Nigel Owens to Nic White: Where are your rugby values?
REACTION: Petulant Australia scrumhalf Nic White would have thought that by Friday the heat would have lowered on him over his theatrics in Adelaide last week.
However, he was sadly mistaken.
In fact, acclaimed former Welsh referee Nigel Owens turned it up a few notches with his comments in a column.
White’s infamous ‘fake it’ moment in the Wallabies’ 25-17 win over the Springboks in Adelaide last week stirred up plenty of reaction from the now retired legendary referee, Owens.
In the 39th minute the Wallaby No.9, White, milked a yellow card after he received a glancing blow to the moustache from opposite number Francois de Klerk.
White looked up at the referee and then dropped to the ground in a crumbling heap following the minor brush with his face.
New Zealand referee Referee Paul Williams bought the act, worthy of an Oscar, and issued De Klerk with a yellow card for ‘making contact with the head’.
However, Owens – who said on social media that White was very fortunate he was not in charge – doubled down on his view in a column on the website WalesOnline.
White’s behaviour was one of two contentious incidents Owens took issue with and said he differed with New Zealand referee Paul Williams.
“What Francois tried to do was knock the ball backwards out of Nic White’s hands, which he is quite entitled to do,” Owens said.
“He was onside at the scrum and on his feet, so he’s entitled to knock White’s arm causing him to lose the ball forward which would become a knock-on. Or he can knock the ball backwards towards his own side to try and gain possession. All completely legal actions, as the ball was out of the scrum and he was onside.”
Owens said De Klerk deserved to be penalised for his poor execution, but the yellow card was over the top.
Some men would rather be stripped naked in -40 degree temperatures live on tv than have their moustache slapped off. #AUSvRSA
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“What you have then is White milking it all and trying to get Francois de Klerk sent off in some shape or form. He was trying to get him sanctioned by rolling around.
“To me, that goes against rugby values. Of all the big hits Nic White has taken, I don’t think that action by Francois would have caused that response to happen.
“What I would have done is your first offence is De Klerk getting it wrong, completely accidental, no intent, it’s a penalty. What you have then is a totally unacceptable reaction from Nic White and against the values of the game.
“So I would have reversed the penalty and penalised him for his actions. I would have said to him ‘You are not in the theatre, you are on the rugby field, where are your rugby values? You can’t behave like that’.”
Owens also took issue with the much-hyped illegal Marika Koroibete tackle on Bok wing Makazole Mapimpi – denying him a probable try at a crucial stage in the game.
“I’m not sure it was a try-saving tackle,” the former referee said.
“These are tough ones and it’s certainly got people split on opinion on it.
“For South African supporters, it’s a shoulder charge, while for Australian fans it’s a great tackle.
“I have spoken to a few referees about it. Most of them are on a shoulder charge, a couple think it’s ok.
“I think a lot of people have got caught up in the romance of a try-saving tackle, a little bit like JPR Williams’ shoulder charge on French wing Jean-Francois Goudon back in 1976. But that would have been at least a yellow card for JPR and a penalty try now.
“I have looked at it many times and I’m finding it difficult to see this as anything but an illegal tackle by Koroibete. To me, he leads with his shoulder and his arm is tucked down by his side. There’s not an attempt to wrap, for me.
“If you look at the moment when Koroibete’s shoulder makes contact, his arm is down by his side. It’s not in an action or an attempt to wrap. That is the key. I can’t see a simultaneous wrap with the hit of the shoulder and that’s why I think it’s foul play.”
His views, on the eve of the Rugby Championship Round Four rematch in Sydney, is sure to bring the heat on the match officials – Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe, along with his assistants Paul Williams (New Zealand) and Tual Trainini (France). Brendon Pickerill, who was also the TMO in Adelaide that was involved in both incidents, is again in front of the television screen.
* To read the entire Nigel Owens column, CLICK HERE!
Source: WalesOnline
Rugby is dangerous! You should be thankful for every close encounter you survive pic.twitter.com/vlReuYX7lw
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