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Springboks to keep using intriguing good cop, bad cop referee tactic versus the Lions
New South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has explained the logic behind his team’s use of a good cop, bad cop routine when it comes to dealing with referees after Nic Berry (Australia), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) and Mathieu Raynal (France) were appointed to officiate the upcoming Test matches between the Springboks and the Lions.
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At the 2019 World Cup in Japan, where South Africa triumphed with Rassie Erasmus doubling up as the head coach and director of rugby, the Springboks adopted a strategy of using Duane Vermeulen as bad cop and skipper Siya Kolisi as a good cop when it came to the team’s dealings with referees.
New head coach Nienaber, who has stepped up from his Springboks defence coach role ahead of the Lions, insisted there was nothing manipulative about the tactic, claiming it wasn’t restricted for use in relationships with referees but to also wield influence on teammates.
Explaining the introduction of the bad cop role that the Springboks will keep using against the Lions, Nienaber said: “In South African culture, I’m an Afrikaans guy coming from Bloemfontein and it isn’t natural for me to question authority. That was the common thing on a Sunday that your dad would tell you, ‘Listen, you need to be seen, not heard. You don’t open your mouth. There is a hierarchy’.
“So, for us Afrikaans guys to talk to a referee is weird, he is in a position of authority. So what we did with good cop, bad cop, we said, ‘Let’s put a guy in a role. If I am the bad cop I am the guy who is going to question’ and that was what we did’.
"They explained it to me and it makes perfect sense"
– Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber absolves his burned players of blame#Springboks #LionsRugby
https://t.co/BHnKF4lEki— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 9, 2021
“So you almost put on a suit, I’m going to be the bad cop or the encourager for today. Guys almost put on a suit, you’re an actor, you play a role. If your role is to be a bad cop, if things at the breakdown are not going well, you ask, you must find a solution. That is what a bad cop does. A good cop, it’s not only to a referee, it’s to the player. A good cop is when someone does a great thing, a good tackle and you’re the guy that encourages him, says well done, so it’s not just the referee.
“I hope it makes sense… it’s not our style to ask a question or to tell your buddy, listen I am a bad cop of the breakdown, I must make sure the breakdown gets run today in the manner that we want to run it. It’s almost a good cop, bad cop and your question in terms of the referees (and using this tactic), no it won’t change.
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“We know that the referees are there to make sure the game is safe, we must work with them in creating a safe spectacle. Rugby is a game of contests, that is why we love rugby. There are probably 600 contests in a game and that is the beauty of it and that guy has to officiate on every single contest.
“We know we have to be accurate there from a safety point of view and from delivering a product. You want to go for a poach and you want to be legal because if you get the turnover that is the golden seconds where there is unstructured defence and you can actually find some space.
“We will always operate like that… every single coach will look at trends on the referees. Certain referees have certain trends and to be honest, we haven’t even started with that, we haven’t even looked at their trends but we will like Warren (Gatland) and the Lions will do as well.”
The Springboks boss has revealed his passion for the upcoming series was ignited by a treasured gift received many years ago#Springboks #LionsRugby
https://t.co/2u3DtXmkxk— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 11, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments