Former international referee Nigel Owens has defended the contents of his latest Whistle Watch video after mass outrage on social media.
Fans took exception to the latest episode of the World Rugby-produced show that the Welshman stars in, with the ex-match official detailing an error referee James Doleman made during the Rugby Championship clash between the Springboks and Wallabies in Cape Town.
The incident that Owens addressed involved Springboks full-back Aphelele Fassi, who won a turnover in the 64th minute of the fixture following a line break by Australia.
Aphelele Fassi’s controversial try-saving intervention
Fassi made a last-ditch tackle on Wallabies replacement Andrew Kellaway before getting back to his feet and winning a turnover, a try-saving action.
While Doleman and his officials deemed the actions of the full-back to be legal, Owens said that Fassi should have been penalised and yellow-carded.
“We’ve heard the words ‘Aussies robbed’ a few times in this Whistle Watch series,” Owens said.
“I’m not saying that they were robbed in this game, but they certainly do have a very, very valid point here, and I do believe that there should have been a yellow card to South Africa 15 [Fassi], and this is the reason why.
“So we have a line break, a clear great break by Australia and then the other Australian player regathers the ball. Now he’s tackled just short of the goal line – a few metres out. Look at South Africa 15. When he tackles that player, he needs to release the player with the ball, then get to his feet before he can attempt to jackal that ball.
“What he does, he does get back to his feet, but he never lets that ball carrier go. So we definitely have a penalty – it is quite cynical as well because it’s only a couple of metres out from the try line and it’s after a great break from Australia as well.”
He later concluded that: “Australia certainly are quite valued in their grievance point here. That definitely should have been a penalty. It should have been a penalty for either of those actions, and definitely a cynical action – a penalty and yellow card against South Africa 15.”
Fans fume
Fans on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, were outraged by the contents of the video and the caption on World Rugby’s official account in particular, which read: “Were the Wallabies robbed at the weekend?”
Many of which likened it to Rassie Erasmus’ infamous video during the 2021 British and Irish Lions Series when he criticised referee Nic Berry’s performance in the first Test.
“Oh wow, World Rugby criticizing their own officiating team. This is incredible. What must James Doleman think? How is this different to Rassie Erasmus’ infamous video?” @NickSaid’s reply to the post read.
“So when @RassieRugby does this it’s against rugby values and respect for referees but when the governing body does it, it’s fair game?” another post read.
Australian rugby journalist and broadcaster Brett McKay slammed the post, stating that it was a bad look for the game’s governing body.
“This is a horrible look for the governing body, regardless of what you think of the moment itself. It’s bad enough having media outlets running ‘rate the ref’ polls straight after a game, but World Rugby creating content with a former international referee pointing out possible mistakes of current international referees? No thanks. There’s got to be a better way than critiques coming from a Welsh barn,” his quote retweet read.
South African rugby fan A-P Cronje also responded to the video, writing: “The governing body of the sport leading with ‘were the Wallabies robbed’. ‘Zero tolerance’’ of referee abuse but they literally have a show where they pay someone to criticise referees. It’s beyond insane. The whole ‘Whistle Watch’ thing needs scrapping. It’s shameful.”
Nigel Owens: All Blacks deserved sin binnings for ‘very cynical’ acts
Nigel Owens hits back
Owens has since taken to the social media platform to defend the video and the purpose of the Whistle Watch program.
In a quote retweet of the original post by World Rugby, he wrote: “Whistlewatch answers questions about big moments in games asked by the fans on social media. Were the Wallabies robbed is one of those questions. WR referees agree on the content & outcomes. This would be their agreed outcome. It comes from the referees to us to explain to you.”
In his reply to McKay, he further explained that current referees are well aware of the content included in the episodes before they are published online.
“WR referees are the ones that agree on the content and outcomes with their selectors. This would be their agreed opinion on the matter. It comes from the referees to my barn to explain to you. You should find out about the process before posting,” he remarked.
He added that he believes the show plays an important role in stamping out the abuse of match officials as it provides more understanding for fans.
“This is exactly how to clamp down on referee abuse by being open and honest about talking points that have fans discussing. Or would you prefer us to say nothing and let the so-called experts spout their nonsense which is so often inaccurate,” another reply from the ex-referee read.
Asked how he’d feel if he were Doleman right now, seeing that kind of headline and review of an error he made, Owens responded: “I am sure a quality referee like him would be the first to own up and learn from it as he would have in his review of it. Explaining to fans asking about a big non decision is not ripping into a ref.”
The Welshman repeatedly defended himself saying that he did not bash Doleman’s performance but simply pointed out that the incorrect decision was reached by the officiating team on the day.
“Telling you what the correct decision should be is not shaming a referee. When the ref is right and you all think he is wrong then there will be a video explaining why is correct too,” another one of his replies read.
Still, he did concede that the headline used by World Rugby was not ideal.
One reply from a fan stated as much: “I think it is the fact that world rugby posted it under headline: were the wallabies robbed? As the governing body, surely that comes across as pejorative?”
To which Owens replied: “You may have a point but if we need to say a fan asked were Australia robbed because some are so precious on here then what is the world coming too aye.”
READ MORE: Jake White: Eden Park is ‘make or break’ for All Blacks who have lost their ‘aura’