Aussies cane Kaplan
10 Jul 2006
Jonathan Kaplan has been hammered again for a perceived bias against Australian rugby.
Wallabies coach John Connolly and former Wallabies and Brumbies midfielder Rod Kafer said Kaplan had got it wrong several times in the game and it had cost the Wallabies points.
Kafer, a rugby analyst for Fox Sports, said Kaplan had made mistakes you would not associate with a four year old.
“Just as we must praise referees who excel, so we must not hesitate to point out blatant mistakes. Kaplan was very poor and made two major mistakes within three minutes in the second half,” said Kafer. “The first was when he failed to spot a clear knock-on by (New Zealand’s) Mils Muliaina only to call back the Wallabies later when Lote Tuqiri was on his way to the try-line. The pass to him was certainly not forward. One does not expect such mistakes from a four-year-old, let alone an international referee,” he added.
Connolly told reporters that many people had quizzed him about Kaplan and the ‘poor game’ he had.
Connolly said Kaplan was wrong to sin-bin Rocky Elsom and he questioned the try awarded to Richie McCaw, not because of anything McCaw did but because he felt Joe Rokocoko had illegally fallen on Stephen Larkham.
Morris Gilbert of the Beeld reports that SA manager of referees Andre Watson agrees with Connolly that Rokocoko should have been penalised. Watson also felt that Keven Mealamu’s second try should not have been awarded and that Australia should have won a penalty for a New Zealand lineout infringement.
“Technically, Rokocoko did not dive on Larkham; he landed on his knees next to him. However, he had his arms on Larkham, which prevented him from getting up. “Who knows what would have happened if Larkham did manage to get up. It should have been a penalty for the Wallabies,” said Watson. “I would like to look at it again (Mealamu’s second try) but it seemed to me the arm of an Australian jumper was pulled down in the lineout. That’s why Australia lost possession and why Keven Mealamu was able to pick up the ball and fall over. It may have been, instead, a penalty against the All Blacks.”
New Zealanders were unanimous that Kaplan had been brilliant and they rate him in the top two of world referees.
94 Comments
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10 Jul 2006, 09:22 am
Sound to me like we have some bitter Aussies posting today. Blaming the ref yet again. IRB rates kaplan as one of the best. If he sees it, he makes the call. Too bad the Aussies play the game on the lines of illegality and when they get blown for it they throw their toys. As for Mark Lawrences decision, I though that was one of the most courageous decision made and 100% correct. Obviously Aussies will not agree. Can someone suggest who can ref the next game???
10 Jul 2006, 09:23 am
Listening to the commentators, Kaplan was good. Personally I’d think i’ve seen a lot worse.
Frankly Knuckles pretense that Oz were in the game was silly.
Oz positives were the back line, line out and their attacking play. They were not as good as expected on defence. The scrum was also better than I’d hoped.
The OZ scrum will probably not be bullied by the Boks the same way. George Smith was great, but the only one.
Elsom was and is a thick hick. He’d been marginal for a while before being binned and whether he desrved it or not cannot really be debated.
OZ whinges are usually psuedo entellectual and this lot are no exception. Frankly I was surprised the OZ scrum got away with as much **** as they did.
Kaplan may have made the odd mistake, but nothing he did changed the shape of the game or the result. Elsom was wrong, contributed to the OZ loss and should be replaced.
10 Jul 2006, 09:32 am
Having read the Stephen Jones article, all I can say is that he is a legend. Awesome, unbiased, rivetting drivel.
Seldom has so much been wriiten about so little for absolutely no purpose.
AB’s rust probably cost them 20 points and I honestly think they may well stuff the Boks out of sight, whether ‘orrible, Honiss, Stupid Dickenson or any of the other ‘superior’ type blow the whistle.
OZ can and should bounce back because they’re neither a stupid nor an incapable rugby playing nation. Their incredible lack of off field sportsmanship by whingeing endlessly shows them up as true descendants of Poms.
Shut it and Fix it, you silly shackle draggers, the Handbags won fair and square.
10 Jul 2006, 09:36 am
how many times must a ref warn a player/team…
if the aussies weren’t so damn arrogant or stupid (or both) they’d have listened to his warnings… especially Elsom… The fool had it coming… he was told it was coming… and when it came the aussies cry…????
the aussies have no one to blame by their own inept selves…
10 Jul 2006, 09:43 am
The SA refs are he best of the lot I am afraid. I thin they would be less biased reffing a game in which teh Boks were playing than some of the other refs reffing a game in which SA was playing. Names like Stu Dickinson, and that NZ prick who tells us to have a chat and then blows the whistle?
10 Jul 2006, 09:43 am
Centre12: I too would ask you not to post Stephen Jones’s drivel. For him to accuse someone else of bias is too much!
I note though that he broke a cardinal rule of his and actually praised the Kiwis! OK, so calling the AB scrum “one of the best in the world” isn’t a big call for most people, but from him that is saying something. He didn’t acknowledge that much when they held up the much vaunted Sheridan with no problems.
10 Jul 2006, 09:45 am
I note the sly “New Zealand’s latest annexed Samoan, Isaia Toeava”
Do you think he will ever use the term “England’s latest annexed New Zealander, Perry Freshwater”?
10 Jul 2006, 09:54 am
If the Aussies blame the ref for that loss then they have many more losses coming their way
..at the same time we should appreciate that in the bigger picture the issue of referees should be addressed – even if it means bringing more refs or technology into the game.
We accuse the Aussies of whingeing, if we look back on this website during the Super 14 games and previous tri-nation games we have done exactly the same thing when we felt aggrieved. Refereeing is one of the reasons why Rugby cannot rival soccer as an international sport.
10 Jul 2006, 09:58 am
Kafer , you ********!Refering to the try of Mcaw. If Rokocoko had illegally fallen on Larkham the TMO would of picked it up.
So , there is no use giving kaplan the blame.
The 2005 Wobblies are back!
10 Jul 2006, 10:10 am
The mccaw try was a good decision and a courageous one.
The incident before where roco came in this was a 50/50 call in ‘real time’ as they both seemed to arrive at the ball at the sametime larkham marginally more so. The penalty only applies when a player has gone to ground to secure the ball and then the opposing player on feet tackles the player on the ground.
kaplan has real time play to call and only one of them.
I do believe Kaplan had a good game and made some mistakes but he made mistakes for both sides.
Every ref is gonna make mistakes it is up to him to try be consistent he can do this by rewarding the other team a ‘blind eye’ when they carry out an indescretion for a similar incident.
The weird side of it is that Kaplan does not have a book where he keeps a log of the mistakes he makes and then assesses these during the game so he can try and even them out between the 2 sides.
10 Jul 2006, 10:11 am
Kaplan’s been praised for letting the game flow with a calm but no nonsense approach both in Oz and NZ so where Colind (48) get’s his perceptions from who knows? Sore loser perhaps?
Well done kiwis. Long time since we’ve seen a frontrow so comprehensively outscrummed in an international – of course Knuckles steered clear of that in the post match interview.
Who says the Christchurch AB fanbase can’t laugh at themselves – first prize to the girl with the banner “Victory 4 AB’s – its in the (hand)bag”!
10 Jul 2006, 10:43 am
kaplan cant ref we seen it in curriecup
10 Jul 2006, 10:50 am
oh what ****, i read stephen jones harping on about the same malarchy, just cos england got spanked a few weeks before.
Kaplan’s sending off of Elsom was harsh, but Elsom had been slowing the ball down repeatedly before that and had been warned. the kiwis were getting totally frustrated with him and were trying to ruck him a new one.
10 Jul 2006, 10:53 am
Guys, don’t be misled by halfwit journalists trying to hit headlines, I have not met one Aussie today saying that Kaplan cost them the game. I have seen a number of Aussies and Kiwis stating that Kaplan had some odd calls but in the end there was only going to be one winner!
Kafer is paid to do a job, he is doing it…poorly as it may be.
10 Jul 2006, 10:56 am
from what I heard the Bulls were as kak as the Aussies this weekend.
10 Jul 2006, 11:36 am
vet weet jon, you stopped this thread dead in its tracts, well done…
10 Jul 2006, 12:08 pm
mmmmm typical of bulls supporters it shows once again
if it was tappe who is the worst in south africa by a long shot , they would defend him
bull the more i thiunk of it the happier i am you guys got fucked up on the weekend
you are and always will be a bunch of pricks
as for the aussies and all balcks i too watched the game and saw a mistake here and there going both ways
rod kafer for example points out mistakes made against his roo shagging team
did he point out the calls made for his team??
no
aussies and bulls make a cute couple?? cute couple of damn idiot clowns that cry like babies all the time
see they thought they would catch the kiwi’s with handbags
but they caught them at their best and the rest is history
mr kafer you idiot roo banger and co the ref didnt beat you the sheep shaggers did
and theyll do it again soon in roo valley ( aussie )
10 Jul 2006, 12:10 pm
lol @ jondood
10 Jul 2006, 12:24 pm
nice nick jondood. hehehehe
aussies can’t stop moaning. when they lost in the soccer world cup vs Italy they actually moaned about the penalty which was awarded against them. what a joke.
10 Jul 2006, 13:15 pm
Re: Post 17
Again I ask, is there a refereeing panel that examines Kaplan’s efforts over the weekend and can tell us (independantly) how good or bad a game he had?
Koos (25)
On talkback radio – Radio Sport – today most of the callers seemed to have had no problem with Collins’ action. General census seemed to be “If a guy’s got to go…” Not my opinion.
ufo (34)
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone lose it like Smith when the ref called them back for a earlier infringement. I’m sure if Kaplan had seen it he’d have been gone. Ordinarily I rate Smith big time.
Centre12 (43)
I thought it a shockingly biased report until I learnt it was Stephen Jones. It’s perhaps the most balanced, reasonable, fair, responsible, complimentary-even piece of journalism I have ever seen him write. As sarky said, a “legend”.
I think Elsom made himself a marked man by his earlier response to Kaplan’s warnings.
Roll on next week…
10 Jul 2006, 13:39 pm
kiwi, I know, the feeling I get from TSF and others is along the lines of what the hell is SO BAD! Fine but how do I explain to my 8 year old for starters and then my wife who actually pointed it out to me. Small matter and less said is brushing it aside, pissing in public is disgusting, doing it on tv is even worse. For farke sake, how difficult to remember to go to the loo before you run out! ****, its like me pitching for THE most important meeting and seconds before time I say…oooh got to go, forgot when I RAN our, or worse, pissing in the potplant before I start.
I’m sorry but even comparing to runners and cyclists do not carry water, yes they do it but not before they start, maybe an hour or more into the race…not on!
10 Jul 2006, 13:47 pm
“Again I ask, is there a refereeing panel that examines Kaplan’s efforts over the weekend and can tell us (independantly) how good or bad a game he had?”
Of course there is a refereeing panel. And of course the result will not be published.
Seriously: given the biased drivel you see against any referee, any game, you can hardly expect them to post them. Say they give Kaplan a “B”: then Connolly will start lashing into the examiners too. Claiming it is all a frame up to cheat Wallaby rugby.
10 Jul 2006, 13:57 pm
Chief, you asking? Yes there is a panel its called the “Brotherhood of Refs” or something! Both teams, coaches, captains are allowed input, there is even some senior refs getting input…BUT…nobody outside the Brotherhood is allowed to know what was actually said, and the feedback…SECRET!
Works like a charm…
10 Jul 2006, 14:02 pm
Has to work that way Koos. Who would volunteer to be a referee otherwise?
Any of you guys actually refereed seriously? (taken the exams, run serious level games etc)
I had to sit through some of these reports, and they were no fun. Making them public, even to other referees, and I think I would have quit there and then.
10 Jul 2006, 15:12 pm
what worries me is the backlash the Boks can expect from any aussie ref when we play the AB’s..
if we had it bad in the past at the hands of stupid dickheadson and the like, i have no doubt they will be looking to dish out some payback to the boks
10 Jul 2006, 15:22 pm
The aussies are becoming like the bulls,
boring gameplan, check
blaming losses on everone except themselves, check
10 Jul 2006, 18:12 pm
The way some professional rugby players react to referees’ decisions that go against them these days is mind-boggling. And the Aussies are by far the worst of this bunch.
Ten years ago, if someone had mouthed off the way George Smith did, it would have cost him his place in the team. Elsom couldn’t shut his trap and got what he deserved. Gregan always has way too much to say. They seem to think it’s normal and acceptable to throw McEnroe tantrums – as though their furious indignation might help shape the ref’s decision next time.
George Smith should be cited. He came across as a right prick. And every single rygby-mad kid in the world was watching the game. It doesn’t take a degree in lip-reading to figure out that he wasn’t asking the ref how much time was left.
These Aussies with their pre-emptive bitching, on-field tantrums and post-match blaming are making themselves about as popular as Christiano Ronaldo in an English pub.
10 Jul 2006, 18:46 pm
Kaplan did err twice but any other referee woulkd have trippled the errors count
As Kitch Christie said once, the ABs are the masters of “Playing the Referee”, you couls see it clearly on Sat, the Wallabies looked clumsy compared with their pathetic cheat attempts
10 Jul 2006, 19:06 pm
One more big loss and most of the Aussie fans will be back watching table tennis (not referring to people on this site). Go the Boks
10 Jul 2006, 23:03 pm
Koos post#71
That’s not entirely true about runners.
I have proven you wrong!!
I had to take a dump right at the start of a big race once! I was so excited/nervous
It was really embarassing having to sneak off into the bushes while everyone else was lining up ready for the starters gun.
10 Jul 2006, 23:04 pm
Maybe it’s just a kiwi thing
Why are we always coming up with ammo for you guys to shoot us with?
11 Jul 2006, 01:04 am
Hehehe ricane, maybe it is a kiwi thing! But you sort of explain in #80 anyway, you sneaked into the bushes away from everybody…
11 Jul 2006, 01:44 am
ChiefsFan…(post 72),
in regards to your question about a referring panel and assessment.
Father knows one referee assessor, and from what he has said, the IRB through the national union appoints an impartial assessor for every referee in every international and these assessors are present at the ground. From this point I guess it goes back through the national and international channels
11 Jul 2006, 06:39 am
If I was Kaplan I would like to be saying to the Aussies;
“you think you had biased reffing, I’ll show you biased reffing” and absolutely MURDER them in the penalty count next game
Then they would see that the previous game wasn’t so bad really!
It would make a point then would it not?
11 Jul 2006, 07:20 am
Enough of your lowdown kiwi “lets wind up the refs and oppo tactics” ricane. As someone said earlier on this thread, NZ teams are master of playing the ref. We have enough problems to sort out as it is.
11 Jul 2006, 08:00 am
You may find this interesting…
The following is a link to an article by a neutral regarding Kaplan’s reffing peformance last Saturday.
11 Jul 2006, 08:18 am
I’m so sorry Clyde…
BIG HUG!
11 Jul 2006, 08:21 am
kiwi, not neutral, hes a Saffa but does make very valid points.
11 Jul 2006, 09:28 am
kiwi
What ever link you posted must have been beyond the pale for keo.
Suspect it might have been a rival blog.
11 Jul 2006, 09:34 am
Hey Clyde
Cry me a river. We got no sympathy during the Mitchell era of having a cardboard cut out captain who had no idea how to read a ref.
Gregan’s tricks are old hat, he needs to learn some new ones – and fast.
11 Jul 2006, 11:30 am
Sigh, its going to be a long cold winter with all these crowing kiwi’s, and there is a good chance it will get a whole lot worse gainst the jappies this weekend.
11 Jul 2006, 12:33 pm
Clyde
Believe it or not, I hope your Aussie team gets on and plays some good rugby and ignores these sideshow issues.
Eddie, when he was in charge was besotted with the pre and post match theatrics. Dear God, who the **** cared. Surely not the scoreboard.
11 Jul 2006, 13:03 pm
Despite last Saturday’s wuppin, I do think we are on the right track under Knuckles and his coaching team. What was so depressing last year is that you knew we were going backwards fast, but every week the names “baxter”, “young”, “lyons” and “waugh at 7″ would be read out along with twaddle from jones about lifting the completion rate to 65% on the thrid phase alignment or some such gobblegook, condemning us to defeat against all but the most inept. The Eddie approach of moanin and cheatin and blahin got two years longer than it should have because of one night only – I’m sure you kiwi’s know what game I’m referring to. In those 2 years we completely lost our way and the unpleasant reality is it is going to take awhile to come back. At least we flogged the Poms and i believe/hope we will improve on saturday’s showing at home in the july tests.
11 Jul 2006, 14:17 pm
Somebody must carry the can, & conveniently its one of us. they wouldn’t admit that they were outplayed in every respect. At least it gives us some hope, hahaha!
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