Share

Mitchell: Rugby is getting a 'little bit tender'

Pretoria - Bulls coach John Mitchell has raised questions over the standard of refereeing once again following his side's 39-33 win over the Sharks at Loftus on Saturday. 

READ: Mallett: Why is a Kiwi refereeing a Kiwi side in SA?

In the pick of the weekend matches from a South African perspective, fans were treated to a pulsating affair that saw a total of nine tries scored on the day. 

It was a result that has launched the Bulls back into Super Rugby playoff contention, but speaking after the match Mitchell opened up on the officiating.

"The game is getting a little bit tender if that’s a yellow card, but unfortunately, we had to deal with it," said Mitchell, responding to RG Snyman's sin bin for a late hit on Curwin Bosch. 

The Sharks were also guilty of ill-discipline, losing both Bosch and Lukhanyo Am to yellow cards from referee Rasta Rasivhenge at different stages. 

"Every referee has his own idiosyncrasies and he is also reliant on his ARs (assistant referees) and sometimes the ARs can be a little under fatigue," Mitchell added.

Still, the former All Black coach was satisfied with his team's overall performance. 

"We gave away a few soft tries and left a few points out there ourselves, but I was really impressed with the attitude of the guys," he said.

"One of the things I’m enjoying about the side is the maturity and calmness that comes with it. It enables us to reset and re-establish momentum. That’s a really important part of our growth."

The Bulls now travel to Argentina for a tricky clash against the high-flying Jaguares.

 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1271 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1469 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2240 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE