I was taught that rugby is a hooligan sport played by gentlemen (and ladies). Yet the backlash against Craig Joubert has been seriously unfair and not in the spirit of the game.
By my count, only three other people on the planet can attest to having refereed a quarter-final at the Rugby World Cup under the current laws of the game.
If any of them were to offer constructive criticism, that would be worth hearing; the rest is just white noise.
I doubt those three would have anything critical to say though. They would understand the pressure Joubert were under, the speed of the decision-making and the fatigue he was suffering.
It is very easy for us to sit on our lounges and criticise the call… Or is it? It still seems that there are daily articles about whether he got it right.
In the 79th minute Joubert made a call, without the assistance of the TMO, which would likely decide the outcome of the game. Even now – with the assistance of hindsight, multiple camera angles and in-depth analysis of the rulebook – there is still an arguable case both in favour and against awarding the penalty.
The call itself must be assigned to the grey area.
So what is left? The treatment of the man himself.
Anyone who can say with one hundred per cent certainty that Joubert was wrong, or that they would have done better is foolish. How would they know? Were they stood in his shoes? Did they have his line of sight?
The Scots can feel disappointed, their team played well and it is never easy being knocked out of the World Cup. However, directing that anguish at the referee is inappropriate.
The fact of the matter is that referees are human beings. Human beings make mistakes. Every knock-on, forward pass, missed tackle and penalty conceded is a mistake. We do not expect the players to be perfect. Why the unrealistic standard for the referees?
In the Broncos versus Cowboys NRL grand final, Ben Hunt dropped the ball off the kick-off in extra time. This mistake ultimately cost the Broncos the game, with Johnathan Thurston dropping a goal in the plays that followed.
Was Hunt derided? Criticised? Threatened? Abused? I sincerely hope not. Referees should be offered the same reverence as the disappointed Hunt.
Admittedly, some mistakes have more extreme consequences than others but that does not take away from the fact that after 79 minutes of fatiguing play, with a preceding myriad of correct calls (and some less so – sin-binning Sean Maitland), Joubert called what he saw.
It may have cost him the World Cup final, and that I find disappointing, but he should hold his head up high. I am also disappointed that World Rugby did not have the gall to back their man.
So while I cannot say I understand, because I did not referee a quarter-final, I do empathise.
Jemima
Guest
They should be like NRL refs - make the game close till the 60th minute by giving the trailing team the benefit of the decisions, put the whistle away in the last 20 and then see who wins. The TV viewers will hang in there, the result is uncertain because of the equalizing of the 6 tackle rule and no one complains - magic.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Perhaps not passive aggressive, just agressive!! Incidentally, no commenting on Joubert's handling of the Wallabies against Wales and Scotland unless you have refereed international matches! ;-)
wardad
Guest
They do assess all ref performances .
wardad
Guest
How about showing how he actually did all this stuff in the 2011 final ? And dont forget to include the French indiscretions . Just utter nonsense .
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Did they also make fact of all the incorrect scrum penalties that went against Australia? Most notably in the dying minutes when a reset was ordered after Australia dominated the scrum and Scotland were then awarded a free kick after their prop collapsed the scrum around 25 out at a slight angle?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Give you a break? Man the arrogance of this win is so not sitting well with some WBs fans. Of course they were gifted it. Tell me RT, were you one of thousands sitting there praying for that kick to go over in the 78th minute? Of course you were, wondering how you were going to react if Foley missed the kick. But will any of those thousands admit they got off lightly? No, instead you take the the path that the Scots were hopeless, opportunistic, got a leg up the entire match from Joubert, rubbing it in to avoid having anything to do with feeling lucky. Unbelievable.
RT
Guest
Wow, passive aggressive much? The scots year? Wallabies sneak in? Give me a break the scots were gifted at least 18 points by my reckoning by dud calls against the wallabies. I didn't want Joubert for the game because he gave the wallabies a pasting when they played Wales. Any other ref and the scots wouldn't have been within 20 points of the wallabies.
Jokerman
Guest
It would be a whole different ball game if it was Australia sent packing via an incorrect call by the ref at the death. Your projection of double standards is actually your own.
Jokerman
Guest
World rugby just made a fact that it was an incorrect call. They were transparent and informative. Better than saying nothing.
Jokerman
Guest
You back him because he got you through with a dodgy call at the death. The double standards are immense. You bag Jourbert for the RWC final '11 for not blowing the All Blacks off the pitch while the French were cheating (eye gauging - not legal eh?) yet you love him now. It would be a different story if it was Australia was sent home at the death on an incorrect call.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
In speaking of the World Cup finals referees: "If any of them were to offer constructive criticism, that would be worth hearing; the rest is just white noise." I suppose that means that those of us who have not played in a World Cup final should not make any comments about the matches, otherwise we are just making "white noise". This was a controversial decision, that cost one team big-time. A lot of time, energy and money has been poured into all of the teams, and I think if the Scots have ever had a chance of getting into the last 4, this was their year. It may never come again. I think it is well worthy of discussion, and continued discussion, even if only to pressure the referees to stop favouring the favourites in World Cup matches (it happens in soccer, too). Lots of refereeing decisions are duds in most sports, but most refereeing decisions are very good, even in a complex game like Union. Most dud decisions don't decide a game -- although it's not unusual in soccer, union or league to see a string of questionable decisions lead to a scoring opportunity. I also think it was good to see officials come out and admit that a decision was wrong -- it was said in a context that was supportive of Joubert, let's not forget. So for mine, as a non-World Cup player and non-World Cup ref, I'm happy to stick my oar in, and say this was a terrible decision (not the worst by any means) that has had a terrible consequence for the Scots, and has allowed the Wallabies to sneak into the finals (certainly they are playing very well and deserve it). Let's hope the refereeing in the Australia-Argentina match doesn't involve a "square-up" to ensure the Wallabies are tossed out. I would like to see Argentina win, but not via dud decisions!
Mike from Tari
Guest
Ben Hunt lost that game for the Broncos, doesn't matter how you sugar coat it, you can't compare referees with players, they have different rolls, in Jouberts case he made a decision as he saw it be it right or wrong, my question is do we really want the TMO to look at every decision made if that ever happens in either Union or League, I will watch & support Soccer & AFL.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Peter you know they do exactly that. How would releasing details of every referees performance benefit the game overall.
Mike
Guest
I disagree. If Soyabi only meant to take issue with those who have called Joubert a cheat or a coward (or any other such over-the-top and totally unjustified jibe) then he could have said so. The way his article is written, he is taking issue with any criticism of a referee's decisions. "His teammates supported him publicly and privately" Soyabi's comment wasn't directed to what Hunt's teammates did, but to what the general public did. And unless you are living on Mars you know that there was plenty of derision, abuse and criticism. I can't recall hearing about any threats so happy to leave that one out.
Mike
Guest
Very good point
superba
Guest
Sam re the TMO he could not ask for a ruling . But could he not ask him to show the footage on the big screen and make up his own mind ? Do the rules forbid asking for footage but no opinion ?
superba
Guest
Watching the replay it looks like he had his arm out for a scrum and then there was the yelling and remonstrating from Phipps, Fardy and no 19 ( whoever that was ) and up went his arm . Looks like he was coerced into it but who knows . Time to move on . Wait for his book . One day .
poyns
Guest
+1 JohnB
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I agree - fantastic article, a brilliant analogy, and an insightful perspective. Hunt received sympathy for a shocking clanger that was all his fault, and cost his team the grand final. Jourbert made a call that may not even have been an error, and look at the grief he copped. Staggering double standards.
So Cal Ray
Guest
Correct on both counts, John. Hunt did turn the ball over allowing the Cowboys a final opportunity for that try. And you should be in charge of press releases for World Rugby. That would have put all of this to bed.