Kaplan’s ‘break’ just coincidence
14 Mar 2011
André Watson says referee Jonathan Kaplan hasn’t been punished for the error made in Wales’ Six Nations win over Ireland last weekend.
The Sanzar manager of referees confirmed that Kaplan will be on Six Nations duty this weekend. Watson also added that the reason for Kaplan’s two-week break in Super Rugby thereafter is to give him time to rest.
Kaplan has been heavily criticised after his decision to allow Wales scrumhalf Mike Phillips’ try after a quick lineout, which proved to be the deciding score in Wales’ 19-13 victory in Cardiff. Replays showed that Phillips received the wrong ball from the touchline, meaning the try should have been disallowed.
Now Fox Sports have reported that Kaplan has been given a ‘three-week break’ after the howler at the Millennium Stadium, but Watson denied this.
‘Jonathan hasn’t been given a break because of the mistake,’ Watson told keo.co.za. ‘The referee appointments for the next four weeks were made last Tuesday, so last Saturday’s incident didn’t influence anything.
‘Jonathan will be on Six Nations duty this weekend and will be rested for two weeks as he returns to South Africa before his next Super Rugby appointment on 9 April.’
Watson doesn’t believe Kaplan should be blamed for the mistake.
‘Kaplan isn’t allowed to ask the TMO for help in that situation. That’s IRB protocol,’ says Watson. ‘He asked the assistant referee for advice and the decision was made. It’s the same situation when asking the assistant referee if the player was out or not.
‘The fact that it was the wrong decision was unfortunate and I guess it’s fair for everybody to expect the match officials to get something so basic correct. I don’t believe anybody should be singled out though. We will have to wait and see what [head of IRB's referee board] Paddy O’Brien says about the incident.’
By Gareth Duncan
42 Comments
14 Mar 2011, 09:46 am
I watched some European rugby this weekend.
It is absolutely shocking how little of the laws of the game these UK commentators know.
14 Mar 2011, 09:59 am
Doesn’t this sound familiar, if we think back a few years when the Boks played Ireland and Steve Walsh told John Smit to have a word with his team and then Ireland took a quick tap and a try was awarded.
Sorry Ireland but swings and roundabouts!
14 Mar 2011, 10:05 am
Point is also very clear, Kaplan did not make an error, the Assistant Referee from Scotland did. Kaplan was not allowed to consult the TMO for a decision.
14 Mar 2011, 10:16 am
Seriously? You guys don’t know how to spell “coincidence”?
O tempora, o mores.
14 Mar 2011, 10:29 am
paul honiss told smit to talk to his players and the allowed o’gara to score…not steve walsh
14 Mar 2011, 10:44 am
Nothing like double standards in reffing. Honiss got fockall neither that **** Rolland.
This poor rugby politics lining up your refs for the RWC. You would have though the Kiwis could win it on their own
14 Mar 2011, 10:47 am
Kaplan has been cooking games for the Bulls for years. We know he cooked the Rebels / Brumbies match.
14 Mar 2011, 11:03 am
ja this oke must retire now, infact once a ref reaches 50 years retirement must be compulsory.
14 Mar 2011, 11:19 am
Kaplan did absolutely nothing wrong. His words to the assistant ref were “was it the same ball?” to which the assistant replied “yes” and Kaplan then blew for the try.
14 Mar 2011, 11:21 am
Kaplan should have gone upstairs and asked :”Is there any reason I cannot award this try”.
Its actually quite amazing cos him and his sidekick watched the ball as it went out.And the penalty in the Rebels game,lets not go there,he has been diabolic,this fellow must be put down ASAP!
14 Mar 2011, 11:23 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-3: Yes, but that fact is inconvenient for Keo, who has decided he doesn’t like Kaplan any more
14 Mar 2011, 11:34 am
@Izwe Lethu(Koos van der merwe)-10:
He is not allowed to.
14 Mar 2011, 12:10 pm
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-9:
Absolutely CORRECT Yeti.
Kaplans only failing in this instance, is that he put faith in another Official, to get this decision right.
“To err is human…………………………………………………….”
14 Mar 2011, 12:29 pm
Why waste time and ask for the TMO when he asked the *** ref was it the right ball.. He used the *** ref judgement on this. Why will he get into trouble for it? If the *** ref said he was not sure. Kaplan would have asked the TMO if the right ball was used. He asked the *** Ref he used that before he award the try…
14 Mar 2011, 12:30 pm
Sweet karma against the bogtrotters. Just a pity the ref wasn’t Honiss or Dickenson.
14 Mar 2011, 13:42 pm
some of you dont seem to understand that watson said kaplan could not have gone to the tmo as protocol does not allow it.
it appeared obvious that kaplan himself was unsure about the correct ball being used henceforth his question to the assistant referee who said the correct ball was used..
so stop placing the blame on kaplan.
14 Mar 2011, 13:45 pm
@norman(norman)-16:
Kaplan cannot be faulted on this issue.
14 Mar 2011, 13:53 pm
I do not envy the job of a referee in Rugby Union. The rule book is as thick as “War and Peace”.
14 Mar 2011, 14:18 pm
@Chaotc99(Chaotc99)-14: what is a ***ref? is that out of a possible rating of *****?
14 Mar 2011, 14:28 pm
@cane(cane)-17: What about in the Rebels game? How come he is always involved when it comes to dodgy calls. Check his bank accounts I say!
14 Mar 2011, 17:04 pm
Kaplan must shoulder the responsibility.
He has form in this regard… he made the same mistake last year in NZ in a club game when the ball was handled by players on a bench.
If Kaplan needed to check with the TJ if the same ball was used he needs to go to specsavers. The whole stadium saw the ball going into the stand.
Even if he didn’t the ball boy clearly handed the ball for the throw in to the Welsh hooker who also had his right foot in play and threw a crooked throw.
Bad reffing .. end of.
14 Mar 2011, 17:53 pm
I’m talking out of my a*s*s, but the smiley makes it OK
14 Mar 2011, 19:59 pm
Kaplan is an absolute disgrace of a referee and has no place on the international circuit.
His refereeing is saturated in bias and shrouded in a clear fragrant disregard for the spirit of fair play. Like the buffoon W*tson before him he seems to ref to his own interpretation of who he feels deserves to win. More often than not he will whistle to fabricate a close contest.
7 out of 8 of England’s most recent yellow cards have been whistled by Safa refs. If a poor unbringing and inadequate schooling left you with an axe to grind over certain nationalities then so be it. But leave it behind when you step onto a rugby pitch.
14 Mar 2011, 22:02 pm
South Africans perception that they have hot **** refs is their perception only. Trust me.
14 Mar 2011, 22:05 pm
@StMichel(StMichel)-23:
Gotta agree… the AR tried to talk and he just interrupted him to ask was it the “correct ball”
“correct” could mean…. straight throw? (no by the way), did it go 5m? (yes)… was the lineout formed? (No… no 2 Welsh Players) … taken properly? ( No, hookers foot in field of play).
If he asked “Was the same ball used?” the answer may have been different, but probably not. They were both clueless.
Kaplan needs to be sanctioned fore sure.
14 Mar 2011, 22:06 pm
@Uitlander(Uitlander)-24: uitlanders perceptions that saffas perceptions that we have hotshit refs are only perceptions are only their perception.
trust me.
14 Mar 2011, 22:11 pm
Can we now all have a beer and a braai and call the “go talk to your players” quits?
14 Mar 2011, 22:17 pm
I originally thought that Kaplan was not at fault, having asked the touchie if it was the same ball. However, if you watch the replay, you will see that Kaplan was about 5 metres from Rees and looking at him when the ballboy gave Rees the ball. What the touchie saw or didn’t see shouldn’t have mattered. No quick lineouts are allowed if someone else (like the ballboy) touches the ball. Kaplan screwed up royally.
14 Mar 2011, 22:21 pm
@SteveW(SteveW)-28:
Wrong ball, Hooker’s foot in play, crooked throw in… take your pick.
15 Mar 2011, 01:06 am
29. Flametop(Flametop)
And another, courtesy of SA Referees website. For a quick throw-in, it must be thrown in between where it went out and the players goal line. Doesn’t matter that Sexton sent it directly into touch outside his 22.
After Watson retired, I thought for several years that Kaplan was the top referee in the world. A bit pedantic, but accurate. Now he is just pedantic.
15 Mar 2011, 03:32 am
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-7: “Kaplan has been cooking games for the Bulls for years. We know he cooked the Rebels / Brumbies match.”
That one they cooked up themselves.
15 Mar 2011, 07:35 am
Amazing that as humans we will always focus on the negative and quickly forget the good. Kaplan is one of the few ref’s that does not jump all over his whistle and tries to get the game flowing without blowing for all possible infringement – like the School Principal refs in the Nothern hemisphere who feel that the players and spectators are there to watch them perform….ALL refs make mistakes and trust me most of them make lot more than the few you remember of Kaplan. He is simply a class act (not perfect) and probably in the top 3 in the world at present, like it or not
15 Mar 2011, 07:38 am
If you look carefully at the games Kaplan ref’s they end up been more attractive and enjoyable to watch as the players respond to Kaplan’s calming influence – he does not huff and puff and get all worked up. I remember after the Boks got pomped in a stop start last against NZ in the TN last year the NZ’ers played Aussies the next game which was voted the most attractive game of the entire tournament – your guess who was the ref……KAPLAN
15 Mar 2011, 07:44 am
@Izwe Lethu(Koos van der merwe)-10:
If he had asked that question TMO would have said “yes”. TMO could not have made the decision with regards to the lineout error.
Kaplan is not at fault it is the doofus from scotland.
Kaplan asked the question to the touch referee and he said “same ball”. he has to have every confidence in his refereeing team.
15 Mar 2011, 07:46 am
@husky(husky)-15:
There is nothing wrong with Dickenson…he refs a good game but the saffa teams dont play a good game so thats why their supporters think he is wrong.
15 Mar 2011, 07:49 am
@StMichel(StMichel)-23:
Who have we here!!
Long time no see since the English started getting the pomp.
You made many an enterance when the engrish were world champions!!
What happened to you?
15 Mar 2011, 12:23 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-35: Hahahahahaha.
15 Mar 2011, 12:28 pm
@StMichel(StMichel)-23: You are bitter person.
Your last two lines of your post there is in poor form.
15 Mar 2011, 12:30 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-35: Behave Walla…hehehe.
How you mate? Hope well.
What has happened to your Brumbies Walla?
15 Mar 2011, 13:00 pm
It was the British AR”s fault.
Typical.
15 Mar 2011, 13:02 pm
@Puma(Puma)-38:
What more can you expect from a class of people that think its their birthright to buggerthe stable boys.
15 Mar 2011, 13:24 pm
@Puma(Puma)-39:
Dammit you on to me…I was looking to light up the board!!
I am good only that the year is a quater of the way through I have done next to nothing.
I dont care for the Brumbies this year when they get rid of their coach. i am getting tired of their get rid of the coach the players have spoken culture. I hope they get a belting from all and sundry. On the back of this I hope the CEO steps in a says to them put in or p..s off.
Funny how that Giteau is captain and the Brumbies are all over the place. Funny how Deans did not see leadership in him. He gets back to Brumbies and we see the coach sacked.
I am looking for a new aussie side to support for this year until Giteau and his meery men pee off…take Larkham with you Mr Giteau. Meneer larkham was also part of the revolt in 2004.
Puma, sorry you asked about the brumbies…:lol:
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