Joubert to ref final
17 Oct 2011
South Africa’s Craig Joubert will referee Sunday’s World Cup final between the All Blacks and France.
Joubert, who took charge of the New Zealand versus Australia semi-final, becomes only the second South African to take charge of the grand final after Andre Watson, who has enjoyed the responsibility on two occasions. The appointment was made by the IRB’s Match Official Selection Committee in Auckland on Monday following a thorough review of performances during the knock-out phase.
Joubert will be joined by Alain Rolland (Ireland) and Nigel Owens (Wales) as assistant referees and Giulio De Santis (Italy) as Television Match Official.
Meanwhile, Wayne Barnes will take charge of the Bronze Final between Australia and Wales on Friday. The Englishman will be supported by assistant referees Romain Poite (France) and George Clancy (Ireland) with Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) as Television Match Official.
IRB Referee Manager Paddy O’Brien said: ‘The IRB Match Official Selection Committee was delighted with Craig and Alain’s performances in the semi-finals. Alain will perform the reserve referee role should he be required.
‘We may be nearing the conclusion of what has been a truly superb Rugby World Cup, but our focus remains firmly on consistency, penalising the clear and the obvious and tackling the ‘big five’ areas.
‘Collectively we continue to work together as a unit and maintain a zero tolerance attitude towards infringements and foul play across the key areas of the game. In that regard, I would also like to thank the coaches for their buy-in to the process during this tournament.’
Joubert said: ‘It is an enormous honour to get the final and I would like to thank Paddy and the Committee for giving me the opportunity. The whole team has performed superbly, assisted each other and bonded over the course of the last six weeks and I would like to thank them for their support and best wishes. I am now really looking forward to getting out there and enjoying the occasion.’
262 Comments
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17 Oct 2011, 23:02 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-235:
You world-class beauty Sherrif – that is EXCELLENT humour … count me in
18 Oct 2011, 04:04 am
The ability to accept a defeat – even one as traumatic as a loss in a Rugby World Cup semi-final – without making excuses is the mark of a team that has the potential for growth. It brings into focus the lack of class shown by all levels of South African rugby following their defeat by the Wallabies at Wellington in the quarter-final.
18 Oct 2011, 04:06 am
You expect supporters to go over the top with their criticism of the referee, but John Smit was boorish with his uninformed tirade against Bryce Lawrence. The intervention of Andre Watson, the boss of the South African referees’ association, was even more appalling. SANZAR or the International Rugby Board, preferably both, should fine him heavily for his stupid intervention
18 Oct 2011, 04:07 am
With their thoughtful reactions to their loss, the Wallabies acknowledged the work needed to achieve a No.1 ranking. This is exactly the reaction the All Blacks and their coaching staff showed after their quarter-final loss to France in 2007.
18 Oct 2011, 04:08 am
But what does SA rugby and its fans do, they continue to tell the world how good they are despite losing a dozen test matches in recent years.
18 Oct 2011, 04:30 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-255:
*** don’t be doos……………oh sorry you can’t help it…
Sa and its supporters are no different from you blokes in 2007
Go back and look at the newspapers and the quotes from all and sundry wanting to lynch Barnes, the whinging and moaning and repercussions went on for months; the huge waste on money spent on a faaking report longer than the bible on what went wrong after the loss in 2007 etc etc , blah blah blah
Jeez half the country wanted to lynch Ted Henry! It divided the country like an election when Ted wanted to reappy……. *** me it was pathetic
Get a grip dude
So Smit was quoted as saying he’s happy Bryce won’t ref him again. It was a tongue in cheek dig and raised a smile or two. The coaches had very little to say about the ref and quite frankly the players, Matfield and co were bloody good sports after the game
Some bloggers here need to build a bridge, but in comparrison to you blokes in 2007 its like a drop in the ocean!!
Do not be so friggn arrogant and one eyed
In fact grow the *** up you have won nothing yet!
18 Oct 2011, 04:37 am
@whatever(whatever)-256:
I didn’t write it sunshine it was a Tranny cut and paste, your ranked 4th and lucky to be that high, so a 1/4 exit was about right, enjoy the final.
18 Oct 2011, 04:59 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-257:
Mate those little digs do sweet f uk all to me. It’s a game of footie, not life or death.
If your whole world is based around the position on the world rankings of your national rugby team, then you have issues, big time. Get a life, live a little, look around you 99% of the world don’t give a flying f uk about who has the better rugby team.
Does it really mean that much to you? Would you go into depression if you lost on Sunday. By the sounds of it, yes….thats really sad
18 Oct 2011, 06:46 am
@whatever(whatever)-258:
righto mate, for a guy who doesn’t care you sure spend a lot of time around here talking about rugby , yip it means plenty for us to win the thing not sure how that equates to me not having a life though, as you said you don’t care and that is reflected in Bokke results in recent years nobody does seem to care
18 Oct 2011, 22:22 pm
Ah, by appointing Joubert, is it the ultimate way that South Africa will get revenge for Bryce’s bad refereeing? Will he blow Richie to pieces every time he touches the ball? Will that make up for the Bokke’s lost? Hardly! The bokke lost the WC two years ago already.
Joubert is a good choice. Best out there at the moment. And no he didn’t blow one sided and favored the Aussies. He blew as he saw the Aussies transgres (#7) as they always do when they are on the losing end.
18 Oct 2011, 22:36 pm
@Amerifikaner(Amerifikaner)-260: I reckon Joubert is right in Paddy’s pocket, sorry to say.
Although his reffing was night and day in comparison to the Brycedup QF.
I also reckon Henry was given a choice as to who he would prefer to ref the final: Joubert, Barnes or Rolland.
Barnes would be too obvious due to overcompensation – France would have to throw passes 10m behind or they would be called forward.
Rolland was Paddy’s favourite.
Paddy is probably a bit worried about Joubert but Henry was obviously delighted with the Semi result so he probably thought keeping the momentum with the same ref is probably best.
Kiwis reckon they have won the final already – ticker tape is already organised- so they aren’t too hassled overall…
18 Oct 2011, 23:01 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-240:
Well you guys had an honest ref and you only managed one try.
Try pulling your head out off you a-s.
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