Does the punishment fit the crime?
May 16, 2013 in Rugby, Super Rugby
Long has it been known in Rugby circles that Referee’s are the holy cows. The Untouchables. If there were Gupta’s in Rugby, it would be the Referee’s. They can do as they please and you have hell to pay if you dare question them. Ok, the Gupta’s did get a little red faced, but see if anything comes from the screaming and shouting of the opposition parties. Just like nothing ever comes from the screaming and shouting of rugby commentators when referee’s screw up.
It’s beyond my imagination how Rugby players, from club to the most senior levels, have not learned the hard truth that no referee ever in this history of Rugby, as far as I know or have read at least, has ever changed his mind about his decision after someone told him he is wrong or questioned his decision. I think it’s the ultimate sacrilege. Breaking of the secret Referee’s code: Never admit mistakes during the game. It’s written just above the other sacrilege: Never publicly question a fellow referee. Not too long ago we saw a referee being sacked because he dared question another referee’s decision on Twitter. But have we ever seen a Referee sacked for being just pathetic? Nope. We haven’t. Bryce Lawrence retired. He wasn’t sacked. I am yet to see a Referee being sacked for being too poor. Read the rest of this entry →
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It’s always seen as a bit of an injustice when a team loses a Rugby match despite having played the best Rugby all game long. That was the case again this morning when the Stormers, despite winning every aspect of the game, lost to the Blues in North Harbour by an agonising 1 point. What makes this loss even more agonising, is that the Stormers scored the only 2 tries of the match, while the Blues, traditionally known for their dangerous running rugby, didn’t score a single try. A feather in the Stormers defensive cap as you may, but that’s where the party ends. Scoring the most tries doesn’t win you matches. Scoring the most points does.
With Pierre Spies’ performance this past weekend against the Blues, Heyneke Meyer will have taken note and may even be having a wry grin on his face. Spies’ performances over the past few years were short of satisfactory, and along with his hand injury last year, allowed for Duane Vermeulen to step up and take his place in the Springbok camp.
Well well! What a weekend of Super Rugby! Apart from the dull encounter up North in Bulls country and the snooze inducing encounter down under in Brisbane, this weekend’s “kick off” of the Super Rugby season really provided some much needed quenching of thirsts accross continents!
With Elton Jantjies allowed a leave of absence and Peter Grant still playing in Japan, it was an opportune time for Kurt Coleman to show that he is a capable replacement for either when the SupeRugby season kicks off. He failed to impress though, and his woeful kicking at goal was further emphasised when the Cheetahs kicked a goal 50 metres out in the 81st minute to clinch the match.
It’s not ironic that the Stormers are benefitting most from the Lions being ousted from the Super Rugby tournament after they voted strongly in favour of the Kings. It was genius.
Where’s the action?