England v South Africa - Rugby or Farce?

By apb on 23/11/2002
November 24 2002

England today showed that they can play rugby in the right spirit, and yet still be hard, disciplined, and above all, winners. However for some, the game was "ruined" by the referee.

A Good Start

The first twenty minutes of the test match showed some promise. The 'Boks were lining up along the England twenty-two, and were asking questions of the English defence. True, these questions have been asked before by stronger teams, and the English defence weren't found wanting (mostly). However, what promised to be another thrilling match, with periods of great attacking and running rugby for both teams was effectively ended by the 23rd minute dismissal of Jannes Labuschagne for his late arrival in the sternum of Jonny Wilkinson.

Over Analysed?

Once again, we saw replay after replay of the challenge, and Brian Moore (I was watching the BBC highlights version of the game) described the decision as "harsh". Brian's view was that, yes, the challenge was late and was deserving of a yellow card, but that referee Paddy O'Brien had ruined the game as a spectacle.

This is an undeniable truth - the character of the game changed immeasurably. It is impossible to play the majority of an international game with 14 or less men without expecting to be thumped (unless, of course, you're New Zealand playing Georgia in the world cup...).

What Price the Spectacle?

But what price the spectacle? In my view, while the decision to dish out the ultimate punishment to Labuschagne may be seen as harsh, the message was clearly sent: there is to be no "dirty" play in this match.

Sadly, the message didn't get through to the 'Boks, however. One notable tackle nearly took Phil Christophers' head off. Phil is surely lucky to be walking around now - the way he was dragged away from the direction of his run by his neck was terrible. The ref. again gave a decision that some would call brave - he awarded a penalty try - but he didn't provide any more cards when surely the likes of Fleck and Greeff had dealt out enough of this cynical play to warrant at the very least a yellow.

Laws are to be Obeyed

But was this game ruined? As a spectacle, perhaps. Certainly the entertainment value of an England team romping in a fifty point drubbing over a southern hemisphere side was, for England fans, spectacle enough. As an honest reflection of the state of the game in both England and South Africa, then the answer is a categorical no, the game was NOT ruined. Dirty play should be punished, and punished harshly. Only by the effects of a fifty point drubbing will the dirty game that South Africa played today be rethought. Rudi Straeuli should make his team realise that in order to win the game, you have to play within the laws of the game, and play as safely as you can.

If referees are pressured into making lily livered decisions simply because the act of sending off one player, or even a second or third (as I believe this game warranted), simply because the "spectacle will be ruined", then the game of Rugby Union will descend into a cynical, grid-iron game that will ultimately wither and die.

Paddy O'Brien did a good job today. Not a great job - I think Fleck should also have gone off - but he called the game as he saw it, and was not afraid to punish dangerous play. Many a "top flight" ref. would not have taken the decisions that Paddy took today, and I'm sure the media and the ticket buying public would have had a few words to say in that case about the ref's need for a visit to Dollond and Aitchison's.

The Spectacle of Rugby Union needs Paddy O'Brien, and many, many more like him.