The Bulls narrow victory over the Crusaders on Saturday night has been plunged into controversy as the result of an ongoing war of words between the two camps. The subject of the dispute is two allegations of eye gouging, made by Bulls players on either side of half time.
Hooker Chilliboy Ralepelle and lock Flip van der Merwe both had cause to complain to referee Jaco Peyper during the course of the game, with the official opting to use his white card to request a review of the video footage, since he had seen nothing. So incensed was Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder at these allegations that he immediately hit back, via various media channels, demanding an apology from the Bulls should the allegations prove to be unfounded.
As it turns out, this is exactly what has happened, with citing commissioner Freek Burger unable to find any evidence in the match footage to substantiate the claims. The Bulls, however, have opted to stand their ground, with High-Performance Manager Ian Schwartz insisting no apology is owed, or will be made.
“I just want to say that our players’ integrity is just as important to us, as the Crusaders’ players integrity is to them. I feel the players will not make unfounded accusations unless something has happened,” Schwartz told SuperSport.com in defending the decision not to issue an apology to the Crusaders.
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Blah blah blah….
Not so nice, even worse is the school boy that punched a ref after his team lost. The ref was knocked out cold.
@lostfish (Comment 2) : What?
On the matter I don’t think that Chilliboy and Flip would have made that up, hell I don’t think any of our players are going to make up eyegouging accusations
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 3) : Ja! Got send off for a red card, after the game, the ref wanted to make sure about his number for his report on the red card offence (which was also a headbutt). He grabbed the ref, said to him “jyt kak geblaas) and head butted him on the cheek, lights out! They should ban his ass out of rugby, straight!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 3) : http://mg.co.za/article/2012-04-09-schoolboy-renders-rugby-referee-unconscious/
http://www.rugby15.co.za/2012/04/schoolboy-assaults-referee-blaming-the-ref-gone-too-far/
@Ice (Comment 5) : I agree, he should be sent for anger management lessons at his own expense and never be allowed to be involved in rugby again.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 4) : Yeah, these are top players with their reputations at stake. Why would they lie? The New Zealanders are used to taking the moral high-ground, but to insist on an apology is ridiculous, sanctimonious pricks.
@lostfish (Comment 7) : seems it was another player and not the original red carded player..so many different versions!
@CapeShark (Comment 8) :
I’m looking forward to the re-match ….. The officials were good to!
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 10) : except you, of course
i agree, the re-match is bound to be a little heated…
First time I’ve heard of a coach calling for the other team to officially apologize.
@CapeShark (Comment 12) :
Hahaha …. yeah a bit strange!