ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Scrum penalty decisions 'basically 50/50' according to SA pundits

BY Stephen Brunsdon  ·  Tuesday Sep 14, 2021

If there has been one constant gripe throughout the 2021 rugby season, it’s refereeing standards and consistency across the board. It’s an area of officiating which is almost impossible to perfect every time, and the debate reared its head again last weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

The nation which has led a lot of the efforts to, in their mind, improve refereeing standards and remove the 50/50 calls has been South Africa and the pundit team on SuperSport’s The Final Whistle focused the microscope on the scrums which ultimately had the biggest impact in the Springboks’ loss to Australia.

WATCH: Humble Quade’s stirring tribute to SBW after match-winning heroics

Scrums are notoriously difficult to referee – this isn’t the first time inconsistencies have been brought up in international rugby – with the referee on one side and his Assistant Referee (AR) on the other, more often than not, blinded by at least one player.

Former Springbok assistant coach Swys de Bruin and former Test prop Robbie Kempson agreed to disagree in what proved to be a debate which typifies the way in which refereeing decisions are seen at the moment.

Kempson counted two scrum penalty decisions which were largely correct in his view, while stating that three should have gone the other way, including the final instance which gave Quade Cooper the chance to win the match.

De Bruin used this fact to call for more simplification and clearer calls for scrum penalties, which he conceded ended up being more of a 50/50 call depending on which side has the forward momentum.

It’s a debate which continues to cause frustration and confusion throughout the rugby sphere but one which, given more scrutiny, can hopefully be resolved before long.

ADVERTISEMENT

RELATED VIEWING:

Video Spacer

Related Articles

  • 37 WEEKS AGO

    "You're lying" - Max Lahiff calls out Springbok...

  • 40 WEEKS AGO

    Rassie Erasmus returns to former role as...

  • 58 WEEKS AGO

    "This could be our last chance" Springboks...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Outlandish Jacob Stockdale finish is truly world class

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Ulster denied THE GREATEST URC try you will ever see!

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Capuozzo break sets Dupont up for hatrick on return

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Fans praise 'Dom Perignon Rugby' as Irish players prepare for final match of South African tour

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: The biggest hit from week one of the Autumn Nations Series

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    'Cheap shot' from Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints causing a stir online

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Wild moment leads to all in brawl during Welsh derby between Cardiff and Scarlets

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    South African school boy makes the greatest tackle ever

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Huge guillotine tackle divides fans in viral footage

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Insane moment as french backrow waves off medic and smokes Ange Capuozzo

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible drop goal helps break 25-match losing streak

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster fly half delivers insane 50:22 after being given start for Emerging Ireland

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    French scrumhalf drills perfect shot at goal under outrageous circumstances

View All

Funnies

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Mischievous Marcus Smith spotted engaging in the dark arts during All Blacks match

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Jonny Sexton: 'Fondest memory of the Heineken Cup in 2011?' - 'Gordon D'Arcy's bar' and 'Coppers'

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Mike Haley's post match interaction with RG Snyman leaves no doubt about where Munster players stand

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    The rugby guy and Mack Hansen drop an all time BANGER with latest video

View All

Amateur

  • 96 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 96 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 119 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 119 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 120 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 16 HOURS AGO

    Anthony Watson exclusive: 'I wouldn't be surprised if England win'

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    It’s a 9.5/10 for Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Should Steve Borthwick have brought on George Ford? Or trusted in Marcus Smith?

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Louis Rees-Zammit opens up about his biggest shock in chasing NFL dream

View All