The International Rugby Board has confirmed that French referee Romain Poite was wrong in his decision to give Bismarck du Plessis his first yellow card during the Boks’ clash against the All Blacks in Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship match in Auckland.
Du Plessis received two yellow cards and was sent from the field in the 42nd minute, making the Boks play with 14 men for almost 50 minutes in the game, which many feel allowed New Zealand to win 29-15.
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But while the whole of South Africa has been up in arms about Poite’s decision and the fact that it robbed the game of a contest, the IRB have given no indication of any action against Poite.
The world governing body issued a statement in which they admitted that it was incorrect for Poite to issue the first yellow card to Du Plessis.
“Just as players and coaches make mistakes, the decision was an unfortunate case of human error by the match officials, who, having reviewed the match, fully recognise and accept that they made a mistake in the application of law,” the statement said.
“All match official performances are thoroughly reviewed and assessed by the IRB and are considered when appointments are made for future test matches.”
The South African Rugby Union has laid a complaint with both Sanzar and the IRB about Poite’s performance, which ensured that the big clash that so many across the world had hoped for, was never a contest.
Poite was muzzled by the IRB after the game, as he needs to testify in the disciplinary hearing for Du Plessis. Requests to talk to the referee were denied after the game as well.
Du Plessis will have to face a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday – an automatic result of his receiving a red card – and will hope that, given the IRB’s statement, there will be no further sanction imposed on him.
Sanzar confirmed the hearing in a release they sent out on Sunday. The hearing, to be heard by judicial officer Terry Willis, will be held by video conference on Tuesday
However despite differing viewpoints on the second yellow card, where Du Plessis’ elbow struck Liam Messam in the throat area, the hearing may look at the footage again, although despite New Zealand coach Steve Hansen’s assertion that it could have been red, it would be a travesty if it was seen that way.
By removing Du Plessis from the game, the Boks also had to take off their big ball-carrier Willem Alberts to replace him with a hooker.
My feeling is: Bizmark faces suspension right? Missed playing fees, possible fine. Mistake from the referee, fine, that’s fair comment. But, make the referee financially compensate the players losses. That will bring accountability.
Like · Reply · 7 · about an hour ago via mobile
Dylan Schnetler Is that how accountable the IRB are for that performance????? permission granted for incompetent refereeing.. what a disgrace if SA rugby sit back and do nothing we can expect more injustice in future. We bring in new TMO technology which results in worse decisions????? The rugby viewing/paying public deserve a better explanation!
Like · Reply · 7 · about an hour ago via mobile
Murray Tocker Bullsh!t!! There are 4 match officials plus technology (and the Rules!) which are there specifically to prevent/avoid “human error”. I’m not sure the blame should be levelled only at the dof ref. The tmo is obliged to advise the ref when “human error” has crept in. All four officials are to blame. And the IRB. This was arguably the biggest game of the last 2 years. It deserved to be officiated by the best refs in the world.
Like · Reply · 6 · 38 minutes ago
Ben van der Bank Absolutely pathetic, what happened to Bryce Lawrence? We can most probably expect less will hapen to this wonderfull individual. Referees are getting away with murder and are busy turning a wonderfull sport into a circus. There were by the way four officials, how is it possible that none of the other said or saw something? Start an investigation!!!
EK IS GRUMPY.MOER GRUMPY
So, our outrage during and just after the match, here and on the whole interweb was right, justified and just.
Whomever disagrees with this, put this in your pipe and smoke it!
I re-iterate, it was a travesty, it was wrong and unforgivable!
Romain Poite must be hit with huge sanction, albeit that it won’t change a flawed result, something we should hammer on never to recognise as a fair and honourable result!
2 @ grumpy:
Ek ook, grumpy!
Noem my maar grumpyblousmile vandag!
Ek voel ons moet die ghoenne hê om hierteen op te staan, dis onverskoonbaar!
I am busy with an Article on media analists discussing this travesty, in conjunction with the world’s rugby scribes opinions on the matter… article finished, just waiting for the video footage to load so that I can add them in.
@ grootblousmile:
http://www.sapeople.com/2013/09/15/south-africans-romain-poite-facebook-wikipedia-pages-485/
3 @ grootblousmile:
They should do the honourable thing and have the game replayed. Have a fair contest that is all we want.
2 @ grumpy:
Hello my friend, How you doing?
I was so angry after Bissie was unfairly yellow carded and eventually getting the red card. Spoiled the whole game for us.
At least our Sharks won, though it looks like we are struggling a lot with the new coaches. Hope we soon find our feet. We struggled hard on Saturday for a one point win. Just not sure if we will go any further this year until we get our Boks back. That is if we do get them back for this CC.
For now Province are looking the team that will win the CC.
@ Puma:
hahaha think we must replay the 2011 WC semi too….. or do what Cricket did, scrape the 2011 WC of the record books. Imagine it will leave the All Blacks without a 2nd WC win and they have their chokers tag reinstated. 
Just Joking, it is water under the bridge and will be engraved into the IRB Rugby Hall of Shame.
OK good night
must see specialist tomorrow morning
Keep the presure on until i join in again
Fan Gerhard Posthumus tweeted: “CONUNDRUM: If Romain Poite and Bryce Lawrence were drowning in a river and you could only save one. What sandwich would you make?”
Meanwhile, sports apparel manufacturer adidas recalled the All Blacks’ playing jerseys last night after an embarrassing error led to the word “Africa” being misspelt on the players’ kit as “Arfica”.
All Black star Carter tweeted a picture of the misspelt word before the match, drawing ridicule from Springbok fans.
An Adidas spokeswoman said the firm accepted responsibility for the mistake. “Adidas New Zealand have become aware that the All Blacks jerseys for the test versus South Africa have an embroidered spelling error. The players’ jerseys are being collected after the game to have the error rectified. Adidas apologises to the players for any inconvenience.”
9 @ superBul:
I wish both games could be replayed Super…. Fair is fair…
I just hope we beat the ABs at Ellis Park with a outstanding performance. I know this team can and I hope to see it in a few weeks time.. 🙂
Good night Super. Always good to catch up. Catch up tomorrow.
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