Sharks deny Butch punch
3 Jul 2006
Linston Manuels is back in the news after he flagged Butch James for an alleged punch against Western Province on Saturday.
The touch judge, who was the centre of a massive controversy in the Super 14 when he disallowed a perfectly good try by Akona Ndungane, raised his flag as AJ Venter scored a try for the Sharks in the left-hand corner. However, according to Manuels, James had thrown a punch earlier in the movement. The Sharks No 10 was sent to the sin bin and Province awarded a penalty.
Fortunately for the Sharks, it didn’t cost them the game as James returned to play a part in Danie Saayman’s match-winning try.
“It was apparently a punch, which it wasn’t,” said Sharks coach Dick Muir at the press conference. “The player said he didn’t punch. I trust my player.
“I just think Butch is an incredible competitor. He plays it hard and fair and he’s not the type of guy who will intentionally high tackle or punch. He just gets himself into awkward positions sometimes.”
Manuels, however, told the Cape Times that James had thrown a punch at WP fullback Gio Aplon.
“I walked up to seperate them,” he said. “Butch punched him in the face as they got up. That’s why I gave Jonathan [Kaplan] the call of foul play. I saw it clearly. Why would I flag and give the call if I didn’t see it?”
57 Comments
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4 Jul 2006, 02:41 am
What the blazes is all the fuss about? Did he hit him or didn’t he? No -surely the camera should showed it as merely a push.? And Watson should pull his finger out and put the guy back into junior games until he can be more decisive. One simply cannot afford to have second class officials in the Tri-nations. Hamba Kahle
4 Jul 2006, 05:18 am
But the Sharks won so all is okay.
4 Jul 2006, 07:02 am
The camera,s were following the game. The linesman was a couple of meters away and says that Butch punched. Butch says it was just an elbow. We have got to go with the linesman, like him or not he is the match official. Butch could have recieved a red for punching and in the end the Sharks still won. So there should be no fuss.
4 Jul 2006, 07:06 am
WE know Butch and we know Linston we will leave the rest to your imagination.
4 Jul 2006, 07:22 am
They both have reputations… So your imagination is guided by what side of the fence you sit. Me, I was at the game and saw Butch get involved in a number of incidents. He was lucky not to get Red.
4 Jul 2006, 07:27 am
A leopard does not change it’s spot’s. Look Ma no hands. Yeah I think you get my point.
4 Jul 2006, 07:47 am
check post 540 of the blackout story. Very interesting
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