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New Springboks No 8 Jasper Wiese brought raw energy to the pack in place of Kwagga Smith, but at times in the third test against the Lions, it threatened to derail his side’s series.
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Wiese was involved in some bone crunching hits early, flying around the park looking to make a statement. The Leicester Tiger put a bellringer on Liam Williams returning a kick from the back after the Welshman made a half-break.
Although he brought some dominant hits to his side’s defence, his unrestrained activity almost cost his side on the stroke of halftime when he flew into a ruck after the whistle to put a no arms kidney shot on Welsh prop Wyn Jones.
After protests from the Lions, the officials reviewed the incident but decided against penalising the Springboks and ended the half much to the dismay of many watching. It was a bizarre call when the missile clean out has been cracked down on recently.
Less than a third of voters agreed with the officials in an online poll ran by The Rugby Paper, with the overwhelming majority at 70.4 percent voting for at least a penalty, while many thought a yellow card was suitable.
What ruling would you have made for the Jasper Wiese hit on Wyn Jones at the close of the half?#LionsRugby #LionsSA2021
— The Rugby Paper (@TheRugbyPaper) August 7, 2021
Wiese’s out of control clean out on the defenceless Jones with his back turned did not impress fans on either side, with Springboks fans calling for a substitution after the reckless behaviour.
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Wiese also dropped a number of high balls in the backfield that had Springboks fans on edge, who labelled him a “walking penalty”.
The 25-year-old loose forward was also compared to former Springboks prop Dean Greyling, who famously flew off his feet at the ruck to poleaxe Richie McCaw in the face with an elbow in 2012 against the All Blacks.
How has Jasper Wiese not had card there???
— Harry Gaunt (@HarryGaunt1) August 7, 2021
Jasper Wiese needs to come off and Kwagga to take his place #SSRugby
Sloppy first half but I'm sure we'll make a comeback in the 2nd half
— Grateful? (@LyniqueR) August 7, 2021
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Jasper Wiese is not ready man
— Khutso Mkhabele (@khuts7) August 7, 2021
Jasper Wiese has big Dean Greyling energy
— Simon Hartley (@streakley) August 7, 2021
Wyn Jones' back already sore and then he gets a Jasper Wiese charging into it.
— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) August 7, 2021
@RassieRugby would like to see #jasperwiese penality count in this series. Without keeping count he cost the @Springboks between 3 to 5 per game. Almost like he doesn't understand the rules. #backtotheclassroom
— Morné (@mdl7702) August 7, 2021
What is Jasper Wiese's role? He seems to be some kind of inspector #RSAvBIL
— Witchy Hezz????? (@HSteel5) August 7, 2021
Wiese is a walking penalty in this game #RSAvBIL
— Stephen Price (@Stephen4bhs) August 7, 2021
Wiese ended up conceding three penalties in the game, including one in the 63rd minute for a push in the back on Finn Russell after the Scotland flyhalf had released his pass.
The Lions reserve No 10 then calmly slotted the 45 metre shot at goal to even proceedings at 13-all. It would be his last involvement as Kwagga Smith was inserted into the game.
Although his contribution on the night weren’t all bad, as his defence added an edge while another slice of TMO luck fell his way.
A dropped high ball by Wiese set-up the break for Cheslin Kolbe to score the critical try to get the Springboks back into the match.
His involvement in the aerial challenge was ruled by the TMO not to have knocked the ball on after it had bounced off his upper arm forward into Lions lock Maro Itoje.
Wiese was one of six loose forwards named in the Springboks 42-man squad for the Rugby Championship campaign beginning this weekend against Argentina, while Rynhardt Elstadt was named as an extra utility option.
With the omission of Pieter-Steph du Toit to injury, Wiese could continue to see more action in the Springboks but may not start due to the return of Duane Vermeulen who was named in the squad.
Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, and Dan du Preez were the other four loose forwards named.
Comments on RugbyPass
An on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to comments