Former assistant coach Swys de Bruin. Image: Gallo

WATCH: Ex-Springboks assistant slams ‘stupid’ ref after Ireland loss

Former rugby coach Swys de Bruin has hit out at Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli after the Springboks’ 19-16 loss to Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

by Mariette Adams

07-11-2022 17:26

in Springboks

Former assistant coach Swys de Bruin. Image: Gallo

Former rugby coach Swys de Bruin has hit out at Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli after the Springboks lost 19-16 to Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Ireland clinched a deserved three-point victory over the Springboks, to underline their credentials as the No 1-ranked Test side in the world. But the match was not without controversy.

Speaking in his capacity as a member of the in-studio panel on SuperSport’s Final Whistle rugby programme – alongside Owen Nkumane, Nick Mallett, Jonathan Mokuena – De Bruin lambasted Amashukeli said South Africa should have beaten the Irish “with that stupid ref and all”.

There were several contentious calls by the officiating team, including but not limited to a clear forward pass and offside in the lead-up to one of Ireland’s tries.

This led to De Bruin labelling the referee “stupid”.

“I get so excited and crazy about it because we should have pumped these ‘okes’ with that stupid ref (Nika Amashukeli) and all.”

De Bruin singles out Springboks at fault

Referee Amashukeli wasn’t the only one who felt the wrath of the former Lions boss. De Bruin also laid into Springboks Damian Willemse and Faf de Klerk for their poor decision-making and execution late in the game, which partly contributed to the team’s demise.

“Every second is pure gold… it’s 77 minutes [gone], if you kick that ball out now you’re going to waste three minutes and you lose the game. So, what do we do? We kick that ball out!” De Bruin continued.

“Faf is a very experienced player. I was fortunate and blessed to coach him for years… for me that is playing in a pattern and a system where you don’t play what you read and see.”

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Result costly as Springboks drop in World Rugby rankings

The outcome of the Test against the Irish has seen the Springboks fall from third to fourth in the rankings, with their old foes, New Zealand, claiming that third spot after their convincing 55-23 victory against Wales.

Ireland remain at the top of the standings, closely followed by France, who snatched a dramatic 30-29 win over the Wallabies at State de France in Paris.