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Tue 18 Oct 2016 | 07:28
Nigel Owens unimpressed by naughty Francois Steyn shouting at goalkicker

22
Comments

Montpellier back Francois Steyn was given a telling off by referee Nigel Owens after he shouted "MISS" when Northampton Saints' Stephen Myler attempted a conversion kick during their European Champions Cup match on Saturday. Myler missed, so the kick was taken again.

The Franklin's Gardens crowd were none too pleased with the former Springbok, who attempted to put pressure on Myler and as he got close, put him off by shouting.

It's not the first time we've seen this, and now Steyn has something in common with Chris Ashton, who did something similar against Harlequins in 2014.

Back then Ashton shouted "PUSH IT", and he actually received a written warning from the RFU for misconduct, with them reiterating that respect is one of the core values of the sport.

WATCH CHRIS ASHTON SHOUT AT GOALKICKER

Myler missed the attempt at goal so after Owens told off Steyn, he had another chance at it, and sent it pretty much straight through the middle for a 7-0 lead.

Steyn scored a try and kicked two penalties, but Saints went on to win the match after former Wallaby Nic White missed touch and they earned a penalty in the final minute of the match.

Myler slotted it with 81:00 on the clock for a 16-14 win. View extended highlights on page two

Posted By: Grant Constable

22 Comments

  • drg
    7:48 PM 21/10/2016

    That seems like a very harsh negative Colombes, I'm sure that was not the only ammunition you have, but that particular incident I felt was handled extremely well. I genuinely believed him when he said he was sorry, and totally felt real when he said "you can count yourselves very lucky we didn't get the number"... in the day of TMO, he'd have called that up and the Aussie would have been hammered...

    ...also... I'm not saying it didn't look painful, but roll around painful and then get up and look completely fine afterwards?.....hmmmm

  • colombes
    3:29 PM 21/10/2016

    Don't get me wrong, he's the best ref around and a good bloke too
    But from a french perspective, his name is often weirdly linked to defeat whether his decisions are good or bad ;)
    And of course, he can do mistakes like any other official. Just like this one:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmdv8vnHu28

  • stroudos
    10:35 AM 21/10/2016

    Out of interest, why are you not a fan of Owens? Hearing that phrase sounds almost like heresy!

  • danknapp
    9:55 AM 21/10/2016

    Allowing him to take the attempt again was good enough.

  • stroudos
    8:13 PM 20/10/2016

    What a prize bell end.
    My only disappointment with Nige here was that he should have organised a penalty for the restart.

  • schultzie
    5:01 PM 20/10/2016

    Some boys just never become men.

  • drg
    12:48 PM 19/10/2016

    Hahahaha! Aaaaah memories!

    You're right though. Martin Johnson never struck me as a man who was fluent with English... Grunts, mumbles and eyebrows used to be his primary language... But he got the job done...

  • drg
    12:45 PM 19/10/2016

    Really good point Dan, especially the contrast you mention between soccer and rugby. I actually cannot understand any culture thinking the treatment of referees in that sport is ok!

    I do hope it doesn't enter this sport we love. I can tolerate a handful of players acting like queens with the referees, because it's clear that the majority have a great disgust towards that attitude, but if we ever get to the running up and crowding referees level then I'll probably be physically sick!

  • danknapp
    12:23 PM 19/10/2016

    I apologise for the obvious gender bias in my comment. I should have written young men and women.

  • danknapp
    12:22 PM 19/10/2016

    You've got to believe that he will leave a massive legacy. It's hard to imagine that there aren't young men who watch him refereeing and think that they fancy a bit of that. There must be loads of guys who realise that they're not going to make it as a pro, but want to be involved, and the respect he is obviously held in (and other referees) means that his career seems like one they'd like to be part of.

    Contrast that with the state of football. I don't know how they get those guys to take up refereeing, but they deserve a medal.

    We must continue to treasure our culture of respect for the officials, and we must continue to celebrate excellent refereeing every time we see it. We do it for the sake of our sport.

  • 10stonenumber10
    12:13 PM 19/10/2016

    I wouldn't know... us halfbacks rarely made it past the 2nd without throwing up or passing out into our post-boat-race kebab

    What happened to leadership? Captains used to be big intimidating forwards that the other 14 were slightly afraid of, now they are the one with the best Media patter

  • drg
    2:42 AM 19/10/2016

    Not that your point isn't a valid one... but most scraps between club members normally happen about 2230-2300 about the 3rd pub in....

  • finedisregard
    11:12 PM 18/10/2016

    Once we let money into the game all the cool stuff about rugby culture went out with it.

    Once upon a time rugby players were highly accomplished professionals and classy people playing for the right reasons. Now they are gym rats and mercenaries chasing a buck.

    Test rugby and Lions tour will soon give way to some global Champions League style competition. Sure the game is faster and bigger, but at what price?

  • 10stonenumber10
    10:06 PM 18/10/2016

    Rugby has lost its balls. If Martin Johnson was captaining Steyn, he would have knocked him out cold for that.

    It was front page news when Lewsey put Cipriani in his place, but it shouldn't have been. That sort of stuff happens at rugby clubs all over the country every day. The self governing culture needs to come back. If you disgrace the written and unwritten code, it is an embarrassment to both the team, and the last great ball sport left on this earth.

  • drg
    9:23 PM 18/10/2016

    Sadly mate, it's the inevitable future of the game... There has to be drastic changes to alter the direction it's heading.

    Look at soccer and NFL... those people are celebrities... not sports stars... sure they had to work hard and achieve a high level, but as soon as you get your first few pay checks which put you straight into the millionaire world... the world starts to become your oyster.. managers will seek out advertising jobs - if you are quite an elaborate character you'll get endorsements and photo advertising... and before you know it, you'll be in the disabled toilets at an airport cheating on your missus...

    Look at Chabal.. don't get me wrong, compared to an amateur he would be great, but he was a bit of a one trick pony on the international stage... and even then the trick didn't fool too many. But he was adored by the French fans, and indeed many in the world, we loved 'The caveman', he became a famous icon, I'm not really sure why, he certainly wasn't a world class lock, 8, or back row..but we loved him...

    ..Don't get me wrong, if someone dropped a whopping cheque into my lap when I was 19-20 etc and I had fans cheering me, team mates bolstering me up, I'd have become a complete co-....uhh, well more so at least...

    Only way I can see there being a bright future is massive salary caps... but that's not going to happen...

  • daluaine
    7:19 PM 18/10/2016

    Superb refereeing as ever. I agree with HH, Steyn comes across as a complete tw@t. Really don't want to see the game I love and live for descending even more to the levels of soccerball.

  • gonzoman
    4:49 PM 18/10/2016

    Very happy to see this here - this is something I've noticed creeping in at the local club level. Hopefully some of those players will see this and take note.

  • s_conner
    1:46 PM 18/10/2016

    Poor from Steyn, a goalkicker himself too so should definitely have more respect. Well done Nigel Owens, as ever.

  • heavyhooker
    12:46 PM 18/10/2016

    The look on Steyn's face just pisses me off. I am getting tired of the look on some of these "professional" player's faces when they get penalized and called out for actions against the spirit of the game. Tuilangi and Ashton are other culprits. I guess when you get to their level you do not have to care about things like integrity, solidarity, passion, respect and discipline. If they did, maybe we would have less of the actions that RD shows on a regular basis.

    My sermon is complete.

  • colombes
    12:10 PM 18/10/2016

    Not a fan of Owens, but i like his way to teach some hard lessons to hard men.

  • drg
    12:06 PM 18/10/2016

    I don't think there are (m)any other refs that do the game proud like Nigel Owens, sad day when he retires...

  • danknapp
    11:29 AM 18/10/2016

    God, but I bloody love Nigel Owens. He's a proper stalwart of the game.

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