'Despite clearly being the least mobile of the four quarter-final referees, Nigel Owens remains without peer'
It’s a shame World Rugby’s match official selection panel have decided to punish Jaco Peyper for striking his Sebastien Vahaamahina-like pose with Wales fans following last Sunday’s quarter-final in Oita.
Standing down the South African from being considered for duty next weekend over a tongue-in-cheek picture is a hard sentence as Peyper otherwise did his prospects of refereeing the England versus New Zealand semi-final no harm whatsoever.
His matter-of-fact, clear, concise style was perfectly suited to a quarter-final game which could have exploded in the second half.
Quite what possessed Vahaamahina to plant an elbow in Aaron Wainwright’s face is known only to him, with even his head coach Jacques Brunel immediately acknowledging the inevitable sending off which resulted.
World Rugby’s one concern surrounding the incident will relate to the haphazard process by which Peyper and TMO Marius Jonker reached the decision since the pair seemed only to become aware of the incident retrospectively.
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Indeed, a penalty awarded for the French lock’s initial headlock on Wainwright had been kicked to touch and the players were heading for the ensuing lineout before the officials spotted the red card offence on a giant screen replay.
The debate regarding scrum-half Tomos Williams’ rip of the ball to create Ross Moriarty’s late clincher will doubtless rage for years to come since depending on which camera is viewed, the ball’s flight is lateral or slightly forward.
Nonetheless, the officials followed a logical process and with Peyper having such a clear on-field view, Jonker required irrefutable evidence if the referee’s original try award was to be overturned.
Fans aren't happy with how World Rugby have punished referee Jaco Peyper https://t.co/TCugH7aEcK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 22, 2019
It was on the Sunday night in Japan when the main threat to Peyper’s semi-final prospects subsequently emerged, the referee pictured post-match with a group of Welsh fans jokingly pointing his elbow towards a face.
In the current politically correct, social media-obsessed world, Peyper clearly was guilty of poor judgement, but surely nothing more? World Rugby’s enquiry concluded differently, however, and he has been sidelined for semi-final weekend.
Jerome Garces is another referee whose star is very much in the ascendant following his superb display during England’s win over Australia.
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Referee Peyper taking a snap with some Wales fans ?? #RWC2019
The French official’s communication with both players and his colleagues was exemplary. In particular, his firm overrule of Kiwi TMO Ben Skeen who, to the ears of many, is far too keen to interject and attempt to control rather than advise the referee. Garces’ reward? The whistle for next Sunday’s game between South Africa and Wales.
Meanwhile, 2015 final referee Owens did little to reduce his chances of emulating Andre Watson by whistling a second final, albeit he is now clearly the least mobile of the four quarter-final referees. To balance this, in a hard-fought contest requiring plenty of management control – which a semi-final or final will be – he remains without peer.
Refereeing bores all around the world will have enjoyed his correction of TMO Graham Hughes’ minor misinterpretation of law – “No, Graham, he has to be behind the player not the ball” – while a couple of players received the now familiar Owens’ ticking off.
https://twitter.com/AndyGoode10/status/1186544409023778816
The only other point of interest related to Matt Todd’s sin-binning. A review may show that while the correct outcome was reached, the All Black replacement was in fact guilty of either a no-arms tackle or not rolling away on the ground rather than the offside for which the yellow card was shown.
The talking points from Wayne Barnes’ generally sound performance during South Africa’s ultimately comfortable win over host nation Japan related to his non-use of the TMO.
While this approach keeps play moving and avoids needless stoppages, it is also fraught with danger should subsequent TV replays reveal something significant has been missed.
Two decisions merit discussion in this respect. The yellow card given for Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira’s tip tackle was correct based on directives since the tackled player landed on his side/shoulder.
However, it seems likely that a TMO review would have allowed the try which South African centre Damian de Allende had chalked off on the stroke of half-time.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Ben 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.
19 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.
7 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.
19 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?
9 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.
9 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 commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments