‘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
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10 Mar 2010, 10:18 am
I think it’s the first time there has been some good chat between the different supporters….cheetah4eva and blouste. Great to see not all supporters are totally blind and are able to support the other SA teams.
10 Mar 2010, 10:20 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva: Yes, and the Habana forward pass from Fourie du Preez that resulted in try.
10 Mar 2010, 10:23 am
seeing as its open season on sheep jokes, think I’ll return serve…
what do you call a SA who sleeps with a different lady every night?
A Mortician!!
Whats the number one selling Perfume in SA on Valentines Day?
Embalming Fluid…
10 Mar 2010, 10:25 am
@cheetah jou lekker ding:
We should support all the SA teams, except when they play the mighty BULLS
…
But some of the poor performances by SA teams are just as frustrating for me as I reckon it is for their supporters…
SA teams make it a lot easier for themselves if they all deny the NZ and Aussie teams log points on a regular basis…
10 Mar 2010, 10:25 am
@cheetah jou lekker ding: Like I said on a thread last week..I play superbru with my head but watch the match with my heart so strongly support all local sides…makes the local derbies quite interesting too..
10 Mar 2010, 10:26 am
@poppa69:
Quick to jump onboard hey…
10 Mar 2010, 10:27 am
@poppa69: Not funny…most Saffas don’t even know what a Mort…??…is
10 Mar 2010, 10:28 am
all the teams want the best refs?
but then what will poor little marks do with his weekends?
10 Mar 2010, 10:31 am
@Blouste: That’s it….during the local derbies there will not ever be any sympathy for another local team, but when they are playing the dude’s from down-under, there is nothing more annoying than another saffa enjoying a local loss.
10 Mar 2010, 10:32 am
@Storm outta hell: really, with your murder rate they should all know what a morgue and mortician is…
10 Mar 2010, 10:35 am
@poppa69:
I went with a Sharks win last weekend and despite that you still could’nt overtake me on superbru…
10 Mar 2010, 10:37 am
@poppa69:
Q) Why can’t you circumcise a South African?
A) Because there is no end to the pricks.
10 Mar 2010, 10:37 am
@poppa69: Stop being so morbid…everyone knows sheepshagger jokes are far funnier and far more realistic…like they just touched a nerve
10 Mar 2010, 10:39 am
@Storm outta hell: How do (insert nation here) find sheep in long grass?
Delightful.
10 Mar 2010, 10:41 am
@WOLFMAN21:
10 Mar 2010, 10:43 am
@cane: he he, no end to them pricks
10 Mar 2010, 10:44 am
@Blouste: hahaha yeah I know, just lulling you into a false sense of security
@Storm outta hell: geees, so its only SA’s that are allowed to make jokes?? Ive heard all the sheep jokes before and theyre not funny either..
as for more realistic?
Fact: A SA was caught sleeping with Dead Bodies, A NZ has never been caught sleeping with sheep (much more careful see)..
guess I know what struck a nerve, but a dead body wouldnt flinch once you hit its nerve either…
10 Mar 2010, 10:45 am
What do you call a Saffa in a suit?
The Defendant.
10 Mar 2010, 10:46 am
@poppa69: You do know a lot about the reactions of a dead body…and based on your previous statement about your expertises at not getting caught sleeping with sheep, it does make me wonder what you get up in your spare time!
10 Mar 2010, 10:46 am
An ventriloquist visiting New Zealand walks into a small town and sees a local sitting on his porch patting his dog. He figures he’ll have a little fun.
Ventriloquist: “G’day Mate! Good looking dog, mate. Mind if I speak to him?”
New Zealander: “The dog doesn’t talk, stupid.”
Ventriloquist: “Hey dog, how’s it going old mate?”
Dog: “Doin’ alright.”
New Zealander: (extreme look of shock)
Ventriloquist: “Is this Kiwi your owner?”, pointing at New Zealander.
Dog: “Yep”
Ventriloquist: “How does he treat you?”
Dog: “Real good. He walks me twice a day, feeds me great food, and takes me to the lake once a week to play.”
New Zealander: (look of disbelief)
Ventriloquist: “Mind if I talk to your horse?”
New Zealander: “Uh, the horse doesn’t talk either…I think.”
Ventriloquist: “Hey horse, how’s it going?”
Horse: “Cool.”
New Zealander: (extreme look of shock)
Ventriloquist: “Is this your owner?” (pointing at New Zealander)
Horse: “Yep”
Ventriloquist: “How’s he treat you?”
Horse: “Pretty good, thanks for asking. He rides me regularly, brushes me down often, and keeps me in the barn to protect me from the elements.”
New Zealander: (total look of amazement)
Ventriloquist: “Mind if I talk to your sheep?”
New Zealander: “The sheep’s a liar.
10 Mar 2010, 10:46 am
Who do all the Miss SA’s marry foreigners?
because the locals are all dead roots
10 Mar 2010, 10:47 am
@cane: What does a judge say to a Kiwi rugby player in a suit?
Guilty as charged.
10 Mar 2010, 10:49 am
@katman: That is so funny
10 Mar 2010, 10:50 am
@cane: A defendant……LOL
thats actualy funny, i like it
10 Mar 2010, 10:51 am
isnt it funny, Saffas make all these jokes about every other nationality that visits here, and they are supposed to just laugh along with the Saffas…
make a joke about Saffas and they cant handle it..
not a good look guys, rather sad in fact, and does give credence to the old bully stereotype…
10 Mar 2010, 10:51 am
@katman:
10 Mar 2010, 10:52 am
What do you say to a kiwi with a good looking girl on his arm
nice tattoo !!!!
10 Mar 2010, 10:52 am
@poppa69:
Are you dead serious Popps !
The Saffas are engaging in Necrophilia.(they will have to look it up).
It surprises me not.
But it does disgust me nonetheless.
10 Mar 2010, 10:53 am
I also took up the whistle every now and again and have met Kaplan, Watson, Lawrence etc personally. They are great guys and have excellent rugby brains. Freek Burger was the person in charge of referees when I was still in it, and his philosophy was that you ref the law as it is written. He was against any attempts by the powers that be to make rugby more attractive by altering interpretations of laws. The fact is that, however much you alter the interpretations, attractive rugby is the responsibility of the players; not the referees or the laws. If negatively inclined teams find ways to curb attacking teams within the laws, then it is the responsibility of the latter to find ingenious ways of countering that – within the laws. This is how the game evolves and this is how you create players who think for themselves on a rugby field.
The IRB is putting the cart before the horses by continually altering interpretations because the law is not applied as it is written. I have posted before about the tackle law where team A’s player is tackled and his teammates clean out the ensuing ruck. The ball lies under the feet of one of the supporting players of team A who stands with his hands on the pile of players who were involved in the tackle and the cleanout – he is not bound to them. All of team B’s players have got to their feet and are spread out over the breadth of the field to defend.
According to the laws, this ball may be played by anyone because there is no phase and there are no offside lines. It is not a tackle because the definition for a tackle is a player who is brought to ground and is held by an opposition player. It is not a ruck because the definition of a ruck is two players, one from each side, bound over the ball while on their feet with the ball on the ground. Not one of these phases with the mandatory offside lines are relevant here.
Isaac Ross was sinbinned against the Boks in last year’s 3N by Nigel Owens for playing the ball in this situation and it was deemed a professional foul. He was well within his rights to play the ball. It happens every Saturday and is done by every referee – there is no ruck, but they apply the ruck laws and offside lines regardless. The result is phase play, bashing up and a focus on defence. It neutralises the space on the field for backs to do their thing because forwards are not committing to the “ruck” because the ruck laws are not implemented. Imagine what would happen if the ruck was reffed properly; i.e. you have to have players from both teams bound over the ball with the ball on the ground. The team with the fastest, strongest and fittest forwards will then have the upper hand. It will make the ruck a contest and the team with the higher number of players at the ruck will win the contest. This will create more space on the field because there will be fewer people present in the backline.
My point: apply the law as it is written and the rest will sort itself out.
My conspiracy theory is that the rest of the world do not want us to apply these laws in the right way as it will be to our advantage with our mobile, strong forwards and our gifted loose forwards who are as fast and as skilled as backline players. Australian rugby is under threat from other sports codes, we know that, and for this reason they want to make the game more of a spectacle and they are doing it by subtly making the great game of rugby conform more and more to rugby league – a style that suits them and not us.
Applying the laws as they are written will also highlight poor referees as it makes the grey areas of interpretation less of an issue and knowledge of the laws become the focus – a standard that can be measured
10 Mar 2010, 10:54 am
@poppa69: Hey..I like a good joke just like the next guy…just find sheepshagger jokes funnier than dead guy one’s…
10 Mar 2010, 10:55 am
@cane: dead serious Cane…
10 Mar 2010, 10:57 am
A NZ man finally makes his fortune and is having his dream house bulit. As he talks to the architect on how he wants the house built he says, ‘See that tree there, don’t cut it down because under that tree I made love for the first time.’
The architect says he understands the sentimental value of the tree and he will design the house so that the tree isn’t harmed.
Then the man says, ‘And you see that tree over there, I don’t want it cut either, because her mother stood there and watched as we made love.’
The architect could hardly believe his ears,’That’s incredible, what did her mother say?’
To which the man replies,’Baaaaaa.”
10 Mar 2010, 10:59 am
I bet those Okes over on Wugby Talk don’t tell sheepshagger jokes.
Actually………….I bet they don’t joke at all.
10 Mar 2010, 10:59 am
New-Zealand…
Where men are men, and sheep are nerveous…
10 Mar 2010, 11:00 am
SANZAR need to revert back to ‘neutral referees” as soon as possible. The current situation is creating the perception that “hometown referees” are favouring home sides. This perception is damaging both the image of Super rugby and the credibility of SANZAR referees. Unfortunately referees, players, coaches and the media are fuelling this ever growing fire.
Officiating a rugby match is not an exact science and therefore some measure of understanding needs to be given towards referees. The referee needs to make split second decisions on rules that can be interpreted in any number of ways and therefore one can understand that you will not always agree with every call a referee makes. One can also understand that a good referee is a referee that finds the balance between blowing to the letter of the law and allowing some leniency in order to let the game flow. But, CONSISTENCY is what every player, coach and spectator can and should expect from referees.
Let’s look at Paul Marks’ penalty against the Sharks in the second last line-out of the match. Yes, if you look at the line-out closely, one can agree with Marks’ interpretation that the Jannie du Plessis was obstructing. But, if Paul Marks was consistent he should have penalised the Waratahs for the exact same offence one minute later. In fact, if Marks was consistent he should’ve penalised both teams on numerous occasions throughout the match. So, why did Marks award that penalty at that particular moment? His inconsistency has created the perception of an Aussie ref helping out an Aussie side on the brink of being beaten. This is the same for all SANZAR referees.
In this case the players aren’t helping. Phil Waugh has been complaining about referees in South Africa for the past two weeks, saying that they are taking away the contest in the game, not giving them the rub of the green, etc. On Saturday he however states that the referee had a fantastic game and got everything spot-on. The truth however is that Paul Marks wasn’t much better or any worse than any of the referees that officiated their games in South Africa. The only difference is that on Saturday the Waratahs won and the 50/50 decisions went their way. Phil Waughs’ critique of South African referees and subsequent praise of Australian referees are just adding fuel to the fire. The same applies to the way the Sharks have been handling themselves in press conferences.
The same goes for the media on both sides of the Atlantic. Match reports from SA suggest the Sharks were cheated, those from Australia that Marks got it spot on. The question I have is whether the same decision by a NZ referee would have sparked the same emotional response from players, coaches and spectators? The current situation is damaging the image of Super 14 rugby and the integrity of our referees and need to be addressed as soon as possible.
10 Mar 2010, 11:00 am
@poppa69: In the interest of a cultural exchange, perhaps you can hook up a couple of dead sheep and invite some of the bloggers on this over for a “good time”? After the spit roast, you can have another spit roast.
10 Mar 2010, 11:02 am
A NZ man and his dog are shipwrecked onto a deserted island. After a few days he decides to reconnoiter the island. He discovers that the only other inhabitants are sheep. He recalls how his farm buddies would brag how they would screw sheep for kicks and he says to himself: ‘I’ll never be that desperate.’
Sooooo, a few days later he can’t get those sheep out of his mind, and soon he’s sneaking up on the flock. Just as he is about to pounce on a really cute one, the dog grabs his leg and won’t let go. He snaps to, and thanks the dog for keeping him from making a fool of himself. This same scene happens every night for a month and the guy is really getting pissed at the dog.
Suddenly one day, the man spies a liferaft bobbing in the surf. In the raft is a beautiful young girl, half dead but alive. He takes her back to his hut revives her and nurses her to health. After a few days the girl is feeling fine, and that evening a rush of gratitude sweeps over her….
She confronts the man: ‘I owe you my life. I’m yours forever. I’ll do anything you want’
‘Anything?’
‘Anything!!’
‘OK, hold that dog for ten minutes!!!’
10 Mar 2010, 11:02 am
A SA walks into a bar with the biggest grin on his face, asks the bartender to line him up six shots of tequila because hes celebrating..
he then proceeds to down all six shots one after the other…
Bartender says to him, what are you celebrating?
SA says “my first *******..”
Bartender says “lekker, here let me give you another shot on the house..”
SA says “no no no no, if 6 wont get rid of the taste, I dont think 7 will either”
10 Mar 2010, 11:02 am
Idiots.
10 Mar 2010, 11:03 am
Further to my post 83 above.
My post was/is total ****.(as usual).
Superbull and Groot are over there (Rugby-Talk), and they can be seriously funny.
10 Mar 2010, 11:03 am
@poppa69:
Necrophilia and crime is not restricted to one country only.
10 Mar 2010, 11:04 am
@WOLFMAN21: nothing like sloppy seconds huh wolfman, is that what youre after???
10 Mar 2010, 11:04 am
@poppa69: This is Africa mate…not for sissies…it runs red with blood…and yeah we got more than our fair share of depraved maniacs..hell,some of them are running the country,but don’t try and deprive us of a good sheepshaggin’ joke
it makes us rugby loving public’s day..!!
10 Mar 2010, 11:04 am
Wolfman
A self-basting spit roast ?
10 Mar 2010, 11:05 am
Morning Dawn…
10 Mar 2010, 11:05 am
@poppa69: I would have turned down your invitation, I’m not into that sort of thing!
10 Mar 2010, 11:06 am
@cane:
Then go there and hose yourself, why don’t you.
Go post some of your jokes there.
10 Mar 2010, 11:07 am
@poppa69:
And you can join him.
RT is waiting.
10 Mar 2010, 11:07 am
when the sharks say they want the best refs the mean Pro Legoete, Paul Marks & Keith Brown.
The question is, which other SA team in this year’s competition has had any of these refs handle their games except the sharks?
10 Mar 2010, 11:08 am
Since when has this become a xenophobia site?
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