Year in review: Biggest Springboks officiating dramas from 2022

The Springboks finished 2022 in fourth place in the world rugby rankings, having won eight Tests and lost five. It was a season of mixed results, while there were plenty of headlines around certain officiating performances.

Many observers have continued to question the consistency when it comes to the refereeing of certain areas of the game, as well as the fact that there are regular stoppages that seem to be making many Test matches a painful viewing experience.

As part of our end-of-year review, we look back at the Springboks’ Test season, and recap a couple of games where the refereeing became a central talking point.

VIDEO: COACH FACING HEFTY BAN FOR ‘PHYSICAL ABUSE’ OF REFEREE

Springboks 17 Wallabies 25; Adelaide, August 2022

Undoubtedly the biggest refereeing controversy came in this Rugby Championship clash as New Zealand referee Paul Williams received a severe backlash over some of the decision-making in a brutal battle.

This was of course the game where Springboks scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was bizarrely yellow carded after his hand brushed the face of counterpart Nic White, who feigned an injury in a manner that drew comparisons to the playacting of football players.

There was also a major talking when Wallabies wing Marike Koroibete received no punishment for a flying shoulder charge that denied Makazole Mapimpi a try. Although opinion was divided over whether it was a fair challenge, this was another incident that added to the outcry in a game where the Springboks most certainly did not get the rub of the green.

ALSO READ | ELTON JANTJIES ARRIVES IN FRANCE, CAREER AT A CROSSROAD

South Africa 26 France 30; Marseilles, November 2022

France claimed a thrilling 30-26 win over the Springboks in this end-of-year tour game, with Rassie Erasmus watching on from the venue just a few days after his first World Rugby ban had come to an end.

Although there were an incredible array of talking points from this game, ultimately South Africa came up just short as referee Wayne Barnes lost control of the game late on.

The result and the game as a spectacle, was overshadowed when Barnes awarded a crucial try to the home side, despite replays clearly showing a double movement in the lead-up late in the game.

During the final stages of this match, an array of other decisions went the way of the home side, which included a marginal Willie le Roux pass having been adjudicated to have gone forward.

Just a few hours after this game, Rassie Erasmus shared a clearly sarcastic message on Twitter, which said in part: “We just have to fix these fundamental errors like tackle technique and simple passing. Sorry!”

The tweet from Erasmus’ social media handle of @Rassie Rugby also included a video showing Cheslin Kolbe on the receiving end of a dangerous forearm to the face early on in the game.

Erasmus continued to share tweets around this game that were deemed to be unfairly critical of officials, and ultimately led to him being banned for the final two matches of the end-of-year tour.

ALSO READ | RASSIE EXCITED BY SPRINGBOKS’ DEPTH AHEAD OF RWC 2023

*Let us know in the comments section what you thought of these officiating dramas, and any others that caught your attention in 2022