Oregan Hoskins
South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins has spoken out strongly against the inconsistency of recent rulings at disciplinary tribunals.
Hoskins is incensed by what he believes to be the unfair handling of cases involving South African players – compared with their New Zealand and Australian counterparts.
He referred to the recent harsh bans handed to Sharks players Bismarck du Plessis (4 weeks), Frans Steyn (5 weeks) and Jean Deysel (7 weeks) – while similar offences by Kiwi and Aussie players received more lenient treatment.
“I didn’t intend to go to the media on this,” Hoskins said.
“But frankly, I’ve just had enough.
“I feel we, as administrators, are fighting 1 fight and do not have the support of our judicial and refereeing panels.
“To be absolutely honest with you, I am at my wits end, because I am seeing how we are being torn apart on the field of play and by judicial decisions – and we are not getting the support we should be getting from these people, who are part of our organisation.”
Hoskins, generally known for his low-key approach, forcefully denounced some of the rulings that have been passed on local players.
“I was at Kings Park (when the Sharks played the Crusaders).
“Take nothing away from the Crusaders, they deserved their win, but I was on the centre line watching the dangerous high tackles and shoulder charges.
“The 1st 1, on SP Marais, almost took his head off and the next, on Odwa Ndungane, went totally unpunished.
“Then the 3rd 1, on Deysel, almost took his neck off.
“They just continued to dish out Yellow Cards, because that’s the instruction they’re given (the Crusaders had 3 players Yellow-Carded within minutes of each other).
“Deysel did a stupid thing, obviously, by retaliating with a knee on the guy’s head, although it wasn’t an injurious type of thing.
“But still, it is not allowed, and he got a Red Card and a heavy suspension – while the others were not even cited.
“There was also an incident in the previous game (between the Sharks and Chiefs) when Du Plessis and Steyn were sent off, when a Chiefs player dangerously kneed Cobus Reinach in the back – he wasn’t even cited.”
Hoskins said he had called a meeting with key figures in judicial and disciplinary structures, where he intended to make his dissatisfaction known.
These figures included Justice Lex Mpati, head of both SARU and SANZAR judicial committees, head of referees André Watson and citing commissioner Freek Burger.
“I’m so incensed, absolutely frustrated, and the public is outraged.
“I was a judicial officer; I was a citing commissioner, I know the drill.
“I studied the laws; wrote the exams; it’s not like I’m standing in judgement as a layman,” added an angry Hoskins.
One of the key questions he wanted answers to was the inconsistency in SANZAR disciplinary rulings.
“Steyn’s situation was handled by an experienced citing administrator, who felt there were grounds for leniency, because another player was involved in the tackle.
“Then there’s an appeal by SANZAR CEO Greg Peters – of his own volition – and the banning is escalated to 5 weeks.
“How can that be? And if that is the right way to go, why are there no other citings and appeals when it appears the match officials and judicial officers have erred?”
Hoskins said he was acutely aware there were “massive concerns among our supporters that our players are more harshly treated and he had sympathy with this view.
“I am putting my foot down, and I want answers,” he added.
He highlighted that he was also unhappy with the lack of discipline in local rugby, with “senior players overstepping the mark”, but would take that up with each of the provincial teams.
Whereas I think the recent citings and punishments metered out to Sharks players have been correct, I also think that there is inconsistency in firstly the citing approach and secondly the punishments or lack thereof handed out to Australian & New Zealand Rugby players.
A serial offender like James Horwill cops a 1 week ban??
A New Zealand player is found guilty but gets NO PUNISHMENT??
Some players are never even cited…
Hmmm plus ça change.
“Then there’s an appeal by SANZAR CEO Greg Peters – of his own volition – and the banning is escalated to 5 weeks.
No suprise there then.
@ gunther:
Plus c,est la meme chose.”
Lets get the Japies.”
Regards.Blue
@ ryecatcher:
Thank you Oregan.About time.
Hoskins has every right to ask questions…
Here in Nz the shoulder charge has been a part of our game but now that it is outlawed…some players still persist in its use…perhaps a two week mandatory ban will see a more level outlook and appease those ones who are getting the rough end of the stick.
The tip tackle is a hard one…when you have two or three players in the tackle and one is lifting…you are sometimes going to have players ending up on their heads…but players have to show due care to other players…and the lifter should be punished as in Steyns case….three weeks should be mandatory.
As for Bismark & Deysel….there is no place for that kind of stuff on the field and they were given the appropriate bans imo
also a carry over points system should be put in place and repeat offenders like Horwill should have their previous offence or carryover points tacked on to the current one…thus giving him a stiffer ban…
@ Te Rangatira:
Hi Pal.Good to see you posting.As for Deysel,100% in agreement with
you .
As for Bissie.What is it with tugging jerseys )(feet) and preventing players
from doing what they are trained to do.?Watch the replay.I.M.O.Cynical
play = Dirty play.Let us lay our cards on the table here.
A lot of local comment is that NZ teams are trained to do this.
And give away a 3 point penalty rather than a 7 point try.
I,unfortanately agree with these opinions.
And may I, as many, SA supporters say,. that you guys are the benchmark.
That is a given and we can only aspire to match your “rugby playing” ability.
So,the question has to be.”Why”
Just a fan,of both national teams.
Regards.
@ ryecatcher:
Unfortunately.
ryecatcher wrote:
Bismark got the ban he deserved…. should the Nz player have been banned for holding on to his foot? I don’t think so.
I don’t know about Nz players actually training in cynical tactics…but I’d be naive to think there is no plan put in place to bait certain players who are seen to have a hot temper….but you’d think a senior player like Bismark who is also captain can show greater restraint and discipline in overcoming such tactics or any senior player for that matter who is a lynchpin for their side. That is why discipline is a key word in Rugby and the better disciplined teams usually do better over a season than those who let themselves down with ill discipline.
@ Te Rangatira:
Would be interesting to hear your opinion on Messams chokehold… did that deserve a ban?
The sharks players got what they deserved, though it is hard to accuse Steyn of deliberately attempting to make the spear tackle, the first judicial inquiry was correct on my opinion that the other two players had a big contribution in things turning out the way they did, Fransie still guilty of being reckless though… should we ban all forms of lifting a player in a tackle?… if not it will definitely happen again, whether it is intended or not.
I don’t know if any player has been banned for choke holds or rather wrapping ones arm around a players neck in a maul situation….and I’d be hesitant to ban players for that..a yellow card perhaps…if he twisted the neck however to bring a player to the ground…then I’d ban him.
We can’t ban lifting in tackles….but if you’re going to do that and put a player in a compromised position..then the onus is on you to show due care in delivering him to the ground….regardless of others being involved in the tackle…that’s how I see it….
@ Te Rangatira:
good points, thank you
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