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Erasmus Tweets video that hints at double standard in critical ref call
Springboks director of rugby Rassie Eramsus has tweeted about the ‘small margins’ in Ireland’s victory over South Africa last night, accompanied by a video that suggests a lack of consistency from referee Nika Amashukeli.
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Ireland came out on top in a physical battle against South Africa with a 19-16 victory that handed the top side in the global rankings a psychological boost over the world champions ahead of their title defence next year.
After a ferocious first 40 minutes which had more injuries than clean line-breaks, the game opened up early in the second half with quickfire tries from Josh van der Flier and Australian Mack Hansen that put Ireland 16-6 ahead.
However, Amashukeli didn’t ping Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan in the lead-up to the try has irked Erasmus, not least as the Springboks were penalised for a stray boot in a ruck that had initially saw Eben Etzabeth regain possession with the Irish line in sight.
Erasmus Tweeted: “Tough test match, thanks for all the support from 🇿🇦, also thanks to the Ireland supporters at the Aviva, you definitely understand the game and its great to play in an atmosphere like yesterday! Surely was a game of big battles, but small margins.”
Tough test match, thanks for all the support from ??, also thanks to the Ireland supporters at the Aviva, you definetly understand the game and its great to play in an atmosphere like yesterday ! Surely was a game of big battles,but small margins ?? pic.twitter.com/Jcjci2Jlvo
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) November 6, 2022
The decision for Erasmus to Tweet the video of a tight call of course evokes memories of the scandal that embroiled the maverick DoR during the British & Irish Lions tour in 2021. The 50-year-old has just returned from a Test match ban for the debacle.
His tweet did play well with some hardcore fans, though.
“Please explain World Rugby?,” wrote one irate fan. “Ireland kick the ball in the ruck right in front of the ref. Boks do the same thing and then its a penalty?”
Please explain @WorldRugby ? Ireland kick the ball in the ruck right in front of the ref. Boks do the same thing and then its a penalty?
— 🇦🇺Meatusx🇿🇦 (@Meatusx) November 6, 2022
I don’t want to sound like I have sour grapes but this was so obvious at the time that I can barely believe it wasn’t looked at. I was sat in my bar with a load of Irish fans and even they saw it.
— Will Young (@notwillyoung86) November 6, 2022
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However, many more fans railed at Erasmus for what they see as the Boks’ real glaring issue at the moment, the lack of genuine goal-kicking flyhalf.
We need a fly half that can kick some points , please boss 🙏🏻
— Captain America 🇮🇱🇿🇦 (@FreeSpeech0075) November 6, 2022
Can we actually select a flyhalf for the next one? Having to have Kolbe taking the kicks was embarrassing
— BB (@samurbp) November 6, 2022
Rassie please listen to the criticism. It’s coming from a good place. We know you know Rugby, however its just not working. Do something different. Attack more,backline,. Stop kicking. Selection. U ruining your own legacy. How come no one tells you. You want a Foster situation
— Cavisto (@Cavisto3) November 6, 2022
Rassie, maybe blame selections, impotent game-plan, lack of attack coaching as the reasons for losing half of the games this year…such an amazing pool of players to choose from so these losses are on the coaching team and nothing else
— Marty (@RohdeMartin474) November 6, 2022
The win meant Andy Farrell’s men followed up their first ever three-Test series victory in New Zealand in July with another important win against a team they will face again in the World Cup pool stages in France in 10 months’ time.
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn 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
4 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 Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 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!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 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.
30 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 comments