PTUI! Maar die druiwe proe suur after Saturday’s Super Rugby final.
I understand that Lions fans paid a klomp geld and filled Ellis Park to capacity as soon as the gates opened and that they didn’t get their money’s worth, but let me tell you this: Jaco Peyper didn’t cost them that final against the Crusaders.
When Kwagga Smith made contact with that Crusader who looked like a guy who just had a back muscle (at least) ripped apart when he hit the ground after being caught in mid-air, I thought “unfortunate red”. It’s the letter of the law.
But before I get to what I personally think World Rugby bosses should consider in a case like this in the future, I want to talk about Johan Ackermann’s post-match reaction when asked whether he was happy with the call.
He told our friends over at Sport24: “I suppose the New Zealand people are happy now that Jaco is a good ref, because last week he wasn’t a good ref. ” Nou soe!
Coach Ackies, before Kwagga was carded, your team wasn’t in the game.
We watched Elton Jantjies take a wille attempt at a drop-goal, then we watched the Kiwis tackle him stukkend and score.
I believe it was 12-3 or something at the time.
The Lions didn’t convert their chances. The Crusaders did. The Lions didn’t win their own lineout ball – the Crusaders took it off them.
En so kan ek aangaan.
My question to the coach is why was it only when Faf de Klerk replaced Ross Cronje behind the base of the scrum that you guys had momentum?
And the answer is easy: Faf is a better scrumhalf – especially when you are chasing a game.
I’m not a coach... not yet, at least. But I wondered if he should’ve have come on waaaay earlier.
Maybe when the two teams returned after the break?
Cronje will struggle for the Boks also.
And here I want to actually agree with you about the Peyper saga. He allowed those Crusaders to be very flat. And I do mean reeaaally flat on defence.
The same will happen in the Rugby Championship... but more about that later.
Back to those red card rules. I agree with a friend of mine who suggested the IRB should trial an orange card – that will see you punish an “unfortunate” red card offence and only send off the player for 25 minutes or so.
There is a difference between a deliberate foul and one that was accidental.
Kwagga maybe could have gotten out of the way a little earlier. But in a match of such magnitude, I believe 25 minutes in the naughty
corner would have sufficed.
It would have made for great viewing in that final – a bedonnerde leeu returning to make it 15 against 15 in Johannesburg.
The Lions fought back well towards the end of the match, but ultimately it wasn’t enough.