Disgraceful system should be cited

rugby365 editor Jan de Koning feels it is time to ‘cite’ the citing officials for their grossly inconsistent behaviour, following the ludicrous decision not to take any further action against Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau.

Disgraceful, scandalous, shameful, shocking. I might even be tempted to add immoral in there! This is how strong I feel about the behaviour of the New Zealand citing official David Gray, who felt there is no need for further action against Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau’s blatant attempt to injure Springbok star Fourie du Preez.

Strong words, I know, but my public condemnation should be seen in the light of the fact that – as I write this column – the South African Rugby Union is facing an International Rugby Board misconduct hearing (it started at 09.30 in Dublin – 08.30 GMT on Monday, August 10).

The matter – before an ‘Independent’ disciplinary committee chaired by New Zealander John Hansen and comprising Guillermo Tragant (Argentina) and former Australia captain John Eales – relates to the alleged “misconduct” of the Springbok players for wearing white armbands (with the words ‘Justice 4’ on it) during the third Test against the British & Irish Lions on July 4.

Their actions were a symbol of solidarity and protest for Bakkies Botha, following the upholding of his two-week suspension by an appeal committee for dangerously charging into a ruck without binding on a player.

Most people know the background to this, but should there be some who are unaware, a quick recap: Botha attempted to clear out a ruck and knocked Lions prop Adam Jones backwards. Jones injured his shoulder and Botha was cited to appear before a DC hearing. Even the Lions team management at the time admitted the citing and subsequent ban were way over the top, as they felt all Botha did was clear out a ruck and that his actions were legal.

Now, move forward a month – from Loftus, July 4, to Newlands, August 8.

Giteau, at the weekend, charged – in my opinion deliberately –  into Du Preez, who was waiting to field an up-and-under. Giteau, airborne and not looking at the ball at all, clattered into Du Preez well before the ball had reached the Bok, an action which injured the South African scrumhalf.

Giteau received a yellow card from Irish referee Alain Rolland for the incident, but was not cited by the New Zealand match commissioner, David Gray.

I have since read that even South Africa referees boss André Watson has taken issue with the fact that Gray did not cite Giteau.

As can be clearly seen on video replays – and this is what Gray is being paid to do, watch replays and make a call – is that Giteau was leading with his elbow when the airborne Wallaby knocked Du Preez to the ground. His actions were reckless and dangerous, he injured a player.

So what is the connection between the Botha and Giteau incidents?

The citing commissioners in both cases were New Zealanders.

Botha was cited by Steve Hinds of New Zealand and Gray, also a Kiwi, opted not to cite Giteau.

Botha’s actions were not nearly as dangerous or as deliberate as that of Giteau, yet the South African player is banned and the Australian is let off the hook.

It is thus not surprising that the Boks, a month ago already, pointed to what they felt were gross inconsistencies in the citing and in fact the entire judicial system.

It is also not surprising that most South Africans will now start thinking about conspiracies again.

Remember, some years ago, there was that email that was floating around between the Kiwi and Aussie referees in which they incited each other to ‘Get the Japies’ – a disparaging reference to South Africans.

Can you blame John Smit and his team if they feel an injustice has been done to them yet again, if they feel they are being targeted?

It seems perceptions hasn’t changed and the Springboks remain easy targets.

I strongly feel it is time for people like Mr Gray to be held accountable when they neglect their duties.

As they say: ‘Who is policing the police?’

Nobody, I say, and that is why there is such a lack of consistency. Maybe, there should now be ‘public judicial hearings’ – just as they do for players – for the match officials and citing commissioners that get it wrong.

I am told, every time I query it, that there are system in place to deal with match officials and that they are rated and sometimes even dropped from panels if they get it badly wrong.

If this is the case – and we need to include a category for citing officials like Mr Gray – then these hearings should also be made public as they do for players who transgress.

Then, and only then, will we be able to judge if the ‘transgressions’ of match officials and citing officers are not being swept under the carpet.

* Do you agree/disagree with Jan? It’s your shout!