Where's Rassie? Controversial Boks chief nowhere to be seen as team leaves for Down Under

Can't believe I'm responding... Referees make calls to the best of their ability based on what they see. But when someone attacks their integrity, approach, etc, that attack may play on their mind. As a result, decisions may wrongly go in favour of the side who made the attack in fear of the attack being repeated. I am not going to continue this argument. When you respond and I don't follow it up, you can claim a little victory if you want.

“… incredibly imbalanced video implying bias on the part of referee Berry, undermining the refereeing fraternity, purely to create pressure to receive a disproportionate amount of favourable decisions in the subsequent tests…. “ Implying bias to create favourable decisions. Alleging bias (either dishonesty or incompetence) to create favourable decisions. Surely “favourable decisions” must mean bias or incompetence - or is that just another part of “acceptable” refereeing?

Nope.. I'm fence sitting too...think the clamor to publically flog him needs to be balanced with what got us to this point in the first place...its not simply a matter of he unfairly targeted a ref and needs to be called out.. It's much more complicated than that. Remember too that in that series The Lions began the process of pressuring a ref before Rassie did..

If you're going to keep misinterpreting my comments to suit your narrative, there's no point continuing this discussion.

JN, in all likelihood yes. Even Steve Hansen recently added his name to the already growing list of rugby people having a dig at WR and the state of the rules & officiating. That list is just going to grow.

Missing the point. Again.

JN it's taken you a while but it's good to see you finally come out and show us how you really feel about the Rassie incident. You agree and support Rassie 100%.

You said it would create pressure for favourable decisions. So now you say a Referee giving favourable decisions is not bias and not incompetence. I made the reference to that game - but you are happy with that, what is actual bias or a perception of bias is OK for you -it’s just a bit of “fun” with one side. It seems there is just nothing a referee could do that would warrant review. Your perspective highlights the problem. I don’t have to Referee a game to understand incompetence. Perhaps you have refereed too many games badly so can now accept no criticism of the very precious and inept cohort of Referees.

Well that's the whole crux of it isn't it... I find it super interesting that despite Australia Rugby calling for harsh sanction siding with the old school NH Unions against Rassie Erasmus, predictably as Berry is one of them, New Zealand have not...could it be they are now beholden to private equity investment themselves that they are fence sitting?

IMHO, Rassie & SA Rugby are just going through the motions with the kangaroo court proceedings and with then go full out on the offensive and take WR to a real court of law. Like you have said, with private equity involved it is bound to happen so the sooner the better. All this free reign to interpret the laws as they see fit does not work in a professional sport. Just look at the changes brought about in cricket over the last 20 odd years due to umpires "interpretations" and the old attitude that a player/coach could not challenge them. Rugby needs to catch up.

If we assume all is OK with refereeing in rugby then he had no right to make that video.. If however we think all is not OK with match officiating that’s a different discussion. World Rugby has not only given licence to refs to interpret the laws they have in fact encouraged it all in the interests of creating greater spectacles. Allow the game to flow if you must.. But here’s the problem with this.. Players, club owners, coaches are all judged by one single criteria.. Win or lose.. They now have to after extensive preparation, sacrifice, investment etc take to the field and be subjected to a refs personal interpretations.. For some particularly club owners and corporations investing heavily financially, this has simply become unacceptable hence we find a United States Rugby investor who is not actually involved with the Boks or directly with Rassie Erasmus offering their legal resources to him.. A showdown is clearly looming.. Whether that was Rassies intention or not irrelevant.. It’s coming..And this hearing is going to become a focal point.. Hold onto your horses and dont expect this to be either a sweep it under the carpet scenario or alternatively a Rassie lynching. It has all the makings of developing a life of its own….The Clubs want greater control over their assets and their destinies Football style… World Rugby is seen as an impediment to that. Let the games begin.

Have you watched the video? If not, how would you know…?

Sometimes World Rugby does present double standards or at least inconsistencies, at the same RWC Jaco Peyper wasn't considered for a semi final appointment after he was in a photo with Welsh fans mimicking the elbow to the face shot from the French flanker. It isn't the same as tapping the backside of a player, yey still an innocent playful photo. Maybe South Africans need to learn to be more subtle. If Eyper mimicked an elbow to the butt it might have been overlooked :laughing:

Realist, I specifically said, I don't know if he deserves to be sanctioned. But yes, I do think his press conference warrants review. Still waiting for you to explain what Berry did wrong by talking to the TMO and what O'Keefe did right as he and Raynal dealt with the captains. I don't know what's most disturbing about you - the fourteen months of you willfully misinterpreting everything I say to try and claim I'm something I'm not. All because I asked you to behave a bit better and have some self-awareness. Your sometimes pretending to be a person of colour as you try to make the mud you throw at me stick. Or your willingness to buy into a narrative that implies Berry treated Kolisi differently due to the colour of his skin, all so you can have a further dig at me. You need help.

Saw it, but it still has to be confirmed though.

Speaking of the move to Europe, did you see the good news about the Cheetahs? Been waiting for like forever for them to finally open up about it.

Reviewed ? Sanctioned ? For the love of god Jeznez, Kolisi was born this way. Stop judging the book by it’s cover :angry:

We all know where Rassie is. At home preparing for a farcical show trial , for outing the truth.

Some would probably have to upgrade their disk space though, surprised some stillhave enough capacity left considering they need space for the Boring Bok plan, the withdrawal of the RC last year, the "planned move" to Europe for the past 27 decades, Rassie, Siya etc. :laughing:

No, I did not say scrutiny would lead to bias. I said that someone associated with a particular team would be biased towards that team. Rassie only detailed instances against his team, and did so publicly to apply undue influence. I'm sure if the referee's association or Berry himself had responded, claims of bias or unprofessionalism would have multiplied. A no win situation for them. I made no reference to the Fiji vs Australia game. But across many sports, players have fun interactions with officials. They are all human, after all. Enjoyment and impartiality are not mutually exclusive. I have a recommendation for you: go referee a game. Any sport, any level. See how hard it is. See how no matter how well you do, someone wants to attack your performance, your credibility, your integrity. After that, you can see if you want to maintain your current position.