VIDEO: Rassie - Nobody is cheating
WATCH as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus comes out in defence of match officials, following another contentious yellow card decision.
Erasmus, who was at the centre of a mock tackle-practice video in the wake of Angus Gardner’s non-decision in the Test against England, defended the decision by controversial French referee Romain Poite to issue a yellow card to Bok fullback Willie le Roux early in the second half of South Africa’s 26-20 win over Scotland at the weekend.
Le Roux was sin-binned in the 45th minute for ‘deliberately’ slapping the ball down.
Erasmus, who was rabid when Angus Gardner decided not to penalise Owen Farrell for a no-arms tackle late in the match at Twickenham, took a far more reticent approach when questioned about the Le Roux yellow card.
“We have to live with that [yellow card],” the Bok coach said.
“We have had yellow card decisions go for us and against our opposition.”
Erasmus said he felt the Bok fullback, Le Roux, was genuinely attempted to catch the ball.
“I think it is tough for the referee on the field and I think it is tough for the TMO,” the Bok coach said, adding: “For me to criticise [the decision] would just be stupid.”
He made it clear that in his opinion no match official is deliberately ‘cheating’, even though some may make poor decisions.
“At the moment nobody is cheating, nobody is nailing anybody on purpose,” he said, adding: “We can all live with it.
“If we have an open channel where we can discuss these things, we’ll get to the right answer.
“We should just hang in there, because I know nobody is trying to cheat.”
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