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Rob Houwing
Cape Town – Positive noises from the Sharks camp this week around the presence of Craig Joubert as Currie Cup final referee on Saturday may have only increased some nervousness among Western Province fans and camp members.
There is a contrasting big-match “heritage”, after all, involving the former corporate banker and a disgruntled Stormers team who were beaten - and pretty heavily penalised by the official - by the Bulls in this year’s Super 14 final at Orlando Stadium.
The Newlands-based franchise were led that day by Schalk Burger, who will be at the visiting team’s helm again, and he was often animated in his protest against Joubert’s decision-making.
And Burger let rip publicly afterwards, being quoted on rugby website Keo.co.za as saying: “I was unhappy with his decisions at the breakdown. I wouldn’t come out and say so unless I felt something was wrong.
“He’d coach one team at the breakdown and penalise the other.”
Compare that with the views this week of Sharks coach John Plumtree - he said he felt “reassured” by Joubert’s appointment because he had a “good feel” for the breakdowns.
Those who remember the great Currie Cup rivalry between Province and Northern Transvaal in the 1980s will also recall that a shudder in the Cape - and perhaps whoop on the Highveld - would greet any announcement that Jimmy Smith-Belton was in charge of a key clash between the two.
That referee had a reputation, whether rightly or wrongly, for being a pedantic, “stop start” sort of official who played into the hands - or so the theory went in the Newlands vicinity - of Naas Botha as a kicking factor off the tee (or rather sand heap) for the Blue Bulls.
Burger says with a chuckle he is too young to recall that era … and appeared to hold out an olive branch anyway to modern “mini-nemesis” Joubert when probed by Sport24 on Wednesday.
“Look, no one’s happy after every match. (The Super 14 final) was an isolated incident where we didn’t agree.
“Things are perfect now; he’s refereed a few games we’ve been involved in. We understand he’s under pressure, as are the players, so hopefully you’ll have a good match from both sides on Saturday.
“If the weather plays ball it will be a great spectacle and I’m sure Craig will relish that environment as much as (anyone else on the field).”
Coach Allister Coetzee had also joined the chorus of Cape criticism about Joubert’s handling after the Super 14 showpiece.
Yet he, too, was in no provocative mood at the WP press conference over the Maritzburg College and University of Natal-educated whistleman.
“I had a meeting with Craig earlier in the week … we’ve had some good discussions. I’m very positive (over) Craig. We’ve dealt with issues that have occurred before.
“I maintain he’s a very competent ref and one of the best in the country. I feel comfortable he’s blowing this final.
“I think I understand clearly what he wants at breakdowns; he’s strict in that area and we learnt some lessons from the Super 14 final.
“He was on the line when we played the Cheetahs and I asked him if he had any concerns – he was quite open and frank and felt we’d made some pretty good decisions at breakdown time.
“We must just continue with what we’re doing.”
Cape Town – Positive noises from the Sharks camp this week around the presence of Craig Joubert as Currie Cup final referee on Saturday may have only increased some nervousness among Western Province fans and camp members.
There is a contrasting big-match “heritage”, after all, involving the former corporate banker and a disgruntled Stormers team who were beaten - and pretty heavily penalised by the official - by the Bulls in this year’s Super 14 final at Orlando Stadium.
The Newlands-based franchise were led that day by Schalk Burger, who will be at the visiting team’s helm again, and he was often animated in his protest against Joubert’s decision-making.
And Burger let rip publicly afterwards, being quoted on rugby website Keo.co.za as saying: “I was unhappy with his decisions at the breakdown. I wouldn’t come out and say so unless I felt something was wrong.
“He’d coach one team at the breakdown and penalise the other.”
Compare that with the views this week of Sharks coach John Plumtree - he said he felt “reassured” by Joubert’s appointment because he had a “good feel” for the breakdowns.
Those who remember the great Currie Cup rivalry between Province and Northern Transvaal in the 1980s will also recall that a shudder in the Cape - and perhaps whoop on the Highveld - would greet any announcement that Jimmy Smith-Belton was in charge of a key clash between the two.
That referee had a reputation, whether rightly or wrongly, for being a pedantic, “stop start” sort of official who played into the hands - or so the theory went in the Newlands vicinity - of Naas Botha as a kicking factor off the tee (or rather sand heap) for the Blue Bulls.
Burger says with a chuckle he is too young to recall that era … and appeared to hold out an olive branch anyway to modern “mini-nemesis” Joubert when probed by Sport24 on Wednesday.
“Look, no one’s happy after every match. (The Super 14 final) was an isolated incident where we didn’t agree.
“Things are perfect now; he’s refereed a few games we’ve been involved in. We understand he’s under pressure, as are the players, so hopefully you’ll have a good match from both sides on Saturday.
“If the weather plays ball it will be a great spectacle and I’m sure Craig will relish that environment as much as (anyone else on the field).”
Coach Allister Coetzee had also joined the chorus of Cape criticism about Joubert’s handling after the Super 14 showpiece.
Yet he, too, was in no provocative mood at the WP press conference over the Maritzburg College and University of Natal-educated whistleman.
“I had a meeting with Craig earlier in the week … we’ve had some good discussions. I’m very positive (over) Craig. We’ve dealt with issues that have occurred before.
“I maintain he’s a very competent ref and one of the best in the country. I feel comfortable he’s blowing this final.
“I think I understand clearly what he wants at breakdowns; he’s strict in that area and we learnt some lessons from the Super 14 final.
“He was on the line when we played the Cheetahs and I asked him if he had any concerns – he was quite open and frank and felt we’d made some pretty good decisions at breakdown time.
“We must just continue with what we’re doing.”
