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The historical hard done by stories attributed to Craig Joubert in the wake of his inauspicious handling of Scotland versus Australia, which kept many of The Roar’s readers up until obscenely late, have leeched out across all media platforms.
It was heartbreaking for us Scots. Across all sports I don’t think I’ve felt so gutted since Brazil’s late goal against us in Italia 1990 or when Gavin Hastings missed in the Rugby World Cup semi-final in 1991.
As can be seen from only these two references, Scotland’s ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory (or even merely the hope of victory) is close to unrivalled in world sport.
Mr Joubert got it wrong. Okay, referees get it wrong, horribly so sometimes.
It’s not the first time he has made a mistake and nor will it be his last. But fair play for making the decision (I’ve had a day of furniture breaking in the confines of my own home so am now reattaining my equilibrium).
The rules set in place currently do not allow referral to the TMO. Perhaps the touch judge could have helped more?
Coulda, shoulda, woulda. It’s done.
But to run from the field without acknowledging either set of players is very poor.
Are the reports of the bottle being thrown confirmed? Where did it occur? I would have thought staying in the middle of the pitch would have been a long throw. If it was close to that area, then I think the person responsible should make himself known as I am sure there would be several sporting franchises who would gladly pay the fine in return for the signature of an arm like that.
Or maybe Joubert really couldn’t hold it in for another five minutes.
Rugby, for all its brutality and intensity, is a game built on respect. Yes, there would have been some outrage from the Scots after the whistle, but I would find it hard to believe that there would be a threat to safety.
The Wallabies shook hands with us, and we with them. To think that that would change towards the officials goes against how the game is played day after day across the world.
The 82,199 paying spectators were there to watch the spectacle of rugby and for the most part it would not be their first rodeo. A rugby crowd is vocal but knowledgeable. Was Joubert really that fearful? Surely he has encountered similar atmospheres before?
It is sad that the powers that be have deemed it necessary to so publicly undermine him. But this also from a body (albeit a different part of it) that had given five-week bans to two Scots, which were then reduced to three weeks and then quashed altogether. I am both glad that they have clarified it as an error, but in the same breath surprised at the official nature of the response.
I’m a humble supporter that follows many sports at many levels, so forgive my ignorance of the nuances of the game. (It has been some considerable time since I played the game and it has come a long way since my involvement ceased.)
But in terms of the referee’s ability to respond, is there a mechanism whereby Joubert can issue a statement or give an interview to give his side of the story?
It would put everything to bed. Yes, there will always be argument over the try that never was due to the Will Genia knock-on, and Sean Maitland’s yellow, but if Joubert opened up about it, held his hands up and said something like…
‘People, I’ve had another look myself, it was possibly not my best game, possibly not my worst. There were a lot of right calls, maybe a few wrong ones. A lot has been said about the error, and in hindsight, from 32 camera angles, it would appear that the decision was incorrect.
‘In real time, with the view I had, I believed it was the right call, and I stand by what I saw at the time. The TMO was not available so the final call was mine. We’re all human and we all make mistakes.’
I would stand and applaud. That would be enough for me. And for 98 per cent of the rest of the world (and by rest of the world I mean Scotland of course) that would be enough too.
In the bygone era of rugby before professionalism, the Calcutta Cup was played for each year between two sworn enemies from either side of the Scotland-England border. For 80 minutes it was attrition, hatred, get your retaliation in first, the good old amateur days.
But the dents and scratches in that trophy are from where it has been dropped and kicked from pub to pub along the road when it was taken out on the town… by both sets of players together. If we can stand side by side with our enemy and have a beer, then I for one would buy Joubert one for being big enough to stand up.
And let’s be completely honest here, if anyone on The Roar knows a Scotsman, you’ll know that we’ll be talking about this not just for years to come, but for generations and millennia. But you know what, most of us will do it tongue in cheek, with a glint in the eye.
And being even more honest, if the penalty have not been given, Australia would have won the scrum and from that, after the 42nd phase and five minutes past the 80, Bernard Foley (or let’s make it even more extravagant, Stephen Moore) would no doubt have stepped up and slotted a drop goal.
Congratulations to all four semi-finalists.
Oh Flower of Scotland…
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.