ON THE BALL: A yellow card is like a gun. Just because you have one in your pocket, doesn’t mean you have to pull it out, says Lucky Maree
Within the first five minutes of the Currie Cup final on Saturday, there were at least three occasions where the referee could have made his mark and altered the course of the match.
All rugby spectators know that dreaded moment when the ref, somehow always with a stiff back, calls, “time off!” draws a rectangle in the air in front of him, signalling that the game is about to freeze.
The players stand around while the referee and the TMO have their “I hear you,” conversation. “I’d like to see the potential foul play on the number eight,” says the ref. “We’ll find you the best angles of the potential foul play on the number eight.”
Then follows the endless replays. “Can I see it in slow motion?” “I’ll show it to you in slow motion.” “Can I see it in real time?” “I’ll show it to you in real time.”
Then the confirmation. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” “I see what you’re seeing.” Then follows an elaborate rundown of what happened followed by the verdict: “Yellow card?” “Yellow card.”
That’s when the complexion of the match changes. In the name of consistency, the ref is forced to apply the same ritual every time something occurs – and a torrent of cards start fluttering down like confetti.
On Saturday, none of that happened.
Very early in the match, tall, chiskop referee Cwengile “JD” Jadezweni indicated high tackles during play and awarded penalties without going to the TMO. He also didn’t pull out his weapon; the dreaded yellow card.
Towards the end of the match, TMO Quinton Immelman more or less forced him into watching a few replays. JD appeared reluctant, but Immelman seemed insistent – and seemed even disappointed when JD declared there was no evidence of foul play. A rare animal is a referee who knows the rules but also understands the game.
It is almost a year ago now that the British and Irish Lions toured South Africa. Ill-tempered, controversial, antagonistic and, let’s face it, not a great series to watch.
Rassie Erasmus attempted, in his abrasive way, to prove a point, and he seemed to be doing okay. But then Billy Beaumont and World Rugby brought down a hammer, the size of which not even Erasmus could have anticipated, to silence him to this day.
One hopes that in this tough round of test matches starting this weekend, the international referees will take a leaf out of the book of mere first division referee JD Jadezweni’s book and keep their ultimate weapon stashed away in their pockets.
