‘Teams want best refs’
10 Mar 2010
Jonathan Kaplan says the coaches and players have opposed the system of selecting neutral referees.
A nerve has been struck with regards to the selection of referees. After the Waratahs’ win over the Sharks last Saturday, there was an outcry of Australian match official Paul Marks.
Firstly, Marks did not award the Sharks – the away team – a penalty try when fullback Kurtley Beale deliberately knocked-on a pass that would’ve given Ryan Kankowski a clear run for the winning score. The Sharks then kicked for the corner but Marks penalised them for obstruction at the resulting lineout.
Sharks head coach John Plumtree has asked Sanzar to review Marks’ performance while the Australian media has quoted skipper John Smit saying his team ‘didn’t get the rub of the green from the referee’.
Kaplan, however, believes this situation has been blown out of context.
‘I think this whole situation has been taken in the wrong way by the Australian media. I don’t believe Smit and Plumtree had a problem with the fact that Marks was an Australian referee. I think their criticism was made in general circumstances,’ Kaplan told keo.co.za.
‘The thing is that the coaches and players have asked for referees to be selected on merit and not on a neutral basis. They want the best referees for the Super Rugby games and we gave them this.’
Kaplan added that referees are also due bad performances.
‘If a neutral referee had to make those decisions in the Sharks’ game, there would be no criticism of not having neutral referees. Then the argument would have been that the ref made poor decisions,’ he said.
‘But just like players and coaches have poor games on the field, the referees also make bad calls sometimes.’
After four weeks of the new law interpretations, Kaplan said he is in favour of them.
‘With these various tweaks in the application of the law, attacking rugby has flourished. In the past, the defending teams were favoured too much. But things have balanced out. Instead of the constant kick-chase method being used, teams are encouraged to keep the ball in hand.’
Kaplan did, however, add that it will take more time for these law interpretations to be established.
‘This system is a product still in process. It’s still too short to say that everything is perfect now, it will take more time for players, coaches and referees to get this is into their system. Every week, referees are communicating with teams after matches to discuss various decisions and situations, so everything will get better.’
With the World Cup coming up, a question of which laws will be implemented comes to mind. But Kaplan believes this will be sorted out soon.
‘Remember, the laws haven’t changed. It’s just the matter of interpretation,’ he said. ‘I still speak the same rugby language whether I’m reffing a Six Nations match or Super 14 game.
‘Obviously some things will need to be refined. I believe scrums and the engagement will be some of the areas reviewed. There are far too many penalties being awarded at the scrum in the Super 14.’
By Gareth Duncan
258 Comments
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 » Show All
10 Mar 2010, 08:23 am
Anzac Spirit
10 Mar 2010, 08:40 am
thats why the Bulls have 4 SA refs this weekend, gees, conspiracy or what…seems theyve had a SA ref EVERY week…
10 Mar 2010, 08:48 am
Is there actually a good referee any where in the world at the moment?!?! It would be interesting if there where half as many stats kept on refs as there are on players. I saw Steve Walsh refing a match recently, I think it may have been Brumbies vs Lions. Just by reading his body language, you could see very clearly that when he penalised the Lions, a strong stern warning was lashed out and he was making a very big point come across that he was the boss. Thats good, but when ever he penalised the Brumbies, he looked like it was a shame, that he actually had to penalise them and he gave a very much more friendly matey kind of impression. Terrible. All players want and fans want from referees is consistency and impartiality.
I would actually prefer to play with a ref who is rubbish, but rubbish to both sides, rather then someone like Steve Walsh, who I actually think is quite a talented ref, but unfortunately has a huge ego and something against all teams non Australasian.
10 Mar 2010, 08:50 am
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who d served in military operations for their countries………and now on the rugby fields !!!!!
10 Mar 2010, 08:56 am
@HongKongSlong:
i don’t think there is as much bias as we’d all like to think. a team that consistently offends will end up losing the refs patience, likewise the dominant/more disciplined team will get the rub of the green.
there does however seem to be a certain level of incompetence and inconsistency across the board – most notably among the newer aussie refs less used to this level of competition.
we’re trained to only see the inconsistencies against our own teams, because fans are more biased than the refs they accuse.
there are panels that review refs performances and one must trust that these are allowed to function and function correctly. if refs are consistently inconsistent then they will hopefully be ‘benched’ and come semi’s time only those consistent refs will be selected.
10 Mar 2010, 08:58 am
Funny how a ref always has a bad day when he’s blowing for his home team..?
10 Mar 2010, 08:59 am
@Storm outta hell:
wayne barnes wasn’t blowing a game involving england
10 Mar 2010, 08:59 am
@Gonzo Journalism: What d’ya call a sheep tied to a post down under..?…a Playstation
10 Mar 2010, 08:59 am
@HongKongSlong: In the Brumbies v. Lions game – did you see Steve Walsh wink at the Brumbies front row knowingly soon after he has sent Buys to the sin bin!
Steve Walsh was a **** referee when he was sober. Steve Walsh was a **** referee when he was drunk. Steve Walsh the reformed alcoholic is a **** referee
10 Mar 2010, 09:00 am
@munkiboi: What about Walsh’s Wink..?
10 Mar 2010, 09:02 am
Steve Walsh does tend to buddy-buddy with one team, and quite obviously so. It’s hard to watch. I’d say Mark Lawrence and Jonathan Kaplan are probably the pick of international refs at the moment, with that little Welshman Owens near the bottom of the pile.
10 Mar 2010, 09:02 am
@poppa69: there are 4 SA refs on the elite merit panel, 3 kiwis and 1 convict. The problem is with the crappy reserve convict refs like your cousin Marks.
10 Mar 2010, 09:04 am
Week-in week-out, year-in year-out, decade-in decade-out, the same problem exists: referees have too much power and are in the limelight, usually more so than any of the players on the field. How dumb can we be in allowing this continue.
Changes have been made for the better, with the introduction and expansion of the use of the TV referee. But these changes are too slow in coming. The IRB is depending on the referees to make the changes. They’re not about to give up their power, even though they themselves are at sufferance of it. Their Ego’s won’t let go that easily.
The IRB’s Executive Committee has to take charge, make some empowered decisions, and issue directives.
The solutions are easy. They’re not rocket science:
1. Give each side two or three appeals per game.
2. Add another referee on the field. One person cannot possibly see everything being expected of the current referees. Synergy of minds is a powerful things.
3. Give linesmen the power to rule on offsides.
4. Add aerial cameras at all venues, to assist with the appeals.
If you insist on moving at a snail’s pace, IRB, then start with the first and fourth changes. On their own they will produce significant positive changes in the reliability of results.
10 Mar 2010, 09:06 am
… and as the champions, the Bulls get the best refs. My team will get the crapry reserve refs. This must change.
10 Mar 2010, 09:07 am
I wonder if there are now any doubts after the Sharks debacle last weekend? You cannot change your humanity! While I don’t think that refs cheat purposefully, in their sub-conscious they must prefer the home team to do well.
10 Mar 2010, 09:11 am
@RedLion: Your team must play better before they start making demands
10 Mar 2010, 09:12 am
@poppa69:
You always seem to be trying to deny the Bulls their deserved wins and top of the table status
I suppose ANZAC refs and injuries are the only way to stop them.
10 Mar 2010, 09:12 am
Bulls awards after the Waratahs game
**************************************************************
Gary Botha was named Bumble Bee by the Vodacom Bulls management for his efforts against the Waratahs in the Vodacom Super 14 match at Loftus Versfeld a week ago.
This award is made by management to the player who showed extraordinary effort during the match.
Botha battled with flu the whole week leading up to the game, still played 65 minutes and made a crucial turnover on the Bulls line as the Waratahs attacked furiously just before the half time whistle.
He also contributed to a good scrumming effort by the pack and a 100% line-out performance by the Bulls.
The Bulls has a week off after the 48-38 win and management only met on Monday to review the match.
Other winners were:
Bison (most cleans): Deon Stegmann (14 in 32 min), Derick Kuün (21 in 52 min).
Sniper (most tackles): Wynand Oliver 18
Hitman (biggest tackle): Danie Rossouw
Ant (best back): Morné Steyn
Workhorse (highest work rate): Derick Kuün
10 Mar 2010, 09:13 am
@Storm outta hell:
what wink? someone makes a joke now everyone thinks its fact?
repeat a rumour often enough its still not fact.
if there is eveidence someone needs to stick it on youtube for us all to see.
if its true, walsh’s ref career is finished.
10 Mar 2010, 09:17 am
Why is Plum and Smith asking for a review on Marks perfomance, Keo has already told us that Kanko would have pulled a hamstring on the unopposed to joke to the try line
10 Mar 2010, 09:18 am
@munkiboi: ******, after Walsh showed Buys the yellow. Then he winked at the convict front row … fact. Go and watch the video for yourself.
10 Mar 2010, 09:21 am
Isn’t it funny how Steve Walsh lost his job a referee for New Zealand, because he was a disgrace and then got snapped up by the aussies! He wouldn’t have been hired anywhere else in the world.
10 Mar 2010, 09:21 am
@munkiboi: If you saw the wink you would agree that it was a conspiring gesture made at the Brumbies front row after sending off Buys…a diabolical scene from someone who’s supposed to remain neutral…methinks Walsh is a few braincells short from all the years of reffing rugby in an alchoholic stupor..!
10 Mar 2010, 09:25 am
@XhosaKid:
10 Mar 2010, 09:25 am
@katman: Kaplan is not so fair. He clearly has it in for the Cheetahs. He ripped them off at the CC Final and would have done the same in the Sharks match in Durban in this years S14.
10 Mar 2010, 09:30 am
@Storm outta hell: You know why the ANZAC fans don’t take their woman to the game………..because they eat all the grass on the pitch!!!!!
10 Mar 2010, 09:33 am
@Gonzo Journalism:
10 Mar 2010, 09:34 am
Storm, in future someone should just slip a bottle of Johnny into Walshy the liquor-pig’s changeroom!
10 Mar 2010, 09:34 am
@Storm outta hell:
Definition of a taxidermist = a person that stuffs animals
Definition of a taxidermist down under = just a normal bloke
10 Mar 2010, 09:34 am
@rossoneri: I like Kaplan, but he has been a bogey ref for the Cheetahs of late.
In the final, when Mapoe clearly caught the ball fairly in the air, and poor Hougie went tumbling to the ground he penalised Mapoe for playing the man in the air… it was a critical decision, a strong attacking position turned in to a penalty kick allowing the Bulls to clear.
Don’t claim it was the cause of the Cheetahs losing, but such calls at critical times, turns the momentum of matches.
10 Mar 2010, 09:34 am
@munkiboi:
THE WINK IS A FACT – not a rumour!!!!!!!!
go and see for yourself..
www[dot]sharksworld[dot]co[dot]za/2010/03/08/you-know-how-to-whistle-dont-you-steve-you-just-put-your-lips-together-and-blow/
cut and past the link and replace the [dot] with a .
10 Mar 2010, 09:36 am
The only way to sort these refs out is to make them wear an shock collar that gives them a burst of serious voltage everytime a television official judges them to have made a bad call…
Our pal marks would have ended the tahs game looking like jack Nicholson in one flew over the cuckoo’s nest ..
10 Mar 2010, 09:36 am
interesting regarding walsh. cant see how it can be justified if its true.
any comments from kiwi or oz posters on this one??
10 Mar 2010, 09:40 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva:
Congrats…
Your team played really well this weekend…
Sorry about Brussow, but hope they can keep up their intensity…
10 Mar 2010, 09:42 am
Truth is that Football refs get linched by angry mods in Latan America for less then that!!!!
there if a ref F’s up……he has a mules head nailed to his front door in the morning
OH !!!!! if only !!!!!
10 Mar 2010, 09:42 am
@munkiboi: did you view the link?
10 Mar 2010, 09:44 am
@Gonzo Journalism: Walsh will probably think the mule’s head is his girlfriend.!
10 Mar 2010, 09:46 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva: @30, No, that wasn’t Kaplan, it was that stupid Aussie ref that Andre Watson was giving a trial to, he blew Mapoe for having jump so high he farted at poor Houggie’s face, at Loftus nogal, Mapoe was wrong, He shouldn’t humiliated a “future bok” like that..
However, as a stormers fan, I’m glad the blokes at Griquas sorted out Willie Doos for, I never knew klippies and coke was that effective
10 Mar 2010, 09:47 am
@brains_trust:
checked the article. would prefer to see it on video.
10 Mar 2010, 09:50 am
@brains_trust: That article doesn’t show much. Divorce a still image from its context and you can communicate what you like.
@Gonzo Journalism: It is a bit embarasing that you are calling for refs to be murdered if they make a mistake. It is only rugby, get some perspective.
10 Mar 2010, 09:50 am
@munkiboi: Gotta see it to believe it…it’s a Shame..!!
10 Mar 2010, 09:50 am
@Storm outta hell: LOL…..we should start an underground commentating set of each game played down under, just tune into 73.27 FM for real uncensored commentary…..after all hearing SS commentators is as boring as watching two bricks mate!!!!
10 Mar 2010, 09:53 am
@WOLFMAN21: PS it is only figurative speech………dry your eye and get a sense of humor!!!
10 Mar 2010, 09:54 am
wonder what o’brien thinks of steve’s wink?
hope this goes further and the plonker gets expelled once and for all
10 Mar 2010, 09:57 am
@Blouste: Cheers Blouste, it will be great, if the Cheetahs can keep the intensity, and actually win two games in a row…
I know I have been a bit circumspect of the Stormers , but they have upped their game a tad…
Hope the Bulls keep their form, and win handsomely this weekend.
Jip Brussow is a blow, but I reckon, as long as Juan stays fit, they will be ok… I reckon Floors will be a good replacement
10 Mar 2010, 10:01 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva: That number 8 of yours, Viljoen has looked very good.
10 Mar 2010, 10:02 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva: Yeah…nothin’ wrong with your loose trio…gonna be a huge match up between Juan and Schalk next week..hopefully no injuries there ’cause the guys will really be laying their bodies on the line..!
10 Mar 2010, 10:03 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva:
Yes, losing Brussow should’nt pose any real problems for the Cheetahs…
Still say ,they must just get the right mindset…( and keep it
)
Hope they do well though…
10 Mar 2010, 10:04 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva: # 45..
eish .. het jul nie iemand anders as Kabamba nie…
Hendro beseer?
10 Mar 2010, 10:17 am
@Staal: Hi Staal, hy het haarsingskudding gehad, maar ek **** hy het vir die Voda span gespeel, so hy is seker reg.
As hy begin, en dan later karamba kabamba opbring, kan dit help…
Daar is ook ‘n paar jong manne wat goed deurkom, Wesley Wilkens wat vir Maties gespeel het, en daai Johan wessells wat laas jaar in Brussow se plek in die CC gespeel het..
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.