Tuesday's rugby wrap

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Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn has refuted media claims that Stade Francais are willing to release him from his contract.

French newspaper Midi Olympique reported the French Top 14 giants would agree to release Steyn from his three-year contract after just one season.

Steyn has made just 15 appearances for the Parisian club since joining them in October last year, with young Frenchman Jules Plisson the favoured choice at pivot.

It was reported that Stade would be willing to release Steyn from his contract provided they are able to reach an amicable agreement.

However, the Springbok responded on Tuesday via his official Twitter account, saying he will see out his three-year contract.

He tweeted: "It's is always nice to read my future plans in the media,clever people!!I am at Stade Francais till 2016!Have a blessed day."

Maybe the newspaper jumped the gun or has Steyn not yet been informed of something new by his club...?

TIME FOR WHITE CARDS IN RUGBY

In addition to yellow and red cards, has the time come for the introduction of white cards in rugby?

IRB REFS NAMED

The International Rugby Board has announced the match official appointments for upcoming November internationals.

Appointments were made by the IRB Match Official Selection Committee at its recent meeting in Dublin and follow a detailed review of recent performances during the June international window, the Rugby Championship and other matches.

The Springboks will play four Tests on their European tour: Ireland in Dublin (November 8), England in London (November 15), Italy in Padova (November 22) and Wales in Cardiff (November 29).

France's Romain Poite will be the man in the middle in the Boks opener in Dublin, while Australia's Steve Walsh will handle duties at Twickenham a week later.

The Boks' Test against Italy in Padova will be officiated by France's Jerome Garces, while their season-ended clash against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will be handled by Ireland's John Lacey.

South Africa’s Craig Joubert will kick off a busy month of Tests as teams and officials begin the countdown to Rugby World Cup 2015, when he takes charge of the New Zealand v USA fixture at Soldier Field in Chicago on November 1.

FAIL MARK FOR REFEREES?

Now that the 2014 Rugby Championship has concluded, former referee Jonathan Kaplan has listed his top performances in the tournament - from a referee point of view.

"I have had a good look at the referees in the Championship and think they will concede that there is much room for growth even the best of them had an off day, so I will say the alarm bells are ringing, but not sure if anyone is listening... Yet!" said Kaplan on his website www.ratetheref.co.za.

Kaplan's Top 3 performances were:

Nigel Owens - SA v Australia at Newlands

Jerome Garces - NZ v SA in Wellington

Craig Joubert - Argentina v NZ in Buenos Aires

Kaplan thought Pascal Gaüzère (NZ v Argentina) George Clancy (Australia v SA) and Nigel Owens (Argentina v Australia) had off days.

SONNY BILL IS BACK FOLKS!

Sonny Bill Williams will make his second return to rugby union from the bench after being named among the replacements on Tuesday for Counties Manukau's provincial clash against Auckland in New Zealand's ITM Cup on Wednesday.

PETER DE VILLIERS BACK IN THE NEWS!

Former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has dismissed rumours linking him to the vacant position of Technical Director at the Zimbabwe Rugby Union.

The Daily News in Zimbabwe has reported that De Villiers expressed his interest in the position, which recently became vacant after Liam Middleton resigned to take up the job of head coach of the Canada Sevens side.

However De Villiers, the current Director of Rugby at the University of the Western Cape, denied that he expressed interest in the role.

He told Rugby365 that the reports are "just rumours".

De Villiers was however keen to find out more about what the role entailed.

He asked: "What is the position, is it a coaching role?"

This shows he was unaware that the role was even being advertised.

Anyhow, why would P Divvy want to give up coaching UWC - who are aiming to get into the top division of the Varsity Cup - for a rugby role in Zimbabwe...?

COURTING CONTROVERSY?

Player ratings featured on a NZ website following the Springboks' Rugby Championship victory over the All Blacks at Ellis Park last weekend, has drawn the ire of local fans.

I really have no problem that the referee went back once he was alerted to the incident via the big screen. That’s what technology is there for - to help spot things the officials miss!

And so what if the TV producer played it over and over on the big screen to catch the attentions of the crowd and referee.

If that game was played in New Zealand and it was a Springbok player performing that tackle on an All Black, they would surely have shown it on their screens as well…

Former South African referee Jonathan Kaplan has questioned the decision to award the Springboks a penalty on the back of television replays late in their Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park last Saturday.

The Boks were awarded a penalty after TV replays on the big screen showed Liam Messam perform an illegal tackle on Schalk Burger.

Pat Lambie converted the kick from 55m out to hand the Boks a 27-25 victory.

Kaplan, writing on his website www.ratetheref.co.za, feels the Boks may have been slightly fortunate that English referee Wayne Barnes decided to go back and refer the decision once it was shown on the big screen:

"The Boks dominated the first half, the All Blacks the second. In the end, the game came down to a decision by the TV producer to highlight a misdemeanour by Liam Messam on Schalk Burger, which all the officials missed in real time. After finding the clip, and then replaying it over and over, eventually the match officials decided it was worthy of review, and correctly awarded a penalty to the Boks which Pat Lambie (who has oodles of BMT) converted to win the game. The TMO himself seemed a bit confused by referring to the fact that he thought perhaps arms were used in the tackle which was hardly the point. It was a swinging arm and a dangerous tackle.

"If you are a Bok supporter, you will be saying we deserved it, and how many times it happened against us. The protocol and process will mean nothing. But there is an important point to make here. I doubt (very much) whether that clip would have been brought up on the screen by producers in Australia or New Zealand and replayed over and over. Is it right that someone outside of the domain of the match officials can affect the outcome of a major Test match? And how neutral is he? In the end, it was his alertness that drew the attention of the crowd to the high tackle, they got into it, the officials then decided to take a look, and the resultant penalty determined the outcome."

RIB INJURY FOR TAUTE

WP centre Jaco Taute has the same rib injury that plagued Duane Vermeulen before the All Black Test last week.

The Cape side won't risk him for this Saturday's Currie Cup clash with the Sharks as they have already secured top spot on the log.

SHARKS TO MISS JORDAAN

In case you missed it last night, Sharks centre Paul Jordaan will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a fracture dislocation on his hip. He has undergone surgery, which will rule him out of action for approximately six months.

STOKKIES BLOW FOR LIONS

Golden Lions centre Stokkies Hanekom has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after breaking his leg.

FRENCH GIANTS WANTS MORNE STEYN OUT

French Top 14 club Stade Francais are keen to release Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn from his contract, according to reports in French newspaper Midi Olympique.

Steyn has made just 15 appearances for the Parisian club since joining them on a three-year deal in October last year, with young Frenchman Jules Plisson the favoured choice at pivot.

It is understood that Stade would be willing to release Steyn from his contract provided they are able to reach an amicable agreement.

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Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert