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Anger directed at referee Craig Joubert is a disgrace

22nd October, 2015
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Craig Joubert has re-emerged, with fate seeing him officiate Scotland in his first game back since the World Cup. (Source: AFP, Martin Bureau)
Roar Guru
22nd October, 2015
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I wonder how World Rugby officials came to the conclusion that Wallaby Nick Phipps intended to play the ball in a contentious incident that saw Australia beat Scotland by just one point, 35-34, in their quarter-final at Twickenham.

Like many fans and critics I have watched the video of the action, but I would rather have former South African Test referee Jonathan Kaplan describe what happened.

On his website, ratetheref.co.za, Kaplan wrote:

Joubert blew for Scottish prop Jon Welsh being off-side ahead of the last ‘Scotsman’ to play the ball, Josh Strauss. What happened between these two acts is what seems to have incensed a large portion of the Scottish rugby public and perhaps the neutrals looking for the upset.

If the ball touches a player (Nick Phipps) and he doesn’t play it, it is not enough for the sanction of a penalty to change. And so, this whole review revolves around whether you think Phipps intentionally played/touched the ball, when trying to catch it, or whether it merely bounced off him.

This is the crux of the matter. Did Phipps get a hand to the ball, or did he get a finger on it? There are people on both sides of the fence, and those still sitting on that fence.

Kaplan believes the decision to award the penalty would remain a point of debate depending on how one viewed the incident in question, but did question why Joubert opted to award a penalty if it wasn’t “clear and obvious”.

“This is not a luxury that Joubert had at his disposal. He had to make a decision in real time. It is not an easy decision, even in slomo.”

However, Kaplan suggested Joubert should have erred on the side of caution if he was in doubt.

“The only thing I will say is that generally referees are told to only to only blow for the clear and obvious and in this particular case I would hazard a guess that there could have been doubt,” added Kaplan, without speculating on why Joubert hurried from the field at the final whistle.

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Joubert wasn’t at risk of being burnt at the stake or thrown in jail, so it isn’t clear why he ran off so quickly. Apparently someone threw a bottle at him.

So furious were the fans that some may have wanted him placed in stocks field-side so they could throw haggis at him, but their anger was surpassed by the comments by two former international players, Gavin Hastings and Matt Dawson.

Hastings, who once played for Scotland, told the BBC, “That is the worst thing I have seen on a rugby field in a long time.

“He (Joubert) is not prepared to face up to the players. That is not the spirit of rugby. He should be sent home tomorrow and he should not be allowed to make an international rugby commitment again.

“If I see referee Craig Joubert again, I am going to tell him how disgusted I am. It was disgraceful that he ran straight off the pitch at the end like that.”

Dawson, a former England international, described Joubert’s actions as “disrespectful” and “despicable”.

What it really comes down to is intent.

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Rule 11.3(c) states that a player can be put onside by an opponent who intentionally plays the ball.

If Joubert thought that Phipps intentionally played the ball, he would have ruled for a scrum to Australia and not a penalty. He didn’t, and Bernard Foley popped over the penalty kick – a feat that brought enough tears from Scottish fans to fill a bath, as someone lamented.

The World Rugby panel said, “The selection committee confirms that Joubert applied World Rugby Law 11.7 penalising Scotland’s Jon Welsh, who had played the ball following a knock-on by a teammate, resulting in an offside.

“On review of all available angles, it is clear that after the knock-on, the ball was touched by Australia’s Nick Phipps and Law 11.3(c) states that a player can be put onside by an opponent who intentionally plays the ball.

“In this case, Law 11.3(c) should have been applied, putting Welsh onside. The appropriate decision, therefore, should have been a scrum to Australia for the original knock-on.”

Later, Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw claimed to have asked Joubert “on several occasions” to review the decision via the television match official.

But World Rugby officials said this was not possible: “Under the protocols, the referee could not refer to the television match official in this case and therefore had to rely on what he saw in real time.”

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Of course none of this matters.

What does matter is that Joubert made decision that he believed was correct, and as the referee on the field of play, he was in the best position to make it. Videos can tell you only so much. They can’t reveal intent.

As such, the vitriol directed at Joubert is a disgrace. Here is a top-class referee doing his best in a difficult situation who had to make an instant decision. In this case, his ruling made a vital difference to the outcome of the match.

Did the World Cup officials pander to the Scottish fans and other British critics with their statement? Or did Joubert really make a mistake? You be the judge.

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