wall. It’s about to be carved in stone.
The feeling is like Australian golfer Wayne Grady’s memorable quote after winning his only major – the 1990 USPGA Championship.
“You bloody bewdy”.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Dunno about that. I rate Victor Matfield highly and I've seen him, as Skipper, struggle with Refs.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
On da button Bakkies , O'Brien is a absolute disgrace , in fact he is the prime example on how NOT to run a professional referees panel . He is one of the major issues that make the IRB a joke in world sport :-)
Matthew Skellett
Guest
As a waratahs fan I'm not sorry to see him go that's for surety by begorrrah!!!!! :-) and be blessed :-)
Jaceman
Guest
Not every Aussie bleats about Kaplan - see other posts
Bakkies
Guest
When will Paddy O'Brien retire. We need an impartial man running the IRB panel of referees.
Bakkies
Guest
He is right about one thing and that is Kaplan is a poor ref. Joubert has declined recently. Mark Lawrence is far and away their best ref.
David
Guest
Spot on fog. The whole article is an insult to intelligence. Lord, lord, lord.......pathetic. Here's a suggestion; the wallabies lost 10 in a row with all referees. Maybe the all blacks were better, regardless of the referee. Crazy suggestion I know.
David
Guest
Let's remember it was kaplan who allowed 10 minutes of injury time in 2000 @ Wellington (after the world could hear him state only 2 minutes was left). Sult? Eales knocks over a winning penalty. Aussies need to get balanced. All fans around the world bleat. It ain restricted to your mob or ours. As for macaw and Henry themselves, feel free to post an exact official quote of ever blaming the referee. Thx.
mattamkII
Guest
you'll never see the best skippers in the world talking to the ref like a semi aggressive semi petulant school kid.
Osama bin Lockie
Guest
Kaplan's final match? I live in hope. I'm sure the man sleeps with his whistle and directs the family by short blasts on it.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
So I took your advice and looked at the picture and all I saw was Phil Waugh doing his job. ???? :( So what?
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Exactly, To quote David from another article "Yet again the men-in-gold gave away bone-headed penalties". David, you can't have it both ways. Either the Wallabies give away the penaties or Kaplan is incompetant and over-penalises the Wallabies. So which is it? Or is this just another one of your tabloid style, pointless, personal opinion pieces with no grounding in fact or reality?
mattamkII
Guest
Johnno, the picture to this article is you answer. Sure its Kaplan not Walsh but look at it anyway. Phil Waugh, skipper of the Tahs in one of his regular poses. No wonder the ref always turns on them.
Nunny
Guest
Agreed, we all as Australian fans find it difficult to ernestly watch his refereeing efforts involving Australia but please, he should still be applauded as a very capable referee
Johnno
Guest
CizzyRascal why not rejoice when a ref retires especially if he has caused your team and the teams millions of fans so much pain. The boks will not be sending christmas cards to Bryce lawrence The French will not be inviting craig Joubert on a holiday in the French riviera And wayne barnes will not be invited for some roast lamb in New Zealand
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
This article shows a real lack of class. We all know you are not a fan of Kaplan but to rejoice in him retiring? How would you feel if people were rejoicing when you retired?
Johnno
Guest
Mike that is a 1st rate conspiracy theory, and the wallabies record at Dunedien is not much better.
Damo
Guest
Like your logic Darwin . Now let's discuss the bleating over Dickenson and Richie at Suncorp this year.
Hamish
Guest
There have been worse referee's, and just because the wallabies and the waratahs lose when he's in charge does not mean hes a bad referee. Its more that they cant adjust their games to his refereeing style or are not good enough too. If you want a bad ref then just look in you're backyard, Stu Dickinson is just about the worst, most biased referee in the world, not just at international level, hes been pretty crap in the shute shield. But what is it with some Australians, and blaming poor performances, on bad refereeing, other teams cheating and so on, its a bad look and just hiding the fact that rugby in this country has some big issues.
Mike
Guest
Nah, I've got a better one - Springboks hadn't won at Dunedin for a 100 years until 2009 or whenever it was. Now THAT's a conspiracy theory...!