Steve’s shocker
Here’s the photographic evidence to prove New Zealand referee Steve Walsh incorrectly determined the outcome of the Super 14 final.
Walsh told this website’s Ryan Vrede he may have got it wrong. No Steve you DID get it wrong.
This is not a picture to encourage play on. Walsh should have blown for either a knock, or penalised the Bulls player on the ground for scooping the ball back after losing it or any one of three Bulls players for not being on their feet at the ruck.
Whatever the choice play should have been stopped and possession should have been handed to the Sharks. It would have also been the end of the game.
Once again a failure to use technology has determined a championship and where the bloody hell was the touch judge’s vision?
This was a shocker!
Richard Young, who sent the clip, writes (sic)
Dear Country People
I only watched the last three minutes of the main game on Saturday afternoon for reasons that might have been deduceable on Sunday.
But I have captured a series of nine still images of the video between the 45th and 47th seconds of the 80th minute thereof.
Here is just one of them in the 45th second of the 80th minute.
Would anyone care to offer an opinion on what is the meaning of this?
Apologies to recipients of this email who have no interest whatsoever in the outcome of the Vodacom Super Whatever 2007.
Some Answer Options
Is it legal?
Is it illegal?
Is it blindness?
Is it shortsightedness?
Is it outofsightedness?
Is it conspiracy?
Is it sad?
Is it not sad?
Is it a combination of any of the above?
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
badbok – i’m neutral when it comes to these two teams although i have to admit i shouted for the bulls(only cos my inlaws were screaming for the sharks and it pissed them off) and i also admit to arguing with them about this incident saying that it was fine(of course i knew it was’nt but it pissed them off even more…and they left early)
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
For a team with such high morals the right thing to do now would be to arrange for the cup to be handed over to the Sharks.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Even Habana himself thinks that he deserved a red card way back in the first half. How might that not have changed the game?
As the old saying goes: “When ifs and buts are candy and nuts it will be Christmas all year long.”
IF the ref did this, IF a player did that…
Get over it.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:56 pm
True, the Bulls did knock the ball and Steve Walsh made a mistake. Actually, he made more than one…
Consider Albert van den Berg’s try. If you look at the reply Walsh did a full lap around the maul and only saw the ball on the ground, over the line. He never saw how it was grounded and never asked for a TV ref to confirm the try.
In my opinion that was not a try, but the ball was grounded in a 2nd move. If Walsh called on the TV ref, the try would not have been awarded and the Bulls would’ve probably been awarded a penalty. In this scenario Hougaard would’ve taken the Bulls to the half-way line and a drop kick or penalty would’ve been enough to win the game.
Granted, Habana probably also deserved 10 minutes in the bin… many ifs and buts. The only certainty is that the Bulls won the match.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Correct Katman
Dereck “fetcher” Kuun
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Twig
Its rugby idiot! You get away with what you can, whether its hands in the ruck or whatever… Then the sharks are cheats as well! Why did they accept the JP Pietersen try in Auckland when they knew it wasnt a try????
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
The right thing to do would be to listen to **** Muir mr. BobZimmerman… and take the defeat on the chin. Too bad. Cup lost.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
i think the trophy the bulls received was a replica
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Supa
amazing how everything can be debated and all referess criticised (Kaplan., linston manuels) for years until the boot is on the other foot.
Now we must all hold hands, turn a blind eye and sing liefling together… that poster at the game was brilliant “real men don’t sing liefling to each other!”
Enjoy your win.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
What’s done is done and nothing will change it, no matter how in-depth the analysis is.
I was at the game on Saturday and lost count of the number of agitated Bulls fans that were streaming out the exits muttering to themselves and blaming their **** theam for losing when the time ran out.
Suddenly when the volume increased, they came running back in again and when the final try was scored and converted, to a man they all claimed that they KNEW the Bulls were going to win.
Emotion is a fickle thing in the heat of a situation like that, but Tacitus, your summing up of the result smacks of idiocy. I’m willing to bet that you were one of the many faceless Bulls who had given it all up to a 19-13 loss, and yet when the Bulls triumphed as they did (and sincere congratulations for them for doing it) you come out with gushings that they were by far the better side and that they deserved to win it because they were away from home which automatically makes them that much better?
It’s laughable mate, as is most of your rose-tinted analisis of the Bulls as the world’s greatest ever team.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
20-19. ‘Looks at the scoreboard’…and the history books, while you’re at it…
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
bewer
I also thought Alberts try should not have been one…
It all comes down to the Sharks choking for their seventh final in a row…
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
CAnt you people forget it now…The Bulls won the Super 14. the sooner you can accpet it, the sooner you can live with it.
For the past 6 years the bulls have dominated SA rugby and continue to.
2002- Currie Cup Champions
2003- Currie Cup Champions
2004- Currie Cup Champions
2005- Runners Up
2006- Joint Winners Champions
2007- Super 14 Champions
The Sharks have now played in 3 Super Rugby finals and have choked in all Three.
Bottom line: SHARKS ARE CHOKERS!!!!!
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Not since the 24th of June 1995 has South Africa been host to such an important rugby match. It was against all expectations that South Africa beat the All Blacks then and the same was thought of a home final in the 2007 Super 14. Not only did the South African teams achieve two home semi-finals, they managed to win both. In a major surprise two South African teams would play on home soil, for the highest prize in Southern Hemisphere domestic rugby. It should have been lauded and savoured by all who had dreamed of it for a decade of fruitless Super rugby. Instead we paled its significane with the Luke Watson Affair, which overshadowed this milestone in the week leading into the final. It was a classic example of South African rugbys ongoing struggle to grow up.
Saturday came and the best that South Africa had on offer delivered a pulstaing final. There was tension all the way and a thrilling finish, in one of the most memorable games of 2007. It was at times ugly, hard and uncomprimising which epitomises the strengths of our rugby. There were moments of brilliance, deft touches and sublime skill. Neither side gave an inch and the atmosphere was electric. Sadly the officials made an error or two, this is part and parcel of sport. That they were costly can be argued by either sets of fans, there were errors either way. What should be a week of celebration, it was a maginificent occasion, has been marred by allegations of poor reffing and worse yet blatant cheating. Sport, much like life, isn’t always fair and the Sharks we must remeber had their chance to seal the win. A bum call indeed, but you can’t blame the Bulls for taking their last-gasp chance to win the game.
The history book will record a 20 – 19 win for the Bulls and few records have foot notes to place them in context. The Sharks players will know in their hearts they gave the Bulls and out of jail free card and the Bulls will remeber that despite being dead and buried, they gutsed out an historic win. Let it be as the Beatles sang, the trophy has been enraved and the record books written.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Supa, you’re missing my point. Don’t get me wrong, I dislike the Sharks just as much as I despise the Bulls (well, maybe not that bad), but this is a poor decision that drastically altered the outcome of the game.
I couldn’t give two hoots whether it’s a Sharks victory or a Bulls victory, but for the Bulls supporters to be so pig-headed as to not even concede that their guys cheated their way to the title just makes your prejudiced views even more ludicrous.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Its passed now . Forget it . I could also say – if Andrew Mehrtens got the drop goal not Joel Stransky etc . Celebrate the achievement of SA rugby and worry about the future.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:01 pm
#63 bottom line. the bulls are cheaters!!
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Come on, that photo doesn’t prove that the Sharks should have won the S14.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
true Kevin
Im sure all of us can think of different times when a referee cheated us in someway…but he is still human and he makes mistakes – sometimes it goes for you – other times against you. Real winners keep on playing no matter what.
Walsh cant be blamed for the HUGE gap in the sharks team at the end.
Thanx – it was a great final! Just glad im not a shark…
cheers – im out
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
blueblood – it proves that the player is cheating.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
As a Bulls supporter I must agree there must have been a penalty, but it happend, and the game is over the bulls won, the sharks lost, it was a brilliant season for both the teams, dont let it be over shadowed by the refs and the decisions they made, there were some bad calls that didnt go to the bulls, and some bad calls that went to the bulls.
At the end of the day we are all passionate SA rugby supporters, and we must support the springboks now as a nation, lets forget the provincial rivalry and the who cheated and who done this and that till the Curry Cup, its a test series ahead and then the trinations, lets support them, even if your or my fav player didnt make the team, because they are our representatives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
#4 Could not have said it better.
Keo come on dude, don’t incite the muppits, it hurts enough that the sharks lost now this.
As another blogger said ‘It’s rugby …. !’
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
As a Shark all I can say is: Let it be. Nothing is going to change the outcome of the game.
To the Sharks: we lost. Accept it.
To those Bulls who now question Albert’s try through their insecurity: the law states that you are allowed one movement to place the ball. Even if his try was disallowed and Hab’s try too, the result would still have been as all the other what iffers above is trying to insinuate.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
what’s the saying you guys use “feit soos ‘n koei, that was a mistake” but “feit soos ‘n bul, let’s turn a blind eye and claim we are the best ever and well deserving” … we have been trying for years.
laughable.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
martin
bottom line…stormers are losers!
Twig
Whatever mate…you believe its cheating, nothing will change that. I beleieve ALL teams play with there hands in the ruck etc. Its part of the game.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Mr robertparker
I agree that everyone should actually just get a move on but and this is a big but when a team collectively and openly let us know what upstanding and moral individuals they are then any act that is against the rules of the game, or of life for that matteer, would surely smack of hypocrisy.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Cant really blame walsh as the pic shows he couldnt really see but as the article says one has to question that nz touchie he had a perfect view of that one.
The sharks only really have themselves to blame though it took 5 minutes of terrible rugby by them that took the game from a position were they should have won comfortably to a stage one bad decision from the ref cost them the game.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:05 pm
The opening line of the artical states that the photo proves Walsh incorrectly determined the outcome of the final i.e. the winner of the S14.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:06 pm
ag pleez man, im a lions and didnt care who won on saturday, the Sharks fans are being sore loosers,
plus if you had used all the possession you had in the first half you would have won the game comfortably by 10 points.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:07 pm
#67, are you smoking tea bags????
Bulls are a good team, and have worked hard since finishing in the bottom 3 for the majority of the Super 12. The last 3 years have seen them make a remarkable turn around in performances which has seen them win and dominate the Currie Cup. They have now shown what they are made of, and rightly deserve the Super 14 Cup.
Sharks are chokers, and never won the cup, so live with it
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:07 pm
“you believe its cheating”
It’s a transgression of the law clearly stated in the rule-books, it’s not “my belief”!!
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Some ppl are ridiculous, calling the bulls cheaters and all that, like sharks are saints. Get over yourselves!
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Martin is just upset his team gets hammered every time they play the bulls
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:09 pm
BLOU,BEKER,BORSTE,BALLAS,BEFOKTE BLOU BULLE!!
BLY BY BLOU BULLE,BANANA,BAFANA
GROEN VAN JALOESIE,SORRY BLOU VAN JALOESIE!!!
BULLE BESTE BAL BYTERS.
BULLE BOOOOOOOO
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:10 pm
BobZim, I could not give a rats arse about whatever “Mal Jaco” put on his shirt.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Ah who cares? If the sharks had been in that situation, they would have done the same thing! I’m a Sharks fan and the bulls in my opinion deserved the win. They scored when it mattered.
C’mon boys, lets not turn into whingers who blame defeat on officiating or higher powers. We’ll leave that to certain bulls fans on this site who have made an art of it.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:10 pm
lets assume the ball is just lying there as it is
it is no ruck as no players are on their feet and the ball is not between them
it is a pile up
there is nothing in the laws that prevents a player from playing the ball while lying on the ground in this instance
if it was a tackle the ball is still within one metre off the tackle and nobody on the ground after a tackle can play the ball
if the ball was emerging from the ruck and this player had fallen on it then it is illegal
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:11 pm
This does tend to make the victory a little hollow you have to admit.
This is no 50/50 or maybe decision. Pretty decisive stuff. Does not change the result but the trophy seems a little tainted like the light in the trophy cabinet is broken and so everyone walks past not even noticing it.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Cant really blame walsh as the pic shows he couldnt really see but as the article says one has to question that nz touchie he had a perfect view of that one.
A few things didnt go the sharks way as sometimes happens but the sharks only really have themselves to blame a great try by Albert VDB dont know what some bloggers are talking about double movement there wasnt one he is allowed to place the ball but from steyns missed conversion onward they were terrible this took the game from a position were they should have won comfortably to a stage where one bad decision from the ref cost them the game.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:13 pm
#88 dont talk K@k! Of course they going to notice it, its the bloody Super 14!
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:13 pm
There was a knock on several phases before the Sharks scored much earlier in the game that if pulled up would have meant that they wouldn’t have scored. No one is banging on about that. As a neutral (that wanted a Sharks victory) you have to say that things balanced out overall. Besides that if you look atthe picture, how was the ref supposed to see the knock on – he was unsighted! Get over it.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:14 pm
the bulls did not cheat their way to victory
the sharks lost it for not controlling the ball and bad captaincy
and their hero steyn went from hero to zero in this game and needs to be given a chance to develop.
no disputing his talent but pushing the guy as has been done will only ruin him
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:14 pm
gavin,
you are just used to losing, that’s why! What’s the point of a blog if you can’t debate. Anybody want to move on and not debate, then piss off to another thread.
Supa, i agree calling guys cheats when every guy plays with his in the ruck if he can is over the top. Only people at fault here are the officials.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Build a bridge and get over it.
Just feel sorry for some of the older guys like AJ in particular. Like the muppits say its Rugby. Look at the Heiniken cup final a few years ago when Neil Back tapped the ball out of Peter Stringers hands to cause a tighthead as apposed to the other team having a 5M attacking scrum while only needing 1 score to win the game.
Sharks boys put yourself in a position where you cant lose the game and this wont happen. Even if you had John Smit off the field. AJ is one of our great leaders and Bob was also there surely you dont givee the kick to a guy who just dead ducked 2 drop attempts. They guy is 20. I would have given that Ball straight to Ruan or Butch. Butch hardly misses from that range. Then you also had Ruan who has proven he can do it under pressure.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:18 pm
87- You are not allowed to play the ball at all if you are not on your feet no matter what the situation. You are not even allowed to make a tackle if you are not on your feet
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:19 pm
norman
how did the ball get there … an act of Jaco’s t-shirt? No, a knock-on and that is infringement number 1!
Then you may never playe the ball if you are not on your feet, especially if you are still part of what the referee perceives to be a ruck!
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Beast should have relieved him of his arm. Its ever since rucking is not allowed anymore that things like this happen. Shame on the touch judge!!!
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:19 pm
All og you missing a big point…..how did the ball get there?
I ask all of you to gan watch that few seconds again…..in the tackle a sharks player was of his feet playing the man and the ball….he then ripped the ball loose…where the bulls player just returnd the ball again….yes playing it when on the ground….but it when both ways….and the sharks then needed to pay first before the bulls……so the bulls needed to win this game
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I’m over it. I’m looking ahead. I see a lot of positives from this year, and can see the Sharks improving even more. I just hope others can get over it too.
Once a Shark, always a Shark!
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Boots
difference is Sharks were already in the lead not with the possibility of winning so the heineken Cup final isn’t much of an example.
Like i say, what’s the point of this site if we must just move on and not debate. Why did you post, why haven’t you just moved on and bought the best of Steve