In the gritty South African win last Saturday, a Bok water carrier harangued an assistant referee. He followed the AR up the touchline, yelling at him that South Africa had kicked a 50/22.
The throw into the ensuing lineout, he said, should have been South Africa’s. The English referee, Matthew Carley, threatened to send the water carrier off if he spoke to the AR like that again.
After the match, it is reported the Bok coach, Jacques Nienaber, said the water carrier had done so on his instruction. Jacques apologised because, he said, he had wrongly assumed it was a 50/22 kick. The Boks had taken the ball back inside their own 50 and so, the law allowing them to get the throw into the lineout, did not apply.
Conspicuous by its absence, was an apology for the harassment of the AR by the water carrier. It was a disgraceful performance by the water carrier. He has no right to speak to an AR at all, let alone in an attempt to convince the AR of bad law application.
It was appalling conduct by the coach. What arrogance is it that makes him think he should influence a game by having one of the staff attempt to influence an AR? It put the water carrier in an invidious position. He should have disobeyed the instruction from the coach. But, if he did so, no doubt he would be in in peril of retribution within the Bok administration.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
The incident is hardly surprising though. There was 62 minutes of that style of haranguing placed on YouTube not so long ago. A desire to influence referees in their favour would seem endemic in the Bok administration.
The thing which I find so difficult to comprehend about it is that, for some decades now, South Africans have been renowned for their hard men upfront and their talent behind them. Their captains have been gracious in both defeat and victory. The team plays the game hard but fair. Their administrators are, sometimes, in stark contrast to that.
Attempting to influence match officials is not only unfair but corrupt. I am not naïve enough to think all countries don’t use accepted channels to correct what they perceive to be inaccurate refereeing. Fair enough. Sometimes refereeing is inaccurate. It wasn’t this time though.
But that’s not the point. The point is the views of the coach, a player, a water carrier or the bloke screaming at the ref with a pie in one hand and a plastic schooner in the other six seats from the back of the stadium should be neither valued nor sought.
While the game is going on anyway. Law six says so. After the game is a different matter. “Hey ref! Here’s a beer. I wanted to have a chat to you about…” Now that will influence a ref in a much more pleasant fashion.
Congratulations Matthew Carley. More strength to your arm.
Chufortah
Guest
Is Gladys the waterboy or the coach? :)
Chufortah
Guest
The one hour rant from Rassie was a one-off. Well that’s a relief. Haha The format of the apologies isn’t the issue, and with respect, it’s a pattern of the behaviour, that, together paint a symptom of something terribly wrong with the Bokke administrators and officials. I’ve always respected the players and espoused how fair and humble the Bokke teams have always been, very impressive. It’s a shame these other peanuts give the Bokkes a bad name. You can’t defend that. Maybe not a culture, but why are we talking about it?
Byron
Guest
Catheterization? That's really taking the piss!
NotKev
Roar Rookie
Oh its real quick, just like yours was a stand out … thanks for the hate :)
NotKev
Roar Rookie
Privileged born in one response man ???? its not a problem to have organisations that control that, its different when you live somewhere that its out of your control ….. my gripe is his correlation coz he has no idea what corruption is really coz he has no experience of it and is making an assumption and thereby is being prejudiced ….. and just to be clear, there are some right idiots in admin levels of SA Rugby but its totally true of every other rugby super power too!!!!
Ruckit
Roar Rookie
Steyn wasn't penalised for a great tackle. The penalty was for not rolling away. PS It's characterisation.
Ruckit
Roar Rookie
BS
Titta
Roar Rookie
What is this “Nienaber is an Afrikaner”? Such nonsense.
Titta
Roar Rookie
How big a fool did he make of himself, who did he think he was! Poor sod, ha ha.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Indeed RG. There’s a rugby quality that I find rarely mentioned and that is patience. I constantly remember Michael Lynagh taking the team into a huddle behind the posts after everyone else, in the world, thought Ireland had scored the try to take them into the ‘91 RWC Final. ML told the team how the restart was going to go and how play would continue. I don’t know his words exactly but I’m sure they went along the lines of trust in the plan and have the patience to let it develop. The ultimate result... 1991 RWC Champions. I have enjoyed our interactions.
Rugby Geek
Roar Rookie
The different levels I have coached its amazing how some players get lost in the intensity of it all. Especially when I am thinking we will get these guys at 20 left and the grind is going to be tough all afternoon. Then one player just wants the big X factor play to win the game in two minutes the old high risk almost no reward game.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
RG, I understand completely. Bomb the 14 instruction at grassroots level is probably a message I’d give at half-time, though tempted during first half. I like to encourage “play what’s in front of you” with game plan A being , if you see a hole have a go. Otherwise we try our hit ups off the half and 10 then out the backs. At the professional level, with all the video analysis available, I would expect that the 5/8 would know the habits/behaviours of his opposition and recognise when to employ appropriate tactics. I remember an NFL coach once told his team, “We’re here for one thing and that is to keep my job.” Has that attitude infiltrated Rugby? You don’t want to upset the boss and lose your spot( think Cheika era). Oh for smart footballers.
wigeye
Guest
Respect is a dieing art im afraid ,.
Rugby Geek
Roar Rookie
Busted! As a coach I always wanted the players to play their game not be one of my chess pieces waiting on every instruction on where to move. But on the other hand as a coach, you see the coached structure and often the spine of the team needs some tactics highlighted like keep bombing 14 he is out of position, or your making territory with channel one plays. But as a spectator, I wish that none of that took place so smart footballers could win more games.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Rassie obviously needs something else to do while he awaits his World Rugby hearing!
Rhys
Roar Rookie
A siege mentality will only work for so long though. As in an actual siege, you can’t hold out forever. Cheika and the Wallabies found that out the hard way. One must evolve so I wonder how long the consequences of the 2021 Lions tour will linger over the rugby world. Also there’s been a few of these videos pop up after every bok game vs WBs and ABs, it looks very professionally done it almost makes you wonder :laughing:
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Respect for referees has waned in recent times. It’s one thing I’ve always liked about rugby, that there is respect in the game. You clap the other team off the pitch in a tunnel, you leave what happened on the field, on the field and have a drink with the other team. You respect the ref as a player or coach. I sure hope that continues and bull$hit by SA and others is put to a stop. Rugby isn’t soccer or tennis. Nor is it rugby league. I hope world rugby stamps out the disrespect
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Damn fair observation. Its not about waterboys its about regulations.. And Rassie totally digs challenging those rules. Remember as a player for the Lions, Jozi version he was the first to use lock forwards being lifted by props to stop penalties going over the poles. .. Prompted a law change from WR.. He was the first to sit on a stadium roof with flash card messages communicating with the players. He introduced the flying wedge.. Yup both prompting Law changes..... And now the waterboy, physio etc stuff.. And I would imagine prompting law changes. He is World Rugbys biggest nightmare....and now he is finaly gonna face em head on.. How can you not love this dude.?
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Maybe? Maybe not? But I’d be happy to give it a try without a water person or medic relaying the messages of a coach to each and every individual player.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
“ is an Afrikaner, he apologises in his way“ I did not know there were more than one way to apologize? I thought you admit to what you did and own your mistake. You follow that up with some compassion for the victim of your action and ask for forgiveness. He took no ownership!