Rugby World Cup

As my Scottish husband, a life long supporter of rugby and player for many, many years said after the game "In Rugby, we all have to accept that the referee is right - even when he is wrong". That is why we love the game!

Looking forward to the 6 nations

wilma I didn't realise that re the earlier intervention by the TMO. I also feel a bit sorry for the ref, but I guess it comes with the territory if you are involved at that level. He did apparently leg it off the field after the match!

This is from an SA sports news article:

"Joubert, a former banker who has devoted his life to rugby refereeing after the death of his father, also a top referee, has faced storms of criticism on social media since the match, with former Scotland great Gavin Hastings and ex-England scrumhalf Matt Dawson particularly scything.

Hastings said: If I see referee Craig Joubert again, I am going to tell him how disgusted I am. It was disgraceful that he ran straight off the pitch at the end like that.

Dawson, a World Cup-winner in 2003, added on Twitter: Craig Joubert you are a disgrace and should never referee again!!

We think the problem was actually the TMO. He took the unusual step of contacting the ref earlier in the match to point out an error, but he stayed silent at the very end of the game when Joubert gave the penalty. Why didn't the TMO butt in again at the critical moment? Feel a bit sorry for Joubert.

Jess I agree but there was no way that final penalty was not going to be analysed, so perhaps their statement was offered by way of explanation rather than an outright criticism (but of course criticism is implied). The fact that he made an incorrect decision (on the spot, in real time) in such an important match can't be ignored.

We've been wondering, where the heck was the linesman? It all happened so fast, perhaps Joubert should have taken a moment longer to consider.

In the sort of mess that ensued from the line out leading to Joubert's award of a penalty, it is asking the almost impossible to expect a ref. to see and evaluate everything. What you cannot have is a situation where a crucial incident is televised for all the world to see except the referee (see also Lampard's disallowed football World Cup goal against Germany).

The circumstances in which the ref. may consult the back-up ref. in the stand with the box have been shown to be too tightly drawn in this World Cup, and need to be reviewed. Also the Laws themselves could usefully be simplified, not least to reduce the subjectivity required to decide between deliberate and inadvertent knock-ones in some situations (all my knock-ons were inadvertent because I was so short-sighted).

And don't get me going on the refereeing of scrums.....

Shocked that world rugby has publicly criticised Joubert and consequently undermined all its referees. I think they should have confined themselves either to silence or a statement that they supported their referees who do an extraordinarily difficult job.

Dont suppose he will be offered the chance to ref the final either. Nig-el, Nig-el, Nig-el

Upset and bad feeling will last a long time. I don't suppose the ref will be seen at Scotland games again!

x

I'm still upset over it.

Sorry World Rugby statement.
x

Official RFU statement released:

' .....it is clear that after the knock on, the ball was touched by Australia's Nick Phipps ...........It is important to clarify that, under the protocols the referee could not refer to the television match official and had to rely on what he saw in real time. In this case, Law 11.3 (c) should have been applied, putting (Jon) Welsh onside. The appropriate decision, therefore, should have been a scrum to Australia for the original knock on.'

Such are the ups and downs of playing sport!

x

So close just one point in it for Scotland. Well played

I was about to say don't write off the Springboks when they have the bit between their teeth. Also, the All Blacks are their arch opponents. It's going to be quite a game anyway.

I was on a train on the weekend en route to my daughter, and the carriage was chokka with South African and Welsh fans, all in their supporter's gear, all singing, it was so much fun, I even led the singing of Nkosi Sikelele iAfrika. Everyone was happy and larking around. Sport is a tremendous unifier, despite the competition on the field.

All Blacks v Springboks will be an interesting one. Is that your hopes or opinion absent ?
I'm not so confident of the outcome.

I am not a big fan of any sports but do have a bit of a grasp of rugby. I am fairly delighted with the way things are going for the All Blacks and really rather shocked by the ref's decision re Scotland and the Wallabies. Mais, c'est la vie. Just looking forward – if I can be bothered – to seeing how the All Blacks trounce the Springboks and then, probably, Argentina.

Yes Ireland and Wales both considerably weakened by injuries. All 3 home sides were impressive and can hold their heads high. It will be an exciting 6 Nations. Also - the next 2 weekends we can relax

We watched the Ireland - Argentine match too. Fully expected Ireland to win, but Argentina got the wind in their sails.
Husband pointed out that Ireland has lost a few of their best players from injury.

I was nearly in tears - the Scots fought so hard!
We both have Scottish roots, so tend to support Scotland rather than England.

Just rather rubbed salt into the wound

I stand corrected! Carried away in the moment!

x

J52, they are NOT, repeat NOT representing the Northern Hemisphere in the semis!

Noooooooo,

Grannyknot my husband is English and loves watching Scotland.

It's a pity only teams from the southern hemisphere are left in now, though.