The Reds bemoaned a number of calls made by South African referee Lourens van der Merwe in their 20-35 loss to the Sharks at the weekend.
Despite an impressive second-half fight back at Kings Park, the reds left Durban empty handed.
rugby365
Down 6-25 at half time, the Reds scored second half tries through Mike Harris and Will Genia – to open up the chance of a comeback victory, before a late Sharks try killed off the match.
Second half replacement Beau Robinson was carded for infringing at the breakdown in the 67th minute, which coach Richard Graham said was a crucial point in the game.
“At that point, we still had an opportunity,” the Reds coach said.
“We finished strongly, so it would probably have come down to how we managed the last 13 minutes,” Graham added.
“I don’t think the breakdown was refereed very well, so I’m frustrated in that sense.”
Reds captain James Horwill spent several instances speaking to Van der Merwe.
“There were certain things that we didn’t get the rub of the green, but that’s rugby sometimes,” Horwill said.
The add injury to insult replacement prop Ben Daley went off the field in second half with a knee problem and headed back to Brisbane on Sunday to have scans.
The teams scored two tries each, but the Sharks kicked seven penalties to make the difference.
Both Graham and Horwill lamented the number of clear chances that the Reds let slip, in particular Mike Harris dropping the ball on the tryline, shortly before half-time.
“There were plenty of opportunities either side of half-time to get closer, and we just didn’t take them,” Horwill said.
“Those guys know themselves they missed opportunities, so I don’t need to say anything to them,” Graham added, looking ahead to their next clash against the Lions at Ellis Park this coming Saturday.
“Our character, when we were down 6-25, was displayed when we came back to 20-28. But our accuracy has got to be better.
“Their spirit has really impressed me, and they continue to fight. We know that we will face something similar to what Frans Steyn did, punishing us from anywhere inside 55 metres.”
Graham added that apart from the missed opportunities, the high penalty count contributed to the result.
“We started the game very well and managed position and possession,” the coach said.
“We then had a 20-minute period where we lost control of the game and decisions at the breakdown compounded the scoreboard pressure,” Graham added.
“The score at half time was challenging, but we composed ourselves and got back to 20-28. At that point the game was where we should have gone on with it.
“We had a couple of opportunities that we didn’t capitalise on and we are disappointed.”
The Reds now move on to Johannesburg where they play the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
“We wake up tomorrow [Monday] and shift our focus to next weekend’s match against the Lions,” Graham said.
“They have started the season strongly and will be buoyed by their win over the Blues.
“We need to prepare well and continue to improve if we are to get the result we are chasing.”
Unfortunately the Reds have a valid point!
All one has to do is look at our own Live Game Article here on Rugby-Talk, and see the comments during the match (by South African bloggers) and one gets the firm impression that Lourens van der Merwe and his TMO were poor and their decisions were highly questionable.
I hope that Lourens van der Merwe is sanctioned!!
I guess we must admit it’s not the Sharks player’s fault that they get the rub of the green.
If I was a Shark supporter I would be very happy and wouldn’t complain one bit.
Payback is going to be a bitch though.
Actually I hope the Sharks have a fantastic year and only lose one game, preferably the semi or final
2 @ nortierd:
Nortie ii sure messes your mind up when the Sharksv win. You want us to lose so badly adn when we win you blame everything for or win. Get over your hatred for my team or rather jealousy of them.
Reds had pleny chances to ein but never. Sharks as well misses a few chances with the slippery ball.
Whenever we win its always because of the ref in tour mind. We are the team in the past have had most of the 50/50 calls go against us. Especially the finally in 2007 by Walsh. Also 2012 in the fist two games against Bulls and Stormers where we probably wpould have won had the ref got it right and who knows we may have had a home final. Also in that year playing the Ciefs at the tank we had a kiwi ref that blew us for no reason and cost us that game. We always got the end of the stick when Bryce Lawrence reffed us against any team. So you see it happens to all teams. But hell man you go on about the Sharks like you totally obsessed with them.
We will lose at some point and even might this week against the Bulls. Us Sharks supporters are just takin one game at a time and not getting ahead of ourselves. We also have to play a very good Lions on their turf. This season is very long. Injuries too will play a huge part. Just get over your hatred or jealousy of my team.
Sorry for errors.
Norty and the Shorks is like Bakkies and the Kiwis.
Puma wrote:
Damnit Puma, you should get someone to write your posts for you.
@ Loosehead:
6 @ Loosehead:
I am walking outside with the builders here at my house with my ipad. They doing some renovations. Will be going to my study in a few minutes where my pc is. Think I will trash this ipad in the garbage bin…..haha really useless withi it and using one finger while holding it makes for more mistakes. I think though you can read through my errors there…..
5 @ gunther:
You spot on there Gunther…….
@ Puma:
Puma lets clear my position up while we are on the subject of hate.
I dont hate anyone (well maybe almost Jake, i was taught never to hate except the bad) but i certainly love the way your team get all the hype and attention and have nothing to show in the trophy cabinet.
I have my reasons for your failure but let me get to work and leave you with this thought.
All refs, give and take. Like you admit you are getting now.
Chat again.
Strongs
PS. One of the reasons to ponder about until we meet again, Going to sleep before the end of a game!!!
GBS daar is foute op my artikel, die log is reg gemaak maar nie gesort, Bulls le 3de en Lions 2de. Help asb, en kyk maar na my Afrikaanse Engels asb. My Telkom Mail wil nie oopmaak nie en ek gaan nou uit site toe.
Ons se dit al lankal
The Stormers coaches should be axed and a head coach appointed who can rebuild the franchise, writes RYAN VREDE.
The Cape franchise’s future as a potential force in Super Rugby hangs in the balance. This isn’t an exaggeration. They require an intervention of the most serious kind, but also one that is purposeful and prioritises present stability and future excellence in equal measure.
Why do the Bulls supporters hate / dislike Jake so much?
Is it because he gave Matfield shit because of his lack of respect for Jake? Remember the cut your girly hair thingy?
Is it because he picked John Smit and Bismark above Gary Botha?
Is it because he made John Smit captain, and not Victor Matfield?
Yet Jake kept a squad full of Bulls players who lifted the Web Ellis Trophy.
Bakkies & Victor,Danie Roussouw, FDP, Gary Botha, Gurthro, Wikus, WO, Habana. The steroid monkey would have gone if it wasn’t for his “illness”.
Is it because he is English speaking? I mean, the first ever English speaking captain of the Bulls has been a figure of hatred from his teams “supporters” even though he has been played out of position in a team that is not really great.
@Puma
The only team I really dislike are the French.
I don’t hate the Sharks, I’m not a Shark supporter, never was, never will be.
I have no reason to support them or hope they win anything, and that won’t change.
I’ve never said they wouldn’t win these games so far this year, I’m saying they are getting the rub of the green.
Of course you will disagree and believe that in fact everyone is against them.
I see it differently, and this weekend it was not just them getting lucky calls, the Blues were also shafted IMO.
@ Loosehead:
I am kind of apathetic on the Jake White issue, like everyone else I enjoyed the World Cup win, but personally I lost a bit of respect when he sent second teams to Australasia during the Tri Nations.
Other than that his knack for setting up systems and his analysis on opposition is world class when he gets it right, also the way they handled him after 2007 was horrible, speaks a lot to his good character that he is willing to try again to coach the boks.
nortierd wrote:
Let me rephrase, I in fact despise the French rugby side.
@ MacroBull:
Also it is wildly thrown around that it is Bulls supporters that wanted him out after the 2006, this is ridiculous, the only people that backed him was people who knew it was too late to get another coach anyway. He did not get support from everyone but the Bulls.
MacroBull wrote:
The BBC tried to get a vote of no confidence in him, if I remember correctly.
@ Loosehead:
I think it was in the middle of the eoyt that jake white got recalled for a meeting in South Africa? That was definitely very bad, but as people suggest these days especially non bulls that “bulls supporters” had a anti jake white agenda while everyone else backed him could not be further from the truth.
@ MacroBull:
Right, I remember clearly that it was the BBRU that stood by Jake when he was called back from London to explain to those arseholes Komphela and Co at Newlands on the Wednesday before the test against England. Jake acknowledged the Bulls’ support throughout his career in his autobiography.
Ahem!
http://www.iol.co.za/sport/more-knives-out-for-white-1.565034
More knives out for White
November 16 2006 at 12:15pm
By Dale Granger
Jake White and the entire Springbok management look set to lose their jobs as the country’s most powerful rugby unions turn against them.
The call for White’s head has come from the Blue Bulls, the most powerful rugby union in South Africa, and is likely to be supported by Western Province.
This latest crisis to hit the Bok coach comes as he prepares the team for their test against England at Twickenham on Saturday and after the team’s loss to Ireland.
The Blue Bulls have called on Jake White and the Springbok management to resign after a vote of no confidence was tabled against the beleaguered SA Rugby coach.
For the first time in South African rugby the President’s Council is poised to force the SA Rugby board to fire a Springbok rugby coach, with the Bulls taking the initiative through a unanimous decision passed at their annual meeting on Tuesday night.
The motion of no confidence against White and his management was proposed by the Blue Bulls Old Players Association, an influential lobby that includes former Springboks such as Frik du Preez and Piet Uys, and carried the support of all the clubs in Pretoria. Blue Bulls president Boet Fick said the motion would be delivered to the South African Rugby Union (Saru) on Thursday and tabled for a vote at next Thursday’s President’s Council meeting.
“The Blue Bulls want to express its shock and unhappiness with the performance of our national rugby team, the Springboks,” the motion reads.
The union places the blame squarely on the shoulders of White and his management team.
“In the interests of SA Rugby these gentlemen are requested to resign with immediate effect. The union no longer sees its way clear to support these officials with the coaching and selection of teams and are convinced that if they do resign with immediate effect, then there is a prospect of competing with reasonable success at the World Cup in 2007.”
Western Province chief executive Theuns Roodman, said the matter had not yet been discussed in the Newlands boardroom, “but it is likely that we will support the Bulls”.
The motion is also likely to carry the support of the Valke, with the union’s chairperson, Guy Kebble, saying on Thursday: “We are not happy with what Jake White and his management team have done with the Springboks. We will likely support any motion for a change in structure, including that of his job as national coach.”
Sharks chief executive Brian van Zyl said the issue had also not been discussed by the rugby hierarchy in Durban, but if the President’s Council supported the Bulls and voted to axe White, then the SA Rugby board would be under “huge pressure” to comply.
Van Zyl, who was at Lansdowne Road on Saturday watching the Springboks crashing to a record 32-15 defeat to Ireland, said the reaction of South Africans who had travelled to Dublin to watch the test was punctuated by “extreme anger and disappointment”.
The major unions in South Africa are incensed that White withdrew all 24 contracted Springboks from Currie Cup rugby this season, leaving the provinces to carry the load.
But then White left star players, notably Os du Randt, Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Percy Montgomery and Breyton Paulse, at home for the end of year tour.
And in a year where South Africa has won only four of their 10 test matches, two against Scotland at home, the relationship between White and the Blue Bulls in particular has been volatile. During the away leg of the Tri-Nations, Bulls players were known to be upset at White for criticising their head coach Heyneke Meyer in the media.
The Bulls players were also angry that White chose to play scrumhalf Ricky Januarie ahead of Du Preez in the opening Tri-Nations test against Australia, which South Africa lost by a record 49-0.
In reaction to the public clamour for White to resign, Saru deputy president Mike Stofile said he was not surprised. However, he said he was looking at the matter positively and would comment soon.
Saru president Oregan Hoskins, one of White’s few supporters, was avoiding calls from the media on Wednesday on White’s future.
However, Jacques van der Westhuyzen reports from Bath that Jake White is unconcerned about reports that his job is on the line.
“I can’t worry about those sort of things,” he said on Wednesday. “I have a job to do on the field. We have a new batch of players here with us and for our World Cup plans it’s important that we increase our depth.
“The decision to rest key players for this tour was taken jointly by me, the board of SA Rugby and the review committee at a meeting earlier this season. Also, just before the Rustenburg Test I had a meeting with former coaches and key role players (among them Nick Mallett, Carel du Plessis, Rudolf Straeuli, Harry Viljoen and Naas Botha) and it was decided we must do whatever we can to create opportunities for all our players.
“This tour was always going to be about creating those opportunities,” White said. He said “all coaches are appointed to be fired later on”.
@ MacroBull:
Both our comments at the same time with the same content…double truth, I guess!
@ Loosehead:
In other words EVERYONE wanted him to be fired.
Thanks loosehead for emphasizing my point.
And then in 2007 we all rejoiced and hailed Jake!
@ Pietman:
And those turncoats turned and told everyone how brilliant white is and how evil those damn bulls are lol
I put it to you that even though you folks hate Jake White, he has won us a WC under huge pressure from the Unions[ lead by the Bulls] in SA as well as SARU.
I put it to you that the Sharks [having only played at home so far this season] are on top of the S15 log, with the self same Jake White as coach.
[Barry Roux mode]
nice site kaplan lewer nogal interresante insette
http://ratetheref.co.za/2014/03/17/kaplans-comments-week-5/
What is it with “you folks” on that eoyt we got got humiliated by the irish. no one was a jake white fan. we were nowhere..
by you folks you surely mean you everyone. the bulls stood up back then because other franchises did not really have that much credibility.
I take nothing away from his ability and what he achirved after the world cup… except that year at the lions?
in hindsight jake did pretty well considering AC was his backline coach
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