Monthly Archives: June 2007

We’ve had a really good week of seeing the local sights (hippo and croc from a boat) and then a 12 hour safari trek into one of the Richards Bay game reserve. Arriving at 6 in the morning, within 10 mins we’d found 2 white rhino lurking near the road. Not a bad start! But it then took us another 9 hours to find what we really wanted – elephants. We’d just given up hope when we’d stopped to see some giraffes. As we were taking spome pcs, we heard an elephant trumpeting not far. Headed back up the road and found 3 of the little beauties in the woods we had just driven past. Great stuff.

 Thursday saw us meet up with our international colleagues who had arrived from Cape Town and we were hosted by the South African Air Force who flew us in a helicopter up the Durban coast line. What a trip. Doors open all the way!

Friday night saw our final games, in charge of the U20s play off games. With the Tri-Nations game later today, there isnt much on this weekend, so these were pretty tame affairs. Mine was a 52-5 final score. The way they worked it is a bit idd. At the half way pount in the U20s league they take the league positions and do a cup comp base don 1 v 8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5 etc etc for a cup comp. Was obvious why the sides I had were 1st and bottom.

College Rovers U20s were the best structured side Ive seen since being out here. They played as a 15, made good yards, were disciplined and scored some excellent tries. The visitors, Jaguars played valiantly but just werent good enough, even with two new irish lads who had just arrived in the province for a few months off-season rugby.

I think Terry’s game was pretty similar, but without the skills I had.

Well, must dash, got to go pick up my tickets for this afternoon.

Next post will probably be from home where I’ll sum this whole trip up.

Thought Id tell you about my disciplinary hearing on Wednesday night.

The player pleads not guilty to punching. Fair enough I thought. Perhaps he was pleading provocation or he hadn’t actually made contact. No, his arguement was that he slapped the guy not punched him. In my mind it was clear. In the law book it says “striking” so doesnt matter a jot either way!!

Anyway, after explaining what he thought had happened, his club chairman says “We’ve also got this video that proves it”. In the vid goes, and lo and behold, shows exactly what Id said in my report. A clear right hook, to the face, after the whistle.

I couldnt believe it and the look on the panels face showed I wasnt alone.

 How silly. They found him guilty and he got 3 weeks.

Well, another two games each out of the way. The Friday night rugby here is a curious thing. We’ve had various chats about the standard of it between the two of us and we seem to be agreed that it is at out Division 2 intensity, but London 1 skill level stuff. It’s very ferocious stuff, but there is very little game planning or structure involved.

I did College Rovers v Crusaders. Crusaders took it away in the first half, getting 2 good tries early on. Five minute yellow card was, I think, my quickest of the year. I talked myself down from it being a red. Maul situation, ball coming out, the defending hooker took offence to something and threw a rather tasty punch. Fortunatley for him, it didnt land, and he was instantly apologietic (not that that had any effect on me) so he had a sterm talking to and a 10 minute break.  Had two incompetent props, one ofn each side which caused some grief at scrum time. I knew it wasnt going to be easy as Id had probs with the same Crusaders prop last week. Nothing malicious, just not up to it. I think I had 3 FKs, 2 PKs before a stern word to both that if they didnt some something right, Id have them both off and we’d prob then have to go uncontested. At last they seemed to get the message. 

 3-13 at half time which as it turns out, was the final score as well. Second half was much better as game than the first. Excellent defending by Collegians, especially in the last 16 mins when their flanker, tried to eminate his hooker colleague, but landed his punch square on the jaw of the Crusaders number 4. Unprovoked, after a scrum whistle for a knock on. Not much option for me, sadly. Fortunatley, I was due at a meeting on Wednesday evening at the ABSA Stadium, which is where the disciplinary hearing will be. Seems I’ll have to miss out on the SARFU fitness test. The price we pay eh!

 Yesterday, we headed out to referee Hilton College, one of the most renowned public schools in the East coast. They were playing St Albans, a school from Jo’burg who had hired a  sleeper train to bring them down overnight. Not sure I’d want to send 11 hour on a train with 200 school boys – however posh and well behaved they may be!

First half was pretty good stuff. Open rugby, the lads listened and reacted which always helps. Vistitors took early lead with 2 tries and then home side came back. Visitors hooker in the bin for persistent offences as the half ended 16-16. Thought I might try and emulate Terry by going for a full time draw! Second half went away from the visitors as the journey kicked in, I suspect.  Game ended 33-16, so a full house of home wins for us both.

Few interesting incidents with coaches to report. We both had words with them who, coming on to ‘tend’ to an injury, added a few choice words in our direction. Only being helpful of course, but entirely out of order. We both played the ‘embarrass the master’ card. Players were apologising all to us for their behaviour!

Profuse apologies in the staff common room afterwards, but was interesting to note that clearly this is how things are out here. In his speech after, the visiting head made reference to how well we dealt with the coaches and made a point of suggesting all refs should deal with them the way we did. We’ll be passing that on to the refs we meet on Wednesday!

While Im on, I must just explain how cheap things are out here at the moment. When we got back last night we wanted some food so came out to a big shopping mall – Bluewater stylee. Found a restaurant and I had a chicken burger and (diet) chips, Terry had a the ribs. He had 2 beers, I a fresh orange (athlete that I am!). Total bill – 9 pounds.  Crazy world!

Off up the coast to Zululand later today.  Should be good!

Evening from Natal.

You may have noticed I just uplodaed a few entries. Broadband down here is pretty none existant so Im prepping them on my pda and then uploading. This is the first internet caffe Ive been to so apols.

Should be easier now we have settled for a few days so will try and keep things regular on here.

 Cheers

Ref

Up the the Sani Pass. Amazing scenary and views. One of KZN refs chauffeured us up in a Discovery 3 – thank god!

Day 2

Well, two days in, two games. Last night I refereed a natal premier game. Two sides with a smattering of Sharks players released back to club rugby for a few weeks in between Super 14 and the Currie Cup. Well, what a welcome to Durban.

Warm evening, party spirit and 2 physical sides.I think we would say the guys were ‘in your face’!!! Brutal also works as a dscriptor! I wouldn’t have wanted to have been in some of those tackles! Some ropey floodlights didn’t help, but as interesting game developed. 9-3 just before half time with a home second row in the Sin Bin for a blatant “in-from-the-side” and flop. Wouldn’t have minded but he was only 10m from his own try line. Ive had tougher decisions to make!! Took a scrum option and scored a nice try from it.

Second half was close and well spirited. Tries to both sides and two more yellow cards – one from a TJ for a spear tackle, the other for a carbon copy of the first half yellow. Wierd ending – was 4 points in it and I wasn’t sure who had won from the reactions. Seems the away side won, 23-19. Praise from both coaches particularly the way we deal with the breakdown.

Discovered after that there was an IRB assessor present, watching me so will await his report with interest. I know I took a few shortcuts so expecting some mention of that.

Having no radios for the TJs was a shock to the system but I think I adjusted ok.

Today was school rugby in Pietermaritzburg, about 1 hour north west of Durban. If you have never done school rugby in S. Africa, it is difficult to explain. It’s the experience of it, rather than the rugby. 2000 in attendance, organised singing and chanting. I did the 2s so only 30 mins each way. Still a very warm afternoon! Winter my @rse!!! Before you start feeling sorry for me, it has got v cold this eve so I’ve had to pop my fleece on! Day of leisure tomorrow so off to see some local sights.

08/06/07

Itinerary just in for my trip to S Africa.

6 games in 2 weeks.

Nice! Added in the various meetings and refs gatherings, and a Tri Nations test match, then I think we’ll be kept busy!