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Not so long ago Craig Joubert was regarded as the world’s best referee. While not everyone enjoyed his interpretation of the breakdown laws, we all agreed he was consistent.
However, something went seriously wrong at Twickenham on the weekend.
During the match, the All Black back-rowers were clearly confused, at times bemused, by the bizarre calls Mr Joubert was making.
Thank goodness New Zealand won, because now this point can be made without sounding like sour grapes.
It now appears that Craig Joubert agrees England spent most of the game behaving illegally at the ruck.
His reasoning seems to run along the lines that England were deliberating sealing off the ball and going off their feet, but he deemed it to have no material effect on the game, since New Zealand were chosing not to compete at the breakdown anyway.
Conversely, he believed New Zealand were penalisable for the same offence on the basis that England were committing numbers at each ruck and hence All Blacks off their feet were having a material effect on the game.
Really? So much for consistency, Craig. Here is a guy actually admitting he applied two different sets of laws to each team. Astonishing.
So what could be the reason behind allowed two sets of laws, and the ensuing one way free-for-all at the ruck that saw England forwards merrily diving in from all angles, brazenly off their feet?
Well, according to Mr Joubert, it was all in the name of “keeping the game flowing”.
Equally astonishingly, he’s admitted he might have got it wrong.
Wow. I recall another referee who presided over a breakdown free-for-all recently to the same end, and also admitted after the game he might have done things differently.
Do you remember who that was? Bryce Lawrence. The man hounded out of the game by death-threatening Springbok fans.
Now, I like Craig, he’s a decent referee, or was before he started this kind of carry on. But I can’t help but point out it is not just during this game England seemed to get a special set of laws all to themselves.
The pitch seemed to be slightly wider for England against Australia and the laws of obstruction didn’t seem to be enforced. Scrums could only be reset when England had the feed.
Is there a trend for referees to buckle to RFU pressure somehow at Twickenham? Consciously or subconsciously?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.