World Rugby wrong to hang Craig Joubert out to dry over Scotland decision

Geoffrey Riddle writes an ill-thought precedent has been set with the calling out by World Rugby of Craig Joubert, one that undermines officialdom itself in matches.

South African referee Craig Joubert blows the whistle during the Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Australia and Scotland at Twickenham on Sunday. Matt Dunham / AP / October 18, 2015

Craig Joubert is a 37-year-old man, who on Sunday night was doing his job to the best of his ability. On Monday night the international governing body of rugby union hung him out to dry. World Rugby issued a statement to clarify that following a review of all camera angles available to the World Rugby Match Official Selection committee, a body of six men including the match performance official manager Joel Jutge, Joubert had made an incorrect decision during the Rugby World Cup match between Australia and Scotland.

Where Joubert had given Australia a penalty in the dying minutes of the quarter-final he was officiating at Twickenham that resulted in the Wallabies beating Scotland 35-34, according to the hindsight of World Rugby he should have actually given a scrum.

They did not point out any of the other incorrect decisions that Joubert had made throughout the night. Nor did they highlight any of the incorrect decisions that other referees had made throughout the tournament.

Do you remember the last mistake you made at work? Imagine your employers released a statement to the world’s media underlining it? Joubert must be looking up the best no-win, no-fee Human Resources lawyer he can find.

By releasing that statement, World Rugby have entirely undermined Joubert, the position of the referee as their representative on the pitch and themselves.

Joubert was chosen by World Rugby to arbitrate in Sunday’s quarter-final through a process they were clearly comfortable with. If they were not happy with his performance they should have told him behind closed doors.

From now on, if any referee makes a decision that is contentious in the eyes of the media, and possibly even social media, World Rugby are going to be forced in to releasing a statement following this precedent. And where will that lead rugby to?

According to the clear television match official guidelines Joubert was in no position to go upstairs to consult New Zealand’s Ben Skeen. Joubert made a decision based on what he had seen.

In accordance with Law 6.A.4, the referee remains, “the sole judge of fact and Law during a match”.

William Webb Ellis was said to have picked up the football and run with it at Rugby school in 1823, a time when not nearly the entire population of Britain had the vote. If the sport was invented in today’s democracy, there is little chance a referee figure would be put in place. Most likely a whistle would be blown by a panel of referees and a decision would be arrived at by interactive, real-time viewers’ poll.

Most of the former players at the centre of this debate need to hang their heads in shame. World Cup winner Matt Dawson was part of the BBC radio commentary team for the match, and at the time he described Joubert’s sharp exit from the field of play after he had blown the whistle as “sprinting”. Joubert no more than jogged off.

The disgust of Scotland legends Gavin Hastings and Kenny Logan have been widely quoted in the British media, but they are hardly impartial witnesses.

Joubert was wrong to leave the field of play without facing the Scottish players he had consigned to defeat through his decision – regardless of whether, as has been laughably mooted, that he needed to visit the bathroom or not.

His choice to run off in to the tunnel lacked the grace displayed by Scotland coach Vern Cotter and captain Greig Laidlaw during their media commitments following the game.

But during the game Joubert was doing his job, and that is surely all we can ask for?

World Rugby needs to take a hard look at themselves for undermining a referee in such a way, as do those still criticising Joubert.

It is not the first time that Joubert has made a poor decision in a high-profile game – he continually missed Richie McCaw’s transgressions in the 2011 World Cup final won by New Zealand against France.

It is unlikely to be the last time he makes a mistake, and no referee is perfect. We either all need to deal with it, or face the consequences of interminable interjections from further television match officials in the future.

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