Tue 24 Sep 2019 | 10:25
Footage of Jerome Garces officiating goes viral as fans struggle to understand some of those calls

6
Comments

Following South Africa's 23-13 loss to New Zealand in their opening game of the World Cup, French referee Jerome Garces' performance has come under heavy scrutiny. He received a large amount of abuse online, after 75% of the penalties he awarded went against the Springboks.

While it's generally accepted that referees can make errors both ways and it evens out over the course of a match, the penalty count was heavily in favour of New Zealand, something coach Rassie Erasmus calmly pointed out after the match.

The breakdown in particular was a shambles, with it being a complete free-for-all at times.

It wasn't only South Africa that were unhappy though, as New Zealand also got some harsh treatment on rare occassions, leading to skipper Kieran Read supposedly calling Garces 'gutless'.

"Kieran Read's words if you did not hear them were 'that's pretty gutless'," commentator Scotty Stevenson recounted, referring to the time the referee chose not to show a card for a clear infringement.

World Rugby have issued a statement, reflecting on the refereeing in the opening round.

"Following the usual review of matches, the match officials team recognise that performances over the opening weekend of Rugby World Cup 2019 were not consistently of the standards set by World Rugby and themselves, but World Rugby is confident of the highest standards of officiating moving forward," the statement reads.

"Elite match officials are required to make decisions in complex, high-pressure situations and there have been initial challenges with the use of technology and team communication, which have impacted decision-making. These are already being addressed by the team of 23 match officials to enhance consistency.

"Given this proactive approach, a strong team ethic and a superb support structure, World Rugby has every confidence in the team to ensure that Rugby World Cup 2019 delivers the highest levels of accurate, clear and consistent decision-making."

This video has been getting a lot of attraction and highlights a number of the inconsistent and generally poor calls, particularly in the scrum and at the breakdown.

6 Comments

  • pire
    12:22 PM 26/09/2019



    The refereeing standards are very poor this year. The french
    referees have never been able to grasp the rules of rugby and how they apply
    during a match. Japan loves fair play and victory with honor, something the ABs
    are yet to achieve. Rather loose with dignity than win with thugery…Not sure what the TMO's are doing these days. Have to wait for a team to lodge a complaint after the match before any action is taken. No complaint, no action. 

    • Donnie
      5:46 AM 28/09/2019

      What sour nonsense pire. Crawl back under your rock.

      • pire
        7:30 AM 30/09/2019

        Lol. Right back at you.

        • Donnie
          12:35 PM 30/09/2019

          What a response pire! Almost as well considered as your initial dribble.

          • pire
            2:47 PM 30/09/2019



            Could say the same about you. 2 comments later and still off
            topic. Can only imagine your next comment to be even more unrelated to the
            article.  Hangover Monday by the sounds of things... Drink less, then you might be able to get more than 2 sentences out at a time. ;)

            • Donnie
              12:28 PM 01/10/2019

              Drink less? I'll drink even more thank you very much, drinking
              keeps my wits sharp and maintains my George Clooney level good looks.
              That aside, yes seems that the referring has been inconsistent at the WC
              and pretty much every other level for some time. But calling out the
              All Black as not playing fairly or honourably is just sour grapes, I
              don't think you understand what you.are even saying other than you're
              bitter that your team (whoever that is) has recently lost to them.
              Playing fairly? Every team pushes the limits of the rules, and the rules
              are open to the refs intrepretation and simply to what he can spot in
              the many infringements that could be possibly interpreted at any moment
              of the game. But to call out the ABs as not playing fairly or honourably
              demonstrates at total lack of comprehension, rugby nouse, and maturity.
              Win with thuggery? What are you even talking about? Do you mean like
              the thuggery the Springboks show evey game? (Which we love them for,
              those big tough buggers that they are) Or the constant niggle, pushing
              and shoving and off the ball play of the French? At least they've
              stopped biting and trying to pop peoples eys out at the international
              level i guess, but yeah the ABs are thugs. What do you mean that they
              win wothout honour? Do you mean like the petulance of guys like Owen
              Farrell, or recent goons like Joe Marler (albiet absolute first class
              scrummager that he was). How do define dishonor? Do you mean like the
              Irish and their constant complaining? But yes the ABs are the yardstick
              for thuggery and dishonor (this bit is sarcasim by the way, just to be
              clear beyond 2 sentences), and the sooner we all complain the sooner all
              these other teams can get on and play in utopia without this global
              conspiracy to allow the ABs to cheat and win by beating the other teams
              up.