RUGBY AUSTRALIA HAS slammed Rassie Erasmus’ “unacceptable” attack on referee Nic Berry in the wake of the Lions’ first Test victory over the Springboks.
SA Rugby director of rugby Erasmus yesterday released an unprecedented hour-long video highlighting a lengthy list of what he felt were poor decisions and non-decisions against his team by Berry and his assistants.
Erasmus also suggested that Berry had treated Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi with less respect than Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones during the game.
World Rugby has since launched an investigation into Erasmus’ comments and now Rugby Australia has hammered the former Munster director of rugby, calling for action to be taken.
“Match officials form the very fabric of our game – simply, the game would not exist without them,” said Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos.
“As a highly regarded and respected international referee appointed by World Rugby, the attack on Nic’s integrity, character, and reputation is unacceptable.
“We have been in contact with World Rugby, under whose auspices this Test Series sit, and understand that they are actively reviewing this matter as some facts presented were not accurate.
“It is important to ensure public attacks of this nature are not tolerated. We will continue to provide support to Nic at this time, as both his physical and mental wellbeing remains a priority for us.”
The Rugby Australia statement underlines that “there is no place for abuse of match officials” and says they believe the “the recent actions are unacceptable and against the spirit and values of the game.”
Berry is due to be an assistant referee for tomorrow’s second Test between the Lions and Springboks.
It remains to be seen whether or not World Rugby takes action against Erasmus.
World Rugby’s official regulations state that misconduct includes “making any comments (including to the media) that attack, disparage or denigrate the game, World Rugby, and/or match officials.
The regulations also say that misconduct includes “comments in connection with match officiating (or any aspect thereof), which are prejudicial to the interests of the game and/or any person.”
Erasmus is making Eddie Jones look like a choirboy!
I must be the only one on here that hasn’t a problem with it. Twitter seems to be less anti-Rassie then on here.
He showed evidence and made fair points. Referees can be criticized in rugby, no abuse was thrown his way. Gatland question referees decisions all the time but when Rassie uses video evidence, it’s too far… I think it’s being blown out of proportion by many. The only thing making this tour memorable if you ask me.
@Nathan Mawhinney: The bizarre world we find ourselves in means a game of Rugby now involves THREE Teams – the two playing the game AND now the REF/TMO Team (not you, Touch Judges, you don’t even watch the game!) I have never watched a game for the Referee but here we are…!
@Nathan Mawhinney: the examples he provided supported his narrative and his only. Hamish Watson should have seen yellow, however his claim that van der merwe did the same conveniently omits DDA joining the maul and providing the momentum that knocked the lions player over. Curry’s ‘no arm shoulder charge which should have been a red, was a late hit and a penalty, nothing more. That 40/50 minute rant has totally undermined the officials. Rugby is a game where the ref has to apply the laws and his interpretation. In sure the lions could do the exact same in reverse
@Kevin Norris: you’re right Kevin. But he states that exact point at the start of the video. The lions could make their own video. Rugby’s biggest issue is it’s complexity, there are so many rules that a referee is sort of like a third team. They have huge influence over the course of the game…Not that there’s corruption in rugby, obviously not but the New Zealand tour was decided based on a referees decision in the final test.
Reminding referees of this point with evidence is fair in my books.
@Nathan Mawhinney: Criticize a refs performance all means, but do it through the proper channels, doing it in such a public way undermines the game and could encourage some people to abuse the ref
@Nathan Mawhinney: respect for the referee is one of the core values of Rugby Union. This action will rightly be punished by world rugby unless the SA union steps in and acts first which looks unlikely.
@Peter Dickson: that’s so naive. Amateur almost. Respect doesn’t get reviewed or improved just let go to pot with smug platitudes. Its about time the Refs knew the full laws and their implications on the spiral the game is in.
@Nathan Mawhinney: I really hope the Lions do NOT waste time making their own video and just get on with the real prep, but they could i suppose seen as Rassie was so one-sided (did he not look at the SA-As game at all?). I do agree however that the game seems to be in a constant transition though and although the rules have always been changing they seem to be increasingly so.
If he was a SA rugby blogger, commentating on his view of the game, that would be fine. But as a coach, that is completely undermining the role of the referee, and has no place in Rugby. There are mediums though which to communicate concerns if that’s what his aim is. Making public videos is merely aimed at undermining the referee. Especially disappointing after his captain set a good example in the immediate aftermath of the game. Unfortunately, it is creeping into the game more and more. In the Munster v Connacht game POM as captain refused to talk to the referee while Stander said in an interview that they were playing against sixteen men, apparently indicating the ref was bought. This should not have been tolerated, for instance, but it received no sanction.
His carefully couched words about the communication with the captains is the dodgiest part for me. He doesn’t come out and say it, but there’s an implicit accusation of racism there, which is potentially hugely damaging to the referee. Of course, he can deny saying such, and ask to point to where it was said. It wasn’t, but the suggestion is definitely there, and can be clearly perceived. This matters.
Clearly against the rules and spirit of the game. They might wait until after the series to punish him. Hand over his water bottles maybe.
@This Is This: Bot