Rugby Referee Analysis | South Africa Vs Italy Autumn Series 2022

Yeah, what is there more to say about World Rugby? People keep falling for the excuse from World Rugby that their refs are "reviewed" and that there are "official protocols" as well as an "official feedback process" of all their match officials after games. Yet, every single weekend we see the same screw up in the games. This South Africa vs Italy clash in the 2022 Autumn Series was just another example of poor officiating and horrible performance from a TMO. The officiating keeps getting worse and World Rugby turns a blind eye towards all the criticism. They banned Rassie Erasmus, yet they fail to see the main issue. We're going into a world cup year where officiating is at it's worst that its ever been.

Let's go over the game, the biggest and main issue I had was the "Try" from Bongi Mbonambi. Again, it's a clear double movement incident where the ref and TMO has no idea what a tackled or grounded player is, this one was even more obvious than the Springboks vs France and England vs All Blacks one, yet they still screw it up. How does it keep on happening? I mean Bongi's knee clearly hits the ground while an Italy player is holding him, he then uses his one dynamic movement to place the ball, but he's clearly short. Now he has to make the ball available, instead he waits a long time then he goes on placing the ball. It's a penalty, it's one of the most obvious double movements you will see. The law clearly states the ball has to be placed immediately, which Bongi never did, he waited a long time after he was initially short. So how does an international TMO and Ref now understand the laws about a tackled and grounded player? Is it really that hard?

Then the other big one was the late hit on Willie le Roux with no arms used in the tackle. This is on the TMO, not the ref as the TV producers never showed replays. However, the TMO had a chance to look at it, and he says it's only a tackle with no arms, and that it's nothing more than a penalty. Then if you watch again, you clearly see it's very late, and no arms. As well as the fact that he came in at full speed. This should've been a yellow card for Monty Ioane, instead nothing happened.

I honestly don't know how Northern Hemisphere fans keep on making excuses for these refs, even after I show every single weekend how they screw up big calls. They just never expect any accountability from refs and World Rugby and it's going to kill our game. This has to stop, and refs and officials should take responsibility if they screw up. And World Rugby needs to start being transparent about their "protocols" because the evidence on the field suggests that those "protocols" is either a lie, or it's deeply flawed and needs to be fixed.

Match Officials for this game:

Ref: Matthew Carley
AR: Wayne Barnes
AR: Sam Grove-White
TMO: Eric Gauzins

[frukkie]

Love this video. As a Springbok support, I sometimes miss what we do wrong and I am learning and seeing things from a new perspective. I clearly missed Bongi's knee hitting the ground.

[arnovanzyl]

I am very happy to see you are showing inconsistencies affecting both teams and not just 1 sided analysis. Keep this up, it would be even better if you do this for games involving other nations.

[redhowell]

Keep up your analysis. Noise needs to be be made irrespective of the teams involved. Officiating is generally poor and I support anyone who keeps drawing World Rugby to that fact.

[Bolognabeef]

I remember this, the Italian commentator said something along the lines of " we shouldn't be allowed to do this but the ref didn't see..." On the first one

[chadbertasso]

I’m glad you showed the bongi try. I truly believed it was a try when I saw it but now I see I was wrong

[Bobbydyland]

The Bongi try is an interesting one. I reminded me of the Yellow card Kwagga saw in TRC against Oz. If you tackle a player just short of the line, and don't release him you are committing a penalizable offense. Since it prevented a try, then penalty try and yellow card, which is what happened to Kwagga. But if you do release him, he can just do what Bongi did and score without you being able to stop him?
This feels like a weakness in the law RN.

[MadMalMan]

1 - SA knock on, they allow quick throw from line off back of it, and turn into points, alternative would be a defensive bonus for SA error.

2 - Two guys ahead, ref tells them to stop and they don't get the ball, this is nothing

3 - Agree

4 - Not a good angle, 100% a penalty for the lateness, not nearly as late as your making it out, looks like he tries to change direction for an intercept try last second but cocks it up and runs into the SA 15.
Would need a better angle to see if anything more or what TMO said.

5 - Disagree again, it looks like the Italian 21 runs right in the way of Eben charging down player on ball and essentially takes himself out. Play on.

Lets overall score and performance. - Few great attacking attempts by Italy given them some hard earnt points, but overall a full domination of SA in second half. I think game was controlled well and the score reflects the performance.

Rugby has been played a long time without micro analysing every single detail, if you want every game to stop every single phase to check for errors this will ruin the sport.

[clementjavano]

Referring has been particularly poor during these autumn test games in my opinion... Like you mentioned in your video, it's hard to believe how the TMO and all assistant refs can overlooked some penalties and/or misinterpret the rules. I hope this will change before the RWC

[byrontippett]

Keep doing your great videos, you are great at highlighting inconsistencies from all teams which is awesome. Please don't stop, we need world rugby to wake up and change things. Put on 2 refs or allow each captain to use TMO a couple times a half, something needs to change and you will help them change with these videos. I share them far and wide. Thanks you, love your work!

[matthewalexander]

This video is so informative because it shows the huge inconsistency in the refs. It’s unfortunate because as a Bok fan even though we won I’d like to see better calls in the game. Against a better team in a closer game it changes things. Bottom line the refs are not educated enough or do not know how to fully utilise the technology at their disposal. I also think there needs to be one understanding of the law. Less interpretation means less chances of error

[ancintrturns]

Nice breakdown. Loved how you covered both teams. Agree with Rassie but Maybe show him how to do the same.

[kaiserbester]

Im a south african and I love seeing the springboks win. But not like that. I don't want to see a team being awarded a try that they didn't deserve. World rugby seriously needs some new refs because these ones look like they've lost the plot

[posionpool]

The Boks ended up winning by 40 points, does it really fucking matter? Leave Italia alone. FORZA ITALIA!🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[andreabosio]

As a former referee (juniors category level mind you, but nontheless) I remember this phrase being told and told agains: "If you want to improve, DO NOT watch and learn from high level/ international. It's another game, something is more punished, something isn't at all. Stick by the rule book"
That made me think a lot and seeing this makes me realize it even more

[mojalefalebeko]

The tackler had not released Mbonambi, therefore when he got to the ground he could not place the ball in either direction. The movement was not complete until the tackler had released.

[lucqent]

I like how you analyse the game. But at the same time, referees have to make a decision in a split second. People want the game to be sped up, but they also want the referees to be perfect. If they make a mistake, there is no doubt they know they have, but they're not going to blow their whistle and bring play back 50 meters

[jameswallace]

Love to see an unbiased analysis like this

[johanroodt]

Love this, the Willie hit and the quick line out not being 5 just not actually being checked are ridiculous - it should take a TMO 20-30 seconds!

[jonathaneffemey]

Thanks so much for this download. This whole issue must be highlighted and dealt with.

[SAS]

Love your analysis. The inconsistency in Ref TMO and AR’s is unbelievable.
We need this to improve Officiating or the WC is a lottery.
Keep up the good work and please show inconsistencies in all the games or are they just after SA as usual.