Amongst the fiery outpouring of vitriol, through the burning gaze of unbridled wrath and contempt, with blood boiling in your very veins, there is one thing you may not have considered.
The Wallabies were also robbed.
What? How could I possibly be serious you say? No my dear Scots, I jest not. Let this stand as a statement of fact – the Wallabies were also robbed.
They were robbed of legitimacy.
It was not the Wallabies’ fault that Craig Joubert gave that penalty. They had done everything right to get themselves down field to be in a position to win that game. However, due to the snap decision of a man from South Africa, the opportunity to be legitimately crowned as world champions was forever lost.
Even if they were to win their next two games by 100 points each there would always remain a question mark over their title. Yes, without question, the Wallabies were robbed.
That being said, there are one or two things I would like to respond to.
Firstly, that penalty did not decide the game! Only a decision made after the 80 minutes had elapsed could rightfully be said to have decided a game.
As the last play of the game it has an unquestionable finality. This game had two minutes left to play – an eternity in rugby outcomes. The Wallabies should have had a scrum 30 metres out with two minutes to play. Would they have found the winning score?
No one can say. But this we can say without question – Craig Joubert robbed them of the chance to win the game ‘fair and square’. Countless rugby matches have been won with a try in the final minutes.
Further to my point though, even after Foley kicked the dubious penalty Scotland still held their destiny in their own hands. They could have opted for a short kick-off and contested for possession – giving them the chance to make the winning score.
They chose to kick long. I will say it again, the penalty did not decide the game.
Secondly, I, like many others, find the response from World Rugby unconscionable.
In my two-and-a-half decades of madly following rugby, I have never seen the isolated decision of a referee singled out in such a way. As many have pointed out, why analyse only the one decision?
Could a reasonable person conclude that only the last penalty can have a bearing on the outcome of a game? In a 1995 State of Origin game, the Queensland team scored a penalty early in the first half.
As it turned out, it was the only score of the game. Did this penalty have a significant impact on the game’s outcome? Yes.
Could a reasonable person conclude that it decided the game? No. Since any penalty awarded can have a significant impact on a game’s outcome, do we honestly want a guy sitting in front of a TV in a little box to endlessly review every single decision?
Do we want to sit through a four hour game? Do we really want our referees to be scared of making a decision? Craig saw but one angle in the fraction of a second. He made the best decision he could. Would you want the future of your working life to be decided on similar grounds?
Lastly, the response of some of your countrymen at the ground and in the following days has shown me a side of Scotland that I would rather not have seen. I sincerely hope this is the character of an outspoken few.
TP12
Roar Rookie
Why? Because I'm over the Scottish whinging? And the persecution of Joubert? I wish he had stayed but it's understandable under the circumstances. Certainly nothing to go crucifying the guy over. Step away from the pitchfork. As I said, this is rugby, not soccer. It's time to move on and focus on the 6 Nations.
David Stewart
Guest
TP, if there is a nearby 6 year old, maybe ask them to read my post aloud to you. HE RAN AWAY. What is your problem with a. getting that, b. addressing it. It has sod all to do with the result. I didn't mention it. But amusingly you instinctively perpetuate the stereotype of the Australian sports fan who is begat from the line of Cyclops!
David Stewart
Guest
What a one eyed, intellectually empty article. And it misses the focus of GB&I anger completely. The man made an error. Fine. It has happened in every game of rugby ever played. But two minutes later he had two options: shake hands with Laidlaw and say "sorry if I got that last call wrong'', or run. Stressful moments bring out character. That is what Gavin Hastings was upset about. Joubert demeaned himself and the sport in that moment. And not a single commenter below, that I have read, even addressed it. The Aussie whinger alas seems alive and kicking. I have never before wanted the Wallbies to lose to another SH team. You lot have me on the Pumas side now come Sunday.
TP12
Roar Rookie
I don't think you appreciate the irony of your whinging about whinging... Gavin Hastings needs to pull his head in and remember he played rugby, not soccer, and show some respect for the refs and the game that gave him a career. It's about time the Scots stopped whinging about the result. They shouldn't have been there in the first place and should respect the fortune that got them there and not piss and moan about when that bounce went against them. Massive sour grapes and has soured my view of Scottish rugby supporters.
scooter
Guest
"The Aussie whinger alas seems alive and kicking." - bit rich given what has come out of the sweaties in the last week..................
David Stewart
Guest
What a one eyed, intellectually empty article. And it misses the focus of GB&I anger completely. The man made an error. Fine. It has happened in every game of rugby ever played. But two minutes later he had two options: shake hands with Laidlaw and say "sorry if I got that last call wrong'', or run. Stressful moments bring out character. That is what Gavin Hastings was upset about. Joubert demeaned himself and the sport in that moment. And not a single commenter below, that I have read, even addressed it. The Aussie whinger alas seems alive and kicking. I have never before wanted the Wallbies to lose to another SH team. You lot have me on the Pumas side now come Sunday.
Craig
Guest
As opposed to the squealing we're hearing from cry-babies like you then Biffa?
scooter
Guest
Tony, agree
TP12
Roar Rookie
We understand your point. We just think it's wrong. Why can't you then say "What happened in the previous 80 minutes culminated to the final whistle being blown while the Wallabies were leading" It looks like you want your cake and to eat it too.
TP12
Roar Rookie
Resetting the previous scrum instead of awarding a penalty to the Wallabies after the Scottish front row popped and were walking backwards denied Australia an attempt at three points. Penalising Sio for Nel boring in gave Scotland 3 points. same with the Scottish flanker binding to a Wallaby! ... All of Jouberts decisions affected the match. Calling one decision out while wilfully ignoring other incorrect decisions that would have had Australia with a larger margin is sour grapes in my opinion. The rationale that at the 78th minute all previous incorrect decisions are simply part of the build up could equally be applied to the final minute of play when the Wallabies were ahead. All previous decisions were part of the build up. You can't have it both ways.
Julian
Guest
My open letter to Scotland. Bugger off you tossers. Yours sincerely Julian
etienne marais
Guest
I know you do, Biltong. And I know you do it in the right spirit as well. As for myself, I gave up trying yesterday, after realising that many here stopped reading and understanding, and simply reverted to a defence of what they wanted the outcome to be. But I admire your persistence. I truly and sincerely hope that there are no further refereeing controversies, and that whichever teams go through to the final, do so with everyone's blessing.
You are right Ettienne, but I keep trying ;)
Biffa
Guest
Respect the ref, no matter what. Try telling that to Phipps and the other cry babies in green and gold that were squealing for a penalty!
etienne marais
Guest
Biltong, this is (mostly) an Aussie site. You should not quite be expecting a majority principled and unbiased approach in a game where their team is the non-agrieved party. Many here will just pretend not to "get it". Until it happens to their own team.
etienne marais
Guest
Exactly.
Biffa
Guest
Poor guy - he got owned by the Scottish pack! Hope he recovers quickly - his father named him after Scotland. Nice touch that...
Biffa
Guest
You again Fishkek! Hastings has always been a sour pussy and his comments abt Joubert were unacceptable. I thought Laidlaw was quite restrained - his joke at the press conference abt Joubert was a beauty!
Biffa
Guest
Strauss committed no offence. When the ball richocheted off Hardie Strauss was marginally behind him and hence onside as far as the offside line is concerned. If you look closely, Hardie doesn't even knock the ball on - the ball hits his shoulder/chin as his arm was illegally pulled away by an Australian player as he was trying to catch it - by the same Australia player who a split second earlier committed another offence at the line out by stepping across the gap and making slight contact with Welsh as he was lifting Denton. Worst bit was the squealing for a penalty by Aussie players, including Phipps who knew he touched the ball. Couldn't believe my eyes - for a minute I thought I watching the ABs!
Hoy
Roar Guru
It's good to see everyone has moved on. Far out. This is getting ridiculous. The ref made a decision... It could have been a pseudo upset... the ref made a decision he thought was right, and on the spot it might have looked right... Every scrum penalty Scotland got was wrong I felt... they were the ones sliding/pulling back etc... but they kept getting penalties from scrums... I can't understand the IRB calling out the ref on that one decision. Poor form. There is a real danger of Rugby turning into League, where the refs are afraid to make any decision now for fear of media and the NRL jumping on them... Respect the ref, no matter what.