Jacques Nienaber has apologised and taken responsibility for the incident that almost saw one of his coaching team dismissed from the field on Saturday for harassing an assistant referee.
“I’ll put my hand on up and say we got it wrong, and we asked him to challenge,” explained Nienaber after the Test.
The incident came about when the Boks thought they had managed to earn a 50-22 and secure the throw-in at the lineout well inside the All Blacks’ half. It would have been a good position to launch an attack and with the scoreboard so tight, every scoring opportunity was important.
But referee Matthew Carley instead decided that the line out was not a 50-22 as the ball had been passed back inside the Boks’ half before being kicked out – meaning the new rule didn’t apply.
Nienaber apparently then ordered his waterboy to get an explanation from the assistant referee. The waterboy appeared to be chasing and shouting at the assistant to get him to overturn his decision, rather than calmly asking for clarification.
Carley felt it was over the line and paused play to take the waterboy to one side and provided clarification of a different sort. “If I see you chasing our touch judge up the line again, you’ll be off,” said the referee.
The incident was all part of the theatre that helped make Saturday’s Test one to remember for long to come.
Going into the match there had been plenty of criticism aimed at the South Africans, not just for their style of play but also for tactics that many felt were used to slow the game down with questionable stoppages. Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was quoted in multiple outlets as calling the stoppages the “elephant in the room”.
The Springboks tactics and communications around the officials have drawn plenty of attention this year. During the Lions series earlier this year, some pundits questioned the Boks use of their medics during game play.
In the third and deciding Test match, one of the Boks staff could be seen just a few metres behind their defensive line, not attending to any players, while the Boks tried to organise their defence. It didn’t go unnoticed and drew plenty of criticism.
During the same series, Rassie Erasmus published his now infamous hour-long video, where he criticised the match officials from the previous Test against the Lions. Erasmus and the South African Rugby Union were charged by World Rugby and are awaiting to appear before an independent disciplinary committee.
The punishment could range from a simple fine all the way up to having the Boks extraordinarily stripped of their series victory.
On Saturday, as the final Test of the Rugby Championship unfolded, there were several flash points between the two sides as both fought to assert their dominance with the packs coming close to blows a few times.
Following the Test, Nienaber explained that he and his team had just got it wrong when it came to the 50-22 laws and that they were still getting used to the rule. “It’s a new concept for us. It’s not something that we have played, and it’s a rule that changed. We were so sure, but then we looked back at the video and saw that we got it completely wrong,” said the coach.
With the Boks currently scheduled to play Scotland, Wales and England in a busy November, it will be interesting to see how the officials deal with the South African tactics and if they are quite so patient.
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
Yeah. Very difficult to get South Africans to agree on so many issues. We are strong when together and that's because it basically never happens. Rugby is the only "thing" that has come close. Eendracht Maakt Macht.
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
Issue has been th3 panel etc for Rassie's heqring. Some giys in OZ, some in NZ, other in Europe. They couldn't, for some reason to date, get the times right to have the hearing between all parties. Perhaps if Rassie goes to Europe they can finally manage it. Get it over with.
piru
Roar Rookie
Make a video if you don't like it
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Why not make the water boys touch judges and the touch judges water boys ? The water boys seem to know what’s going on and have irons in the fire . They can always be checked by video with the 3 WB ; Rassie.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I have now seen the Stuff.com report, Ankle-tapped Waterboy, and have since discovered contributor Smoothy pre-empted my understanding way back on October 4th 2021 @ 3:59pm. The Stuff headline summarises it well enough: “Waterboy incident: Springboks admit embarrassing 'stuff up'”. In each of six quoted paragraphs the South African coach repeats that he did not understand the Laws and “I’m to blame” … for not understanding the Laws! That is the only apology he made. Not a word from Coach Dunce about instructing the bozo to march off to do his bidding, demanding a review, or of him berating the linesman and stubbornly (what a surprise!) talking over the referee then shouting after him as he departed, or of breaching the practice of incidental pretend-water-boys remaining within a delineated compound beyond the sideline, … it was classic qualified insincere obfuscation.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Do not go there... I would also fake an injury :shocked:
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
JN...She is a very beautiful lady..wow....some of the boklings most probably have a crush on her
devilliers
Guest
My word, you nanny staters can whine!
Slat
Guest
This is the Boks. For 100 yrs they have played the same way. They bitch when another team crosses the line but do it there way and plead innocence when they get called up. 1995 the lions and now the tests in Australia
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Hi EFF, I accept what you say about proving he leaked it to be difficult. I don’t for one second think that he didn’t however. My opinion and based solely on what he said in the preamble to the video and the impact it was designed to have. I’d like the book thrown at him but you’re probably right and it won’t happen for the reasons you state. Geez I’d like it done with though, however it turns out.
Ex force fan
Guest
We are sure who made it, but as this was not the first video of this nature, making a video is therefore not an offense. The problem was someone put in the pubic domain by leaking it and that brought the game in disrepute. However can World Rugby proof who leaked the video? Rassie is adamant that it was not him and that he send the video to SARU, the Lions, the officials and World Rugby. One or more of these parties leaked it...
Ex force fan
Guest
This is one of my bug bears Mick...I have a different view about apologies in general.. Anyone that has been married realise how important an apology is to restore a relationship even when you think you were correct. We should put a lot of value on the act of making an apology and to make a very public voluntary apology like Nienaber did should carry even more weight. Someone that apologizes accept he did something wrong, felt obliged to make restoration and took the initiative to restore the relationship. I think we should focus more on the intend of an apology rather than the wording. From this point of view, you accept apologies even when the words fell a little short. The idea that an apology must be evaluated and judged to a "standard", is unproductive as you miss that what is unspoken behind the apology.
piru
Roar Rookie
Still don't get it do they? Waterboys harassing TJs is unacceptable in U12s - I can't believe it's allowed to happen in RSA juniors, so why would they think this is ok?
Loosey
Roar Rookie
Social media is the death of critical thinking
SB
Guest
It's disappointing that SA seem to have taken the mantra of "Its better to ask forgiveness than it is to seek permission" a little bit too much to heart lately. Competitiveness is great, but it should really be respectful of the officials and ONLY coming from the 15 players on the field at the time...
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Well except for him confessing to it being entirely his work in the video
Ex force fan
Guest
Did anyone witness the leaking of the video to the media.... I think they struggle to find evidence to ping Rassie...
Ex force fan
Guest
Allez, I think you are correct. The formal channels to engage with the officials are not working therefore the need for almost everyone to go to the media or influence the officials during the game to gain clarify on calls. World Rugby needs to lay down their rules for engaging the referees, empower the referees to deal with the constant chirping, the coaches running to the media etc and improve their formal communication channels so that is the best and only channel to deal with grievances. Also the only player that should be able to talk to the referee during the game should be the captain, I would even go so far to give cards for swearing during the game as they used to do in the 80s. Bring back respect not only for the officials but also the game....and simplify the laws.
PeterK
Roar Guru
the issue is the coach asked the water boy to challenge the AR, that is unacceptable.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I appreciate your response Ankle-tapped Waterboy, I will have a look at the "Stuff.NZ" report and reply later today. More data and information is a good thing. :stoked: