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Erasmus judgment wants match officials 'removed from firing line'

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Independent judicial panel chairman Christopher Quinlan has concluded in an extensive 80-page written judgment that the legacy of the Springboks director Rassie Erasmus and SA Rugby misconduct hearing is a likely change to the way coaches are allowed to interact with match officials.  

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The written judgment detailed the findings of the committee chaired by the Quinlan, together with Nigel Hampton and Judge Mike Mika (both New Zealand), and it made for compelling reading as it gave a gripping insight into the dramatic fallout ignited by Erasmus in the week following the Lions’ 22-17 win over the Springboks on July 24.

It resulted in the publication of a 62-minute video by Erasmus containing criticism of 38 different refereeing decisions from the match that referee Nic Berry had taken charge of.

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This video eventually led to Wednesday’s misconduct hearing verdict banning Springboks director Erasmus from all rugby for two months and banning him from any involvement on a matchday until September 30 next year. SA Rugby must also pay a fine of £20,000, while Erasmus and SA Rugby must also apologise for their actions.

Both those parties are exercising their right to appeal. In the meantime, however, the judicial committee has recommended that changes are needed in how communications are carried out between coaches and match officials.   

In a postscript that begins on page 55 of the written judgment, the committee said: “We understand that communications between match officials and head coaches are commonplace at all levels of the professional game. It routinely includes the provision of (often many) video clips from coaches for what we shall call ‘discussion’. Those are often (if not invariably) clips of decisions the coaches believe or assert the referee has got ‘wrong’. No doubt in this context ‘wrong’ means adverse to their team. 

“We were told such meetings have benefits for both ‘sides’. We readily understand why head coaches would wish to have access to match officials. We can see that match officials may wish to maintain respectful communications with coaches. 

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“However, it is right to observe that referees receive objective analysis from trained and experienced reviewers. At the professional level they, like Nic Berry, are likely to have their own coaches or others from whom they can seek advice. 

“It seems sensible to us that if this practice continues it should always be regulated by a written protocol. Whether it is possible for that to be standardised across all competitions we rather doubt. However, a protocol or competition bespoke protocols would provide transparency as well as clarity as to when and in what circumstances such meetings occur; who should be present; the matters to be discussed; and the manner thereof. 

“To remove the match official/s from the firing line, we think it sensible for such meetings to be arranged through and to be chaired by a person such as Joel Jutge or those in a comparable position. 

“Such meetings might also be recorded so there can be no doubt as to what was discussed. No doubt hard thought will now be given as to whether it is appropriate for match officials to be having such meetings with coaches once a series has begun. 

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“Another virtue of such procedure is that it would prevent match officials being ambushed and subjected to unfair and unwarranted pressure as happened to Nic Berry in this instance. It is to be hoped those with responsibility for such matters attend to this area of the game forthwith.”

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Jon 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 6 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

28 Go to comments
T
Trevor 10 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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