Springboks legend in hot water over ref rant

South Africa manager of rugby Rassie Erasmus dared World Rugby successful an hour-long video diatribe past week to travel aft him and the governing assemblage responded by citing him for misconduct.

Erasmus has publically criticised the lucifer officials successful the ongoing bid with the British and Irish Lions, and it was condemned by World Rugby successful a statement. The assemblage besides cited SA Rugby and censured the absorption of some teams. They were reminded of "their obligations regarding the values of the sport."

Erasmus began taking potshots astatine the Lions earlier the trial series, aft Lions manager Warren Gatland criticized a reckless precocious tackle by Faf de Klerk portion playing for South Africa A.

Erasmus past utilized videos connected societal media to question the legality of Owen Farrell's tackle technique. But the erstwhile Springboks manager escalated the tit-for-tat aft the Lions won the archetypal trial 22-17.

He reposted Twitter videos of alleged foul play by the Lions successful the test, past denied the archetypal relationship was his burner account.

But the amusement turned unconventional past week erstwhile Erasmus fronted a 62-minute video which savaged the refereeing of Nic Berry successful the archetypal test. Erasmus utilized 26 clips to item mistakes oregon inconsistencies that helium believed outgo the Springboks.

Springboks adjunct manager Mzwandile Stick accused the Lions of "destroying the dignity of the series" erstwhile they raised concerns astir the assignment of South African Marius Jonker arsenic the tv lucifer official.

Rassie Erasmus, South Africa Director of Rugby looks connected during the 2nd Test betwixt South Africa Springboks and British & Irish Lions astatine Cape Town Stadium connected July 31, 2021 successful Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) (Getty)

Springboks manager Jacques Nienaber said earlier the 2nd trial connected Saturday that Erasmus had their support. They won the 2nd trial 27-9 and the bid is going to a decider this Saturday successful Cape Town.

World Rugby asked SA Rugby for an mentation past Friday and made the treble citing with a rebuke of some squad managements.

"Match officials are the backbone of the sport, and without them determination is nary game," the connection said.

"World Rugby condemns immoderate nationalist disapproval of their selection, show oregon integrity which undermines their role, the good established and trust-based coach-officials feedback process, and much importantly, the values that are astatine the bosom of the sport.

"Having conducted a afloat reappraisal of each the disposable information, World Rugby is acrophobic that individuals from some teams person commented connected the enactment and/or show of lucifer officials.

"However, the extended and nonstop quality of the comments made by Rassie Erasmus wrong a video address, successful particular, meets the threshold to beryllium considered a breach of World Rugby regularisation 18 (misconduct and codification of conduct) and volition present beryllium considered by an autarkic disciplinary panel.

"World Rugby has reminded the absorption of some teams of the value of this country and their obligations regarding the values of the sport."

A proceeding day was not given, which could escaped Erasmus to proceed successful the trial bid arsenic a h2o bearer besides passing on-field messages.

World Rugby added it volition reappraisal its codification of behaviour successful narration to the nationalist criticisms of the lucifer officials to fortify its rules and sanctions.

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