The FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International for 2015 is set to continue its grand tradition of trying out experimental laws, further cementing the tournament’s status as a testing ground for the laws of rugby.
This season sees the exciting reintroduction of the WHITE CARD – which was used in the inaugural 2008 Varsity Cup Final. The WHITE CARD is a card that can be used by either coach or captain to review a decision by the referee.
This exciting experiment is endorsed by the South African Rugby Union (SARU). Andre Watson, SARU General Manager Referees, had the following to say on the WHITE CARD.
“This is a step in the right direction to assist referees to get that important decision correct, and to put some responsibility on the captain and coaches to help with the process.”
The WHITE CARD challenge system is to only be used during the Varsity Cup. The team challenge, or WHITE CARD, can be called by the team coach or captain.
During a stoppage in play they can request that the referee review a decision they believe to be incorrect, or request the referee to review an infringement that went unnoticed and requires appropriate sanction.
Duitser Bosman, CEO of the Varsity Cup was extremely positive about the reintroduction of the WHITE CARD.
“We at Varsity Cup started with the two referees this year and we are reintroducing now the WHITE CARD this coming year in a process to get the game as fair as possible.”
The process of a WHITE CARD challenge is as follows: The coach will inform the TMO of the request for a review via radio contact.
The coach must advise details regarding the location on the field where the incident took place, the time it occurred as well as the phase in which it took place.
The TMO will inform the referee of the challenge. The referee will then, at the next stoppage of play, raise a WHITE CARD to indicate that a request for a review has been lodged.
The TMO will then review the incident, and advise the on-field referee of the appropriate decision to be taken. The timing of the challenge is vital, as it should be done before the start of the next play.
For example: if the whistle blows and a scrum is awarded, the challenge should have been lodged in order for the match officials to review the decision. If the scrum has commenced with the ball being fed, no review can take place. The coach, however, is not the only person who can lodge a team challenge. The on-field captain also has the right to review a decision.
The team / captain’s challenge also has clear parameters for the usage thereof. Each team (either the coach or the captain) is allowed two challenges per game. This in turn is limited to a single challenge per half.
If a challenge is successful, then it will remain intact for the remainder of the half. If a challenge is unsuccessful, the team will have no challenges remaining for the half. If a challenge is still intact at the end of a half, it expires.
It is important to note the following terms regarding the experimental WHITE CARD law:
- There is no limit on what can be reviewed by either the coach or captain, provided it concerns an infringement of Law or incorrect application
- The outcome of the review by the TMO and the referee is final, and stands regardless.
Laws changed by Varsity Cup in the past:
- Eight players on the bench which is being used world-wide in test matches
- Three point conversions and the two points penalties which is used in the Australian Domestic League
- Free catch rule
- 2 referee rule
Varsity Cup 2015 is set to be another action packed tournament, be sure to catch all the action on SuperSport 201 on Monday nights from 9 February at 16:45.
That white card would have been appropriate in the England test with Habana’s catch.
I am confused… this was used in 2008… what was the reason for it not being used in the 6 years after?
I am all for the white card by the way.
Should rather introduce a “white stick” system for some of the officials.
Most ref’s couldn’t see offside at a kick off if it knocked their guide dog over!
What I also REALLY struggle to understand is when they take 15 minutes (OK, maybe 5) over a TMO decision and between the ref’ and the TMO they STILL can’t reach concensus.
There was at least another one this weekend that I recall.
I’m all for technology but FFS use it correctly. Sometimes I think it’s just better that the ref’ calls it as he sees it, but they all seem too insecure in their abilities, so consult the “man in the van”, and they end up confusing things even more.
2 @ MacroBok:
Being CONFUSED cannot be a new experience for you, Moosa!
By the way, did you ever get that PC of yours, which did not want to switch on at a stage, fixed?
3 @ Scrumdown:
Or just a simple BIG STICK… to moer the ref awake a few times during the match!!
Fark, some of them are fast asleep, drugged up (like Skoppie), confused (like Moosa), one-eyed (like Cane), tanked up on booze (like… hehehe… Scrumdown & The Captain) and crooked as a wire coathanger (like most Sharks supporters), dim-witted (like most WP supporters) and serial whingers (like some Kiwis).
They need to be moerred in the right direction… repeatedly (like all children)!
@ grootblousmile:
I tried everything I could… eventually I left it for a few days, then on the Friday I took home a computer from work to troubleshoot my components, but then I just plugged in my pc one last time… and it is still working. Flok weet.
@ grootblousmile:
But I suspect it was the humidity from very thick mist that day.
6 @ grootblousmile:
The Captain and I had a sabbatical this weekend.
Flip the Rugby was especially dour, except for the Ireland – Aus game which I found most entertaining.
7 & 8 @ MacroBok:
PC’s have personalities… all of them!
Most of the personalities are female though… vol kak and very cantankerous!
One gets nice dehumidifiers for PC’s these days, for the PC’s at the coast, with all the moisture and the rust.
Easy way to also get around it from time to time, is by using an air Compressor (who’s water trap is regularly emptied – they tend to trap water vapour in the air tank) and blow everything out nicely, specially around all the fans, inside the Power Supply, on and around the CPU & Cooler and all over the Ram.
Dust and PC’s are not friends!
Also never place your PC on a carpet… it attracts so much static dust.. so elevate it or place it on top of a desk.
Pesky home cleaners also have the habit of bumping it with brooms, vacuum cleaners ect, so elevating it eliminates that too!
9 @ Scrumdown:
The Ireland / Aussie game was good, easily the best of the weekend!
@ grootblousmile:
Yep Ill looks into a humidifier, I already had to replace my motherboard this year due to corrosion.
I try to blow out and clean my Chassis regularly, luckily/unluckily the dust only builds up in my chassis fans.
Anyway, the bitch is working again 😀
12 @ MacroBok:
A DE-Humidifier… not a humidifier!!
Jy wil die water uit die lug stroop, wat in die PC ingaan… en jy wil ‘n fan hê (nie te veel fans nie – hulle gebruik ook die kragbron en mens het die krag nodig vir al die ander funksies, behalwe as jy ‘n mooosa 1000 Watt Power supply het), wat die lug uit die PC uit extract.
Ek vind hoe jonger die gebruiker, hoe meer flokken fans wil hulle in die ding ingebou hê… naderhand klink die ding soos ‘n boeing en perform soos ‘n fiets!
@ grootblousmile:
Dis wat ek bedoel het dehumidifier haha, sorry was besig met ander goed.
Ja flip, ek het cooler master fans gekoop en daai goed maak die honde bang, ek het nie n probleem met my fans, psu of lugvloei nie, ek het n goeie chassis gekoop.
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