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Erasmus hearing reveals why Nic Berry apologised to Siya Kolisi

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Referee Nic Berry sought out Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi at the second Lions Test last July to apologise over the player’s reported feelings of unfair treatment stemming from the previous week’s first Test. The infamous 62-minute Rassie Erasmus video critiquing the Australian’s refereeing performance in the opening game of the series twice alleged disrespect had been shown by Berry to the South African captain.

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“When Siya spoke to the referee and when Alun (Wyn Jones) spoke to the referee I just felt the reactions on how they treated both those players was totally, there was a vast difference between who he was taking serious and who he wasn’t taking serious. I might just play this for you and talk you through it,” claimed Erasmus in the video that pored over a multitude of clips from the match.  

The Springboks director added with regard to another contentious clip: “…It is almost like he is having a laugh at Siya and saying to him: Yeah, it was a knock-on, it is only a knock-on. He is actually laughing at Siya now.”

Video Spacer

Freddie Burns on whether the Springboks will target Maro Itoje and Marcus Smith

Video Spacer

Freddie Burns on whether the Springboks will target Maro Itoje and Marcus Smith

This alleged lack of respect became a hot topic at the eve-of-second-game media briefing attended by Kolisi where he was asked about his interactions with Berry during a match lost by the Springboks. “I didn’t feel respected at all, I didn’t feel a fair, I was given a fair opportunity. That’s the answer to the first question. And the second one is, yeah, I’m looking forward. It’s a new game, it’s a new referee, which I’m looking forward to. I think Ben will give a fair, a fair opportunity for both captains and that’s all I’ve always asked for.

“I just say I just didn’t feel as, I didn’t get given the same access to the referee and there is proof. If you watch the game again you will definitely be able to see yourself. Yeah, I don’t want to speak too much about that because it has already happened, there is nothing I can do about it, it’s not going to change anything.”

In the charge sheet contained in the 80-page written judgment following the hearing, it was noted that “Siya Kolisi is a deeply impressive individual who leads the Springboks team with distinction. We have no reason to doubt the genuineness of his feelings. However, that is not the same as asserting as a fact that he had been disrespected nor that those feelings are correct.”

The judgment then added how Berry has reacted that second Test weekend following the allegation of disrespect towards Kolisi. “During his evidence, Nic Berry told us that he had ‘massive respect’ for Siya Kolisi as a person and as a player. 

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“So concerned was he by the reported feelings of unfair treatment that at the second Test he sought him out and apologised if he had done anything which created the contrary impression. We accept without reservation Nic Berry’s evidence that he, and his officiating team, did not intentionally disrespect Siya Kolisi.”

The judicial committee ultimately decided that the alleged treatment of the Springbok captain by the match officials was not central to this case, but they had a final word on the matter in section 152 of the judgment.

“If there be doubt, we remove it: we recognise the exceptional sensitivity of race in South Africa. We are sure that none of the match officials deliberately or consciously treated Siya Kolisi differently from any other player. Nothing they did was motivated by race. 

“That Rassie Erasmus believed his captain was treated differently does not get close to justifying the content of his video. We also note that only two of the clips concerned that topic and there were a further four or so references to the Springbok players being disrespected.”

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Springboks director Erasmus was suspended from all rugby with immediate effect on Wednesday for a period of two months following his misconduct hearing regarding charges arising out of the Test series versus the British and Irish Lions earlier this year. 

Erasmus was also banned from any involvement on a matchday until September 30 next year, while SA Rugby must pay a fine of £20,000. Both Erasmus and SA Rugby must also apologise for their actions, but both those parties have since stated they will be exercising their right to appeal.  

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Phil(ip) 1074 days ago

World rugby is definitely not represented by ALL who play the game. As was noted earlier, it is an "OLD BOYS CLUB" run primarily by the people from the north. The southern rugby playing countries are accommodated due to their rugby strength. I would suggest that in order for World Rugby to develop into a "WORLD SPORT" like Soccer, every 5 years World Rugby's Head Office should move to a different country that plays the game. 7's is developing a lot faster than the 15 man game. Look at where they play. At the moment playing in Dubai. World cup soccer is to be played in a small country in the middle east. Grow rugby union into a "WORLD GAME" by introducing union to the world.

i
isaac 1081 days ago

Berry seems like a slightly biased towards whites...I say this with a heavy heart...wat his reaction/body language in the fiji wales match...

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
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CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


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It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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