The Currie Cup clash between the Bulls and the Lions was marred as a contest by over zealous officating.
In a tough match where big hits and errors on attack made for a tense situation with the score precariously close at 12-9 in favour of the Bulls, Wickus van Heerden was yellow carded for a high tackle.
It was deemed his second high takle of the match, and although the first tackle was seen as “careless” by referee Craig Joubert, the second “high tackle” occured on the Lion 22 when Wickus van Heerden was back tracking in a desperate attempt to tackle the attacking Bulls player. Even before the action replay it was clear to me that this was not a high tackle in any sense of the word, and was rather shocked when the touch judge informed Craig Joubert of the supposed “high tackle”.
With Wickus van Heerden recieving his marching orders, the bulls simply kicked for touch and scored from the ensuing maul out of the line out.
The following ten minutes gave the Bulls the upper hand, and they stretched their lead to an unasaillable lead of 24 – 9.
The Lions got a sense of justice when Jacque Louis Potgieter was carded in the Lions half for not releasing the tackled player and going off his feet in an attempt to secure the ball at the ruck for the Bulls.
Once again the yellow card at that time seemed “irresponsible” as the Lions were not in the Bulls red zone and the card would have been much more appropriate earlier in the match when the Bulls continually infringed in their 22 when the Lions were on attack.
Yes perhaps when both teams were playing with 14 men, it did open up the match and therefor created more of a spectacle for the crowd.
But the first yellow card effectively ended the contest, what was a close hard fought match, and turning out to be trench warfare, turned into something titally different.
Now some would want to argue that the second yellow card evened out the odds for a Lion comback, but I would rather side with the Lions supporters who were effectively taken out the match, and having to score three times in 11 minutes to effect a win.
What also added to the intensity of the match was the fact that both kickers were having an off day, with JL Potgieter missing 4 kicks at post and Elton Jantjies missing three.
Currie Cup rugby is at it’ s best when old foes engage in trench warfare, where no quarter is asked or given.
I for one would like to see that before yellow cards are issued, specifically for alleged high tackles or foul play, that they are referred to the TMO, as the outcome of these events cannot only change results in a match, but can alter the entire complexity and competitive nature of a match.
The record books will show the Bulls beat the Lions by 24-21 on 18 September 2010, and that both teams scored 2 tries, what it won’t tell you is that it was trench warfare and until an over zelous assistant referee made a call that changed the game completely, the defences held out and no tries were scored.
I really enjoyed this game, it had the hallmarks of a classic, well up and till Wikus got his yellow.
To say I was extremely #%^&*@( off would be an understatement.
One call, an absolutely ridiculous call by a TJ could ended a contest, and could also possibly ended a season for the Lions.
If an offense is deemed serious enough for a yellow, where the referee did not see the incident and takes advice from his TJ, that call has to go to the TMO for review.
Will this TJ be cited?
Morne
If my experiences in Club Rugby are anything to go by, Referees and TJ’s appointed for games are “untouchable” and no amount of video evidence or witnesses at DC hearings have ever helped.
I see that the past few weeks there have been a number of more junior appointments for referees and TJ’s in the CC, and while a number stand out as being quite capable (referee Jafta?), some seem too inexperienced at the moment.
Joubert, as a leading referee should know better, but it seems to me that SA’s leading ref’s are getting a bit big for their boots and want to hog the limelight.
Stem saam, moes nie ‘n geelkaart vir Wicus gewees het nie. Dalk ‘n goeie idee om TMO’s te gebruik vir sulke besluite, want dit is so, ‘n geelkaart kan die wedstryd bepaal.
Dink 12-9 oorwinning vir die Bulle sou ‘n meer getroue weerspieëling wees van die wedstryd.
bdb wrote:
Op daardie stadium was altwee spanne nog in die wedstryd, na die geel kaart van Wickus in die leeu 22, was daar net een span in die game.
@ biltongbek:
I reckon the Bulls would still have booked the victory on the day regardless, but the call just pissed me off.
Moeilik om nou te sê wie sou gewen het, as daar nie die geelkaart was nie, daarom moet ‘n mens gaan op grond van wat die telling was voor die geelkaart uitgehaal is. Dit het tog gelyk of Bulle meer momentum begin opbou het.
Kan nog baie gebeur in die laaste 3 rondtes, maar op hierdie stadium lyk dit of ons ‘n herhaling kan kry van laasjaar se semi’s.
Hoop net MS vat weer sy skopskoene Nuweland toe. 😀
@ Morné:
Morne, I agree. but the point is the Yellow card ended the contest.
I hear what is said about Wikus’s yellow card, but we have to remember the following:
The Bulls were leading the possession stakes by nearly 60% in the 1st half and more than 70% of the territorial battle and the Lions were giving penalty after penalty away… for verification of this go see me comments about this on the actual game thread in the 1st half.
Jacques-Louis Potgieter missed 4 easy kicks at goal.
I still recon the Bulls would have won.
The Lions had me desperately worried when Jacques-Louis Potgieter was sent off, they ran the Bulls close… far too close for comfort. Well done to John Mitchell for making the Lions competative and proud once again.
Sien die Bulle stel dalk belang in Naas Olivier ? Nee wat, hy beindruk my glad nie, maar skop seker myle beter as JLP. Bulle moet eerder kyk na Watts van die Puma’s, hy lyk beter.
As Bulle ‘n Naas wil kontrakteer, wat van Naas Botha ?
@ grootblousmile:
Remember I am merely observing from an objective point of view.
I am not disputing that the Bulls may still have won the game, both kickers on the day were poor, 4 misses from JL Potgieter and 3 from Jantjies.
The problem i have here is the employment of a yellow card, and processes that could prevent it.
Every week I watch as many of these Currie Cup games as possible and when I see a situation that has affected amatch as much as this, it does not sit well with me.
Both teams looked good on attack, but both teams also defended like demons. At 12 – 9 both teams were in the contest regadless of possession statistics or territory, both teams had situation s where they should have scored. but all the more reason why that yellow card spoilt and ended the contest. The fact is many teams in the past could hang on and beat another team when only 3 points seperated them, but very few teams will come back, with 13 minutes on the clock and having to score three times.
@ biltongbek:
Same problem we had with some yellow cards in the Tri-Nations…
Different competition, same problems…
9@ bdb:
Elgar Watts is back at Boland in 2011, hoping for a spot in the Stormers setup, so no chance for the Bulls of contracting him.
I do not rate Naas Olivoël, kicks OK to posts but that’s about where his game ends. He’s not a strong defender either.
A thought just struck me… yeah I know it sometimes happens to my absolute delight… with Hougie at the Bulls could we possibly utilise Fourie du Preez to shift to flyhalf when Morné is not available?
We then sit with a problem with a kicker to posts… and also Fourie du Preez is also with the Bokke… so forget about my random thought… hehehe
grootblousmile wrote:
All the more reason to contract that awesome talent Earl “die pleister” Rose
biltongbek wrote:
I would give a months salary to see that 🙂
@ biltongbek:
Next expect a rumour Derick Hougaard is coming back to the Bulls…
Winston wrote:
Yeah, to see the 45000 Bulls supporters’ faces when he runs onto the field.
Morné wrote:
Not sure which song I would prefer tohear though.
“Liefling” or “we chose a fine time to pick you loose wheel”
I think we should vote on it.
Sal graag die volgende agterlyn volgende jaar vir die Bulle wil sien in die S15:
9. FDP
10. MS
11. Basson
12. WO
13. FH
14. JPP
15. Shadow
wheres qubqni bobo
18@ Wezwp:
What about Ngobani Bobo… relevance??
He’s overseas, why even mention him?
@ Wezwp:
Julle leer ook nooit , julle se in die koerant jul peak nou op die regte tyd, te vroeg my maat weer te vroeg. Laasweek briljant die week beter, Saterdag onkeerbaar en dan down, down , down. What goes up MUST come down. Nes in die S14 3 weke te vroeg. Moer ek like dit.
Die Bulle is dalkies net te laat , ons behoort so teen die semi op 90% te wees……
man, ek laaik die confidence van n’ Bulls supporter. Altyd positief. Ou Naas het altyd gese n’ mens wen nie die Currie Beker in Mei nie, ook nie Augustus of September nie.
Miskien van volgende jaar eers in Noember
I also think the ref was in love with his whistle. We got this and the Natal game on SKY spare channel, the Lions Bulls game was disjointed, while the Natal game was a great spectacle. The ref reffed poorly, he only concentrated on certain things, he totally stuffed up the scrums by forcing long pauses and there was lots of fringing coming in from the side etc in the ruck which he ignored or didnt see, never mind a few high tackles and suchlike….too many bloody rules for my liking.
Neewat, as Doppies nie soos sy gat getackle het nie kon die Lions dalk geen het…
@ biltongbek:
PLEASE don’t call yourself objective, because you clearly are’nt !!!
By all means, be a one eyed supporter like the rest of us, but objective, no man !!!
Only real objective supporter I know hear is Morne…
Blouste wrote:
sorry, should be HERE are Morne.. 🙂
Blouste, ek support geen provinsiale span nie.
Enige observasie wat ek maak is my persoonlike opinie, as jy dit nie so sien nie is dit hoe jy dit sien, selfs jou mede bull supporters stem saam oor my hoof punte, en dit is dat die twee geel kaarte die match gespoil het, asook die feit dat die geelkaart van Wickus effektief die einde van die contest was.
As jy deur my comments gaan beveg ek nie die feit dat die bulls nie in elk geval sou gewen het nie.
26: I object ! ek stem nie saam nie. 😀
Blouste, die feit dat ek die Bulls supporters n’ harde tyd gee met Earl Rose en dinge soos daai, is vir pret. Die hoogste bome vang die meeste wind, en die Bulle is die hoogste bome in SA rugby
28: so bek kort biltong ! (die laaste sin)
bdb, sak Sarel, moet nie te veel daarin lees nie, ek stuur nou vir julle Earl Rose se boetie ook!
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