TMOs talk back to Divvy
In his 'have a go' autobiography, former Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has a go at television match officials, claiming that they have admitted that they had made decisions in favour of opposition teams against the Springboks.
In his book, Politically Incorrect, De Villiers says: "I really do believe that the South African officials are too keen to please in order to stay bin the good books of the 'right' people. Television match officials have even admitted that, when they have to make a 50/50 call, they rule against South Africa, as they want to officiate at the World Cup.
"In other words, some officials would let their country lose a match so that they can go to the World Cup."
In his reaction to this in the Cape Times, André Watson, SARU's general manager in charge of referees, said: "If a television match official has said that, then it would be good to know who that is, so that that person can be held accountable."
It is not easy to list possible names as there are only two – Shaun Veldsman and Johann Meuwesen. No other South African TMO would have come close to consideration for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Both of them are former Test referees and both highly experienced TMOs.
The International rugby Board was to appoint four TMOs to the World Cup. It was unlikely that half of them would come from South Africa, and in the end Shaun Veldsman was chosen – along with Television match officials: Giulio De Santis of Italy, Matt Goddard of Australia and Graham Hughes of England.
Asked about De Villiers's assertion, both Veldsman and Johann Meuwesen were first astonished and then indignant.
Meuwesen, who has been on the IRB's panel of specialist TMOs since 2008, said: "I find the allegations totally offensive and welcome anyone to revisit all matches that I officiated at. I have a clear conscience and know that there is nothing to substantiate such concerns.
"I've never discussed my role or future as TMO with any coach at any stage during my career."
Meuwesen was the TMO in three Tests involving the Springboks' – when they played New Zealand in Bloemfontein, Australia in Bloemfontein and New Zealand in Port Elizabeth. There was just one controversial decision in the three Tests – in the Port Elizabeth Test in 2011 when Meuwesen went outside of the TMO protocol to tell the referee who then did not award a try TO NEW Zealand. Far from favouring their opponents it favoured the Springboks – a procedure that is about the be tested universally.
Veldsman, who has been a TMO in 31 Tests, said: "I definitely did not tell any coach that I favoured the Springboks' opponents in close calls. It would be silly to tell a coach that we cheat, and in any case all calls are there to be evaluated by the public and media, whether we were wrong or right."
In his long international career Veldsman did remember one decision that went against the Springboks – when Richie McCaw scored a try against them in Soweto. But then TMOs do not make many calls in a match, if any.
