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Lions latest on Erasmus rant and what they make of Ben O'Keeffe
Lions pair Robin McBryde and Stuart Hogg have refused to add fuel to the raging fire ignited by Rassie Erasmus, the touring team’s assistant coach and full-back taking it in turns to insist they haven’t watched any of the riveting 26-clip, 62-minute attack by the Springboks director of rugby on the standard of refereeing in last weekend’s first Test. The Lions duo also gave their assessment on this Saturday’s referee Ben O’Keeffe.
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The Lions and the Springboks head into their rematch in Cape Town with a cloud hanging over the series after Erasmus broke rank and went public with an incendiary attack on Nic Berry, last Saturday’s referee who will be a touch judge this time around.
A World Rugby investigation has now been launched into the nature of the comments and neither McBryde nor Hogg wanted to court the controversy by giving their tuppence worth on the extraordinary drama surrounding the Springboks boss.
“No, so I hope you have got a better second question,” responded McBryde when asked on Friday morning if he had watched any of the fascinating Erasmus footage. “That is up to World Rugby really. It’s not up to me to comment on that,” he added about possible sanctions.
Hogg said: “We haven’t watched it at all, we haven’t seen any footage of it. It is flying around on social media and stuff but we have just been concentrating on ourselves. You can keep poking the bear, but I ain’t going to jump onto this. The only thing I am focusing on is tomorrow [Saturday]. I know it is not the answer you want, but I have no interest in getting involved in this stuff.”
RASSIEGATE:
There was much post-game debate about a Hamish Watson tackle but Rassie Erasmus has now turned the heat up on a second alleged Lions spear tackle#CastleLionsSeries #LionsRugby #rassie #RSAvBIL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 30, 2021
With Kiwi O’Keeffe on the whistle for the second Test, the Lions had a meeting on Thursday with the officials and they were left satisfied by what they heard despite the criticisms of Erasmus. “We had a good meeting with the referees yesterday [Thursday] and as Ben O’Keeffe said himself, he said ‘listen, we are aware there is a lot of stuff out there on social media etc but it is not going to affect anything’. That is just a sideshow, to be honest,” reckoned McBryde.
“We had a positive discussion with the referees. Everyone realises they are in a tough place, they have a tough job to do but we were really happy with Nic Berry last Saturday and I don’t think it will be any different this weekend either.
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“He is professional enough, we are all professional enough. If I was on social media, if I want to go and find things I would be able to find them but I don’t do it, I’m not on social media. That is just a different world to me. It’s there, but why go looking for it? It’s just that it has been highlighted this week, it has been brought to everyone’s attention but you always know it is there so get on with it.”
Lions full-back Hogg is an O’Keeffe fan. “For me, in the short time I have been Scotland captain, Ben O’Keeffe has been one of the best referees I have had to deal with. He almost coaches you around the field. We ask questions and he is very, very calm in his answers. He is good at communicating and that is the reason a large majority of his games when he is involved are allowed to flow, they are allowed to get on with it.
“He helped me massively in the couple of games we had when I was leading the side. Everybody is entitled to their opinion on referees but they are the ones that run the game and for me, they have a huge amount of respect from us as players. I’d hate to do the job if I am honest but, as I say, Ben O’Keeffe has been one of the best referees I have had the opportunity to deal with as captain.”
That is not to say McBryde believes everything is hunky-dory with how referees are getting treated, the Leinster assistant explaining how a recent law trial in the Rainbow Cup perplexed him. “They were trialling the laws of being able to challenge decisions on the field with the captain.
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“My own personal view was that it brought out that element of scenes that we don’t like to see where you are openly challenging decisions by the referee. It is not really my cup of tea. Traditionally rugby has prided itself on being able to rise above that, show respect to the officials, no backchat etc.
“Right from a very young age players are taught that you can’t speak back to the referee so hopefully that will continue to be honest with you. But like I said we had a very positive meeting with the three officials yesterday and are just looking forward to the game on Saturday.”
Awareness group Progressive Rugby criticised the Lions following confusing comments made by skipper Alun Wyn Jones about the Dan Biggar concussion issue#CastleLionsSeries #LionsRugby #RSAvBILhttps://t.co/cJWQyL3GNF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 30, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to comments