VIDEOs: Rassie's not so subtle dig at officials
SPOTLIGHT: South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has released a series of videos on social media that hint at some issues with the refereeing in his side’s clash against France.
England’s Wayne Barnes was the man with the whistle as France edged South Africa by 30-26 in a brutal and controversial Test at a packed Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
The win means that France completed a clean sweep of the Southern Hemisphere giants in the past year.
However, that was not the main talking point after the game.
It was the refereeing decisions.
A number of Bok fans will feel that France’s try in the 74th minute should not have been allowed
Tighthead prop Sipili Faletea managed to squeeze his way over the tryline and before Thomas Ramos could take the conversion, Barnes wanted to check the try for a possible double movement.
But he strangely lost communication with his TMO and the try stood.
Erasmus – in a series of videos on his Twitter account – highlighted this and other issues and sarcastically suggested the Springboks need to ‘learn’ from these match official rulings.
“At this level there is no chance that this was not reviewed,” Erasmus said, adding: “The chances of communications going down at that specific moment is one [in 100], in 100 minutes of broadcasting!
“So, in our view, fair try after proper review by [the] experienced [referee] Barnsy and his team!
“No quarrels from our side!!”
Another of those incidents involved Cheslin Kolbe getting an arm to the face in an attempted tackle on Ramos.
The other play that Erasmus highlighted was a Willie le Roux pass in the second half which was ruled to have gone forward.
Rassie accompanied his video on Twitter with a sarcastic message: “I know guys and accept it, we really only have ourselves to blame as the French were awesome both on the field [players] and off the field [supporters]!!
“We just have to fix these fundamental errors like tackle technique and simple passing.”
He also highlighted the yellow card issued to replacement Deon Fourie in the 70th minute, suggesting French replacement Sipili Falatea he detached from the maul before the yellow card and the try that was scored.
“We just have to work harder and make sure we understand the rules correctly! Very costly! We deserve all the criticism!! Sorry,” the Director of Rugby said.
It didn’t end there.
Erasmus also highlighted French captain Gael Fickou interfering with the Bok scrumhalf without being penalised, seemingly inconsistent rulings in dealing with how the opposing scrumhalves were interfered with and the forward pass ruling against Willie le Roux.
He, again sarcastically, asked fans to help them to get to know the laws better.
“Just working through the game and all the lessons we can take from it,” the DoR said, adding: “Please if you are doing the same and see some learnings that can educate us and shows the opposite please share with us!!
Just working through the game and all the lessons we can take from it, please if you are doing the same and see some learnings that can educate us and shows the opposite please share with us!! Will keep them coming so our 🇿🇦 understand where we are at !!
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) November 13, 2022
“Will keep them coming so we understand where we are at!!”
I know guys and accept it, we really only have ourselves to blame as the French were awsome both on the field (players)and off the field (supporters)!! We just have to fix these fundamental errors like tackle technique and simple passing 👇🏿Sorry 🇿🇦 we know 💔 pic.twitter.com/hte6ggyXk9
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) November 12, 2022
Deon copping a lot of flack for this yellow card, to be honest I also thought the Blue 16 detached and maul over, we just have to work harder and make sure we understand the rules correctly! Very costly 🟨 ! We deserve all the criticism!! Sorry 🇿🇦 💔 pic.twitter.com/vyBTf5dUXO
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) November 13, 2022
This so clever by Fickou, the way he moves and presents himself on our side of the ruck has no influence on our speed of the ball from the ruck !! We can certainly learn from this !! Sorry 🇿🇦💔 pic.twitter.com/nCisruylk4
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) November 13, 2022
Both the 🇫🇷 and 🇿🇦 9’s under immense pressure !! We just have to get that on side right!!Sorry 🇿🇦💔 pic.twitter.com/srzoaBjm89
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) November 13, 2022
Learning!! Those long passes just have an optical illusion attached to it, we will work hard at it!! 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/T76fdJk4y1
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) November 13, 2022
