Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Nick Mallett has expressed his disappointment at senior South African players' conduct towards referees.
As it happened: Stormers v Sharks
The former Springbok coach was speaking in the SuperSport studio following the Sharks' 34-10 Super Rugby victory over the Stormers at the weekend.
"I'm very unhappy with the lack of respect and the lack of control shown by our senior players at the moment when it comes to referees. I've got a feeling that there's too much familiarity between the players and the refs and it's bred contempt. On the field in pressurised situations, players feel they have a right to challenge the referee in a way that's becoming very soccer-like. It's something that I really don't like and something that you don't want in rugby whatsoever," said Mallett.
"The only way to stop it is for the referees out there to not tolerate any abuse and to not tolerate any questioning of their decisions, even if it's by a captain, if it's not done in the proper way. We don't want to see schoolboys taking the example of senior Springbok players challenging the referee time and time again, publicly on television. It's not right and it has no place on a rugby field."
Both Stormers captain Schalk Burger and his Sharks counterpart, Bismarck du Plessis, could be heard questioning referee Jaco Peyper's decisions on numerous occasions last Saturday night.
Bismarck's brother Jannie - who is no stranger to on-field complaining - was also warned at one stage during the game by Peyper to keep quiet.
As it happened: Stormers v Sharks
The former Springbok coach was speaking in the SuperSport studio following the Sharks' 34-10 Super Rugby victory over the Stormers at the weekend.
"I'm very unhappy with the lack of respect and the lack of control shown by our senior players at the moment when it comes to referees. I've got a feeling that there's too much familiarity between the players and the refs and it's bred contempt. On the field in pressurised situations, players feel they have a right to challenge the referee in a way that's becoming very soccer-like. It's something that I really don't like and something that you don't want in rugby whatsoever," said Mallett.
"The only way to stop it is for the referees out there to not tolerate any abuse and to not tolerate any questioning of their decisions, even if it's by a captain, if it's not done in the proper way. We don't want to see schoolboys taking the example of senior Springbok players challenging the referee time and time again, publicly on television. It's not right and it has no place on a rugby field."
Both Stormers captain Schalk Burger and his Sharks counterpart, Bismarck du Plessis, could be heard questioning referee Jaco Peyper's decisions on numerous occasions last Saturday night.
Bismarck's brother Jannie - who is no stranger to on-field complaining - was also warned at one stage during the game by Peyper to keep quiet.
