South African referees boss André Watson says Lions coach John Mitchell was wrong to criticise the assistant referees after his side lost to the Sharks in Durban over the weekend.

Sport24

Mitchell was unhappy over two decisions in the build-up to Sharks tries and also about the general efforts from the inexperienced duo of Quinton Immelman and Marc van Zyl, who were referee Mark Lawrence’s assistants.

Mitchell also criticised the Television Match Official (TMO), Johan Meuwesen.

“There were some dubious officials tonight, so we’re going to have to report the TMO on the evidence that we have.

“That’s something we’ll have to deal with upstairs.

“They won’t change the result, but clearly [the officials] need to be accountable at this level,” Mitchell told SAPA after his side’s 32-20 loss.

But Watson disagrees with the Lions coach.

“They (the assistants) made no conspicuous errors and only did their job.

“And they are highly specialised assistant referees who are respected by the IRB and SANZAR,” Watson told the Beeld newspaper.

According to Watson there’s too much doubt to say with certainty that the wrong calls were made.

“With (Lwazi) Mvovo’s try three camera shots did not show his foot touching the sideline and the fourth one also wasn’t clear enough.

“Mitchell may have had a case with the alleged forward pass (which led to Meyer Bosman’s try) but one also can’t say with certainty it was forward.”

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Personal opinion and observation:

André Watson’s arguments simply do not wash, not at all!

The Super Rugby competition of 2012 has been beset by a plethera of scrum penalties, poor decisions by match officialsand controversy about referees.

This is so pronounced that every Press Box is a-buzz at rugby matches, with journalists discussing and lamenting the influence officiating in this year’s competition and a real and present danger is evident that this facet is driving spectators away from attending more games and ultimately away from rugby.

We have seen enough of this André, and it is time something is done about this!

Just have a look accross all rugby websites and all the news media… and ask the fan in the streets, and you WILL get one overflowing line of thought on this. We are not alone in this, I am not alone in expressing my utter disgust.

Take this from a man who loathes blaming refrees for the results of his side, a man who believes that a good team wins, despite the referee.

Where in the world do you think it fair and reasonable that EVERY Super Rugby side has to analize the refree they will face on the weekend, to help them prepare and overcome his whistle?

It is time the referees step back from the limelight and the mid-point of discussion to where they should be, fair FACILITATORS of the game of rugby!

Enough is ENOUGH!