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Boks fans and even a former player go after Luke Pearce in wake of loss
Despite what many neutrals saw as an exceptional refereeing performance – Springboks fans and even a former player have gone after Luke Pearce in the wake of their shock defeat to the All Blacks in Johannesburg on Saturday.
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Ian Foster’s New Zealand ran out 35-23 victors over the Boks in the second of their two games on South African soil.
It’s a win that few predicted after a display of dominance from the hosts a week earlier and it hasn’t gone down well with SA fans – who have sought to scapegoat Pearce for the loss.
Even former Springboks were getting in on the act, with Breyton Paulse posting: “The Boks certainly didnt deserve to win tonight but the ref made some really bad calls at critical times that took our oemf away, not good at all!!”
The Boks certainly didnt deserve to win tonight but the ref made some really bad calls at critical times that took our oemf away,not good at all!!
— Breyton Paulse (@BreytonPaulse) August 13, 2022
Dylan Jack wrote: “Luke Pearce yellow carded Willemse for a first cynical infringement. Now he’s giving warnings to the All Blacks for cynically collapsing the Bok maul.”
Luke Pearce yellow carded Willemse for a first cynical infringement. Now he's giving warnings to the All Blacks for cynically collapsing the Bok maul.
— Dylan Jack (@dylmjack) August 13, 2022
And there were plenty more in that vein:
Luke Pearce is having a shocker
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) August 13, 2022
Luke Pearce will be gutted to not get MOTM
— Sportbilly (@sportbillysays) August 13, 2022
The All Blacks (read A.Savea) were so good and probably deserved the win but Luke Pearce was absolutely disgraceful #RSAvNZL
— Nick Wright (@nickizzlewright) August 13, 2022
A dare you to find a more cynical refereeing display than Luke Pearce here. Got the microscope out for the Boks on every single play. Not so much for the ABs.
— Matt Lawlor (@mklawlor) August 13, 2022
Don’t celebrate try just yet. This ref has found a Springbok forward pass from 2001. #RSAvNZL
— Rory Petzer (@RoryPetzer) August 13, 2022
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The complaints from South African fans were in stark contrast to neutrals, who widely lauded a superb performance from the Gallagher Premiership whistler.
RugbyPass’ Ben Smith wryly noted: “I, for one, am disappointed Luke Pearce missed 25 tackles out there on the field. Someone, somewhere, should do something about that.”
https://twitter.com/bensmithrugby/status/1558743967730057216
Respected Australian journalist Christy Doran noted: “Luke Pearce’s officiating of last night’s Springboks- All Blacks Test was superb. Well done. Clear, concise and wanting the game to be played at speed. Great Test. The Rugby Championship is alive. Great drama about this year’s tournament.”
Luke Pearce’s officiating of last night’s Springboks- All Blacks Test was superb. Well done.
Clear, concise and wanting the game to be played at speed.
Great Test. The Rugby Championship is alive. Great drama about this year’s tournament.
— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) August 14, 2022
Journalist Steffan Thomas wrote: “I personally thought Luke Pearce was flawless. Can’t think of a single decision he got wrong. Top class performance.”
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I personally thought Luke Pearce was flawless. Can’t think of a single decision he got wrong. Top class performance https://t.co/XQAKo4M6dB
— Steffan Thomas (@Steffan_Thomas1) August 13, 2022
Squidge Rugby observed how Pearce – like Nigel Owens before him – is nearly always involved in exceptionally good matches: “If you’re ever trying to figure out which fixtures will be absolute bangers, it’s easier to just search for matches Luke Pearce is refereeing than check which teams are playing.”
If you’re ever trying to figure out which fixtures will be absolute bangers, it’s easier to just search for matches Luke Pearce is refereeing than check which teams are playing.
— Squidge Rugby (@SquidgeRugby) August 13, 2022
South African journalist Brendan Nel wrote that: “I didn’t have an issue with Luke Pearce’s reffing. I may have disagreed with a few decisions, but nothing major. Telling point was the obstruction – we didn’t have a great angle on the big screen, so want to watch that again before commenting” and later “Sorry, won’t jump on the bash the ref bandwagon. Definitely didn’t get the rub of the green but the Boks lost 4 lineouts on their own throw, they were poor defensively. The bomb squad backfired through injury and we were left with just one option for the aerial battle.”
Sorry, won't jump on the bash the ref bandwagon. Definitely didn't get the rub of the green but the Boks lost 4 lineouts on their own throw, they were poor defensively.
The bomb squad backfired through injury and we were left with just one option for the aerial battle.— Brenden Nel (@Brendennel) August 14, 2022
Newcastle Falcons media manager Mark Smith Tweeted that Pearce’s performance was top draw: “Man of the match: Luke Pearce. Refereeing masterclass.”
Man of the match: Luke Pearce.
Refereeing masterclass.
— mark smith (@markismith50) August 13, 2022
Former Northampton Saints’ lock and now head of player affairs at the RPA Christian Day observed: “Enjoyed that first half. NZ looking a lot more like the All Blacks. SA back into it though just before HT and looking like they have solidified the set piece with an early change or two. Luke Pearce communicates very well and keeping the pace of game high.”
Enjoyed that first half. NZ looking a lot more like the All Blacks. SA back into it though just before HT and looking like they have solidified the set piece with an early change or two. Luke Pearce communicates very well and keeping the pace of game high.
— Christian Day (@christianday) August 13, 2022
Pearce – at just 34 – is widely seen as one of the best referees in the world, and his performance in Ellis Park yesterday will only further that reputation, despite what some South African fans might say.
Comments on RugbyPass
Dagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
4 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
3 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
37 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
3 Go to comments