South Africa beat Australia 30-22, but there was a game-defining moment that has been at the centre of a controversy.
Former rugby union referee Nigel Owens(Image: PA)
Nigel Owens has defended himself after coming under fire for his analysis of referee James Doleman’s error in the Rugby Championship encounter between South Africa and Australia. The legendary Welsh referee appeared on World Rugby’s ‘Whistle Watch’ after the game, saying Doleman had made a mistake at a crucial point in the game.
This was not received well by some online, with viewers also unhappy World Rugby titled the video “Were the Wallabies robbed at the weekend?”. The moment in question involved Springboks full-back Aphelele Fassi’s all-important tackle on Wallabies flyer Andrew Kellaway in the 64th minute, before getting to his feet and making a crucial turnover.
Match official Doleman and his assistants deemed the actions of Fassi to be legal, and the ‘Boks escaped. However, this isn’t how Owens saw it.
“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.
“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.”
One viewer criticised Owens’ video, and suggested it echoed what happened on the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa when Rassie Erasmus sparked outrage for making a video highlighting referee Nic Berry’s mistakes.
The Owens video has now been deleted by World Rugby.
“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?,” they wrote.
In his quote post to World Rugby’s original post, Owens wrote: “Whistle Watch answers questions about big moments in games asked by the fans on social media. Were the Wallabies robbed is one of those questions.
“World Rugby referees agree on the content & outcomes. This would be their agreed outcome. It comes from the referees to us to explain to you.”
Australian rugby writer Brett McKay said it was a “horrible look” for World Rugby.
“This is a horrible look for the governing body, regardless of what you think of the moment itself,” explained McKay.
“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..”
Replying to McKay’s comment, Owens said: “World Rugby 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.”
In another post, Owens added: “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 whos os so often inaccurate.
“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.”