Saru bring in Balie
Balie Swart will be the new go-between for coaches and the Saru refereeing panel with regards to the confusion at scrum time.
Swart was announced as a referee selector for the 2010 season by Saru on Tuesday but will also work as a coach of legal scrumming technique.
‘Balie worked with our referees throughout the 2009 season on a one-on-one basis to keep them up to date with scrumming technique and how it impacted on the application of Law by match officials,’ said Andre Watson, SA Rugby’s manager of referees.
‘We’ve now appointed him as a referee selector 2010 and, in addition, coaches are invited to bring matters to his attention regarding refereeing. There is a misconception that the refereeing community closes ranks and that it is pointless to raise issues. Hopefully the appointment of Balie will provide a channel for coaches to raise their concerns through a channel with which they can more easily relate.’
South African teams will be able to call on Swart if there is any scrum issue they wish to address and correct.
‘Safety is obviously a primary concern at the scrum and Balie will be able to advise coaches on those aspects as well as those areas where they’re going to get penalised by referees,’ said Watson.
‘We’re constantly looking to improve the performance of our referees and hopefully this initiative will allow us to raise the bar even higher.’
December 1st, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I wonder if Balie will teach them that pirouhette he did in ‘94, right in front of me on the Carisbrook terraces after the 1st scrum ? He might even ask Sir Richard Loe to help illustrate the correct technique to the class, again.
December 1st, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Ahhh…the Dragons bring good news today.
December 1st, 2009 at 3:28 pm
@WakaNathan:
Not sure about that but I am sure he can show you his world cup medal!!!
December 1st, 2009 at 3:41 pm
@Sonito:
ha – touche !
December 1st, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Richard Loe, now that was a thug and a half.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Hey, this will make a few front-rankers of old smile and a few backs cry – they front-rankers are supposed to be the thickest okes on the park.
Actually, could be a good fit, front-rankers and referees.
Because some referees sometimes looked devoid of a single cell this season.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:52 pm
@RugbyRIP:
I can also see a few old props grimacing. How could one of their own betray the dark secrets of the underworld?
December 1st, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Jeez man ….now there will for sure be some major mis-interpretations of the law ….Balie cannot give away the house like this !!!! Front rankers know what they have and will always do up there !! See…. another indication that the administrators want to reduce the scrumming power and replace this part of the game in the hands of loose forwards who can fill-in at prop !! mark my words …the day is closing in around us as we stand by and watch our Union creep closer to league !!! Shame …shame….shame
December 1st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Good call this by SARU. Perhaps our ref’s will get a better understanding of something that they clearly know very little about.
Can Balie also teach the Kiwi’s, Aussies, Welsh, French, Irish, Scottish and Pommie refs too!!!!!!!!!! Please!
December 1st, 2009 at 6:56 pm
@Oubaas2009: Oh, yes almost forgot. Perhaps Balie can teach Keo and the other muppet writers on here a few things about the front row
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 am
Is it a confusion at scrum time….I think RSA is putting its head in the sand with this.
They should just own up that there scrum is the worst in the SH.
The wallabies never blamed anyone for their woes and got on with it and now they have the strongest scrum in the world alongside with the AB’s.
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:37 am
Love it…
“….he will be coach of legal scrumming technique”
SO RSA have been scrumming illegaly.
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:12 am
This is one small step in the right direction but whether it will work or not I’m not sure.
At this stage, I think it is far more important to get a technically good coach into the Bok set up to ensure that we never have to endure another season like the one we’ve just had ever again.
I also sincerely hope that the powers that be can now see for themselves that we need a specialist tighthead for a start and that they should abort the experiment of using John Smit at tighthead with immediate effect.
Let’s us see what the Sharks decide to do next season with John Smit, I think we will se him back at hooker for the most part and only playing the last few minutes at tighthead if at all.
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:21 am
@wallabie.:
Gees, you are right Wallabie!
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 am
@wallabie.: If RSA has the weakest scrum in the SH as you suggest, then we must have the best backline cause we gave the Wannebe’s and AB’s carrots all season!
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Well it’s a start. Wanker I cannot believe you mentioned “Sir” R Loe (Sir spelt Cur). Probably the filtiest player ever and certainly going for top 5 dirtiest in an AB jersey. I would keep quiet about him if I were you. Makes Schalk look like a choir boy.
December 5th, 2009 at 9:53 am
durbs2atl said “watch our Union creep closer to league !!!”
Well the way everyone lines up across the field has already done that. But as long as all this idiot kicking is allowed we will never get close to league. Actually I am starting to find league more entertaining these days… less kicking more direct running. I like that.
December 5th, 2009 at 9:55 am
The bok scrum went downhill when we were arrogant enough to believe that we could just move John Smit to tighthead and all would be OK. We are the idiots and are looking for problems with the laws to deflect from our own bad decision.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I think bringing in Balie will prove to be a good move. They need to find a way to get rid of this reputation for being weak in the scrum. Once that is sorted, more calls will start going our way.
A decision on JS vs BdP also needs to be sorted and if you ask me, the youngster just needs to wait his turn…