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'I think Nic's a fantastic referee, a good man... he deserves better'
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has jumped to the support of Australian referee Nic Berry, who was left shattered at what he called his “character assassination” by South African director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.
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The distress felt by 37-year-old Queenslander Berry was outlined in World Rugby’s written verdict on Erasmus’s misconduct, which has resulted in the governing body banning him for all rugby activities for two months – a verdict he is appealing.
Erasmus was found guilty on Wednesday by an independent committee for producing and publishing an hour-long video critique of match officials, particularly Berry, during the British & Irish Lions series.
According to details of Berry’s testimony, the official told the hearing: “The whole situation has been an extremely difficult time for my family and I.
“As a match official I understand that our performances will be heavily scrutinised, especially in such a prestigious tournament.
“However , the public attack on my integrity and character is not something that should be tolerated in any workplace.
“I considered officiating in a Lions tour comparable with that in a World Cup. The appointment is a honour which few achieve.
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“However, due to the actions of Mr Erasmus, my family and I have endured a significant amount of distress and we will only have negative memories of the whole experience.
“I feel that Mr Erasmus engaged in a character assassination of me on social media. I have spent many years trying to build my reputation as an international referee and in the course of his video which was posted online, Mr Erasmus has caused it immeasurable damage.
“I feel that regardless of the outcome and any sanctions imposed, my reputation as a referee and person will forever be tarnished.”
Asked about the verdict and the punishment handed down to Erasmus, his Wallabies’ coaching rival Rennie told reporters on Thursday: “All I’ll say is that, at the time (of the criticism), it was hugely disappointing.
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“I think Nic’s a fantastic referee, a good man, and so I was disappointed with how he was treated.
“As to any sentencing, I haven’t read the judgement but I felt that Nic deserves better, needs to be treated better than that. Maybe there’s more to come yet.”
The hearing report said it had accepted all of Berry’s testimony and was “impressed by his quiet dignity, humility, and the restraint he showed during his evidence”.
Erasmus, who has been ordered to apologise to Berry by World Rugby, is trying to overturn the six charges of misconduct against him that were upheld.
As well as the two-month ban, the 49-year-old is also suspended from all match-day activities, including coaching and media engagement, until September 30, 2022, while South Africa Rugby has been fined Stg 20,000 ($A37,000).
After many years, all that people will remeber is that South Africa lost the match, irrespective of who the refree was.
The outcome of that match and possibly the series determined by biased incompetence is unacceptable.
Unacceptable to millions of passionate supporters and the huge personal (at all levels) and financial investment into South African rugby Surely that overrides the emotions of a single referee.
Therefore, every team deserves a fair go, justice as a reward for the huge contribution by so many to eventually put a national team on the field - it is the pinacle of a collective dream... it should not be stolen by a single individual.
Any thoughts on Nic Berry's performance (lack of) during Wales vs Fiji? last weekend(1) The LRZ try referral - then the stunned TMO having to save him (2) "Missing" the Fiji Red card - having to be guided by the TMO to make the obvious decision? A professional referee (let alone test ref) shouldn't reveal his ignorance live on TV that way.
There is the context of the Bryce Lawrence case whose dismal failure in the match between the Boks and Aussies allowed the Boks to be knocked out of the WC competition in 2011 which cannot be ignored when considering RE’s response to the performance or non-performance of Nic Berry in the first test against the Lions. Surely it is challenging to be a match official but this is the professional era where they get paid for a job which must be performed professionally too. What sanctions are there if the performance of the match official does not match the professional pay he received for it? In all other work places performance gets measured and evaluated by the clients who are served, why are match officials exempted from getting evaluated by their clients in the form of the coaches of the teams they officiate? The standard is simple-just allow a for a fair contest.
Honest Question.
If you want to be "officiating in a Lions tour,comparable with that in a World Cup... a honour which few achieve."
Then why do you expect not to be accountable and praised (or condemned) for the performance in line with that level? Does the significant amount of distress and emotional impact on your family not become part of the consideration when reaching for such dreams?
The drama that stemmed from this towards Nic was comparitively little to what some World Cup Referees experience, without input from coaches and media etc.
In fact... the video was more about the rules, the system and World Rugby's stance on these rules and interpretation rather than the incompetence of the individual.
Calling it a "character assassination" is quite a strong statement.
I also don't fully understand why this emotional feedback was part of the 80 page independent verdict... but I digress.
Sorry, but methinks he doth protest too much. This was a kangaroo court, and Mr. Berry had a very poor performance. RE was criticising that, but Berry, playing the perfect victim and rattling off all the catchphrases from pop psychology, makes it sound like RE was sticking pins in the family puppy.
I don't think RE was all correct in his actions...and he went on far far too long. But I bet many coaches in secret agree.
If the Boks need any motivation for Saturday to stuff this decision in WR faces, they just got it.
World Rugby conceded the vast majority of Rassie's points were valid. Warren Gatland was the first to criticize the referees and specifically impugned the integrity of Marius Jonker without any evidence and before the first test match was even played.
But he was never called to task. Of course the fact Marius Jonker is a Saffie and a grown man is why he made no complaint to World Rugby.
Nick Price, former Wasp player, is another matter. One must have a character to damage. His performance last Saturday alone is proof he has no business as a test referee, and the first Lions match was even worse.
Rassie proved his case but there is no way he was going to get justice in a closed Kangaroo Court.
Dear crybaby Nick, it want a character assassination, it was an assassination on your pathetically poor performance. Your conduct subsequently is akin to an episode of married at fist sight Australia, what’s next? An Oprah interview? You’re a rubbish ref who’s been called out as such, not test match quality - back to grass roots and work your way back up to where the big boys play.