'Gatland went crazy': Springboks double down on Lions criticism

The Springboks have further inflamed tensions ahead of this Saturday's second Lions Test by doubling down on Rassie Erasmus’ social media rant. South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has confirmed he felt disrespected by referee Nic Berry in last weekend’s first Test in Cape Town where the Lions prevailed 22-17, and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick has accused the Lions of “destroying the dignity of the series” by starting the war of words that led to Boks boss Erasmus’ 62-minute monologue criticising referee Berry.

New Zealander Ben O’Keeffe will referee this weekend's second Test under mounting pressure given the off-field criticism, with South Africa opting only to increase still further the scrutiny on the officials. “I didn’t feel respected at all, I didn’t feel I was given a fair opportunity,” said Kolisi. “But I’m looking forward to a new game and a new referee. I think Ben will give a fair opportunity for both captains and that is all we are asking.”

Asked in what ways had he been disrespected, Kolisi continued: “Did you watch the video? Watch that and then we can chat afterwards. I don’t really want to get into it, to be honest. I don’t want to get involved in that, I just didn’t feel I was given the same access to the referee. If you watch the game again you’ll definitely be able to see it. But it’s already happened, I don’t want to speak too much about it, it’s not going to change anything.”

Springboks director Erasmus offered to stand down from his rugby director role in his wide-ranging, unprecedented attack on referee Berry on Thursday and World Rugby has sought an explanation from SA Rugby over Erasmus’ comments. Rugby Australia also took the unusual step of issuing a statement defending compatriot Berry on Friday after the referee had come in for heavy criticism from Erasmus.

However, the Springboks chose to stand by Erasmus’ video and its content, with assistant coach Stick insisting on Friday that the Lions had already damaged relations. The Lions had raised objections to South African Marius Jonker being appointed television match official (TMO) for the first Test after New Zealander Brendon Pickerill’s travel was disrupted by the pandemic.

Lions bosses were fearful of Jonker’s ability to maintain neutrality when officiating over his countrymen, but Stick insisted that is where all the off-field problems started in this Lions series. “Let’s go on the build-up where firstly the integrity of World Rugby was challenged by another human being when Marius Jonker was appointed TMO,” said Stick. “Then Gatland on the other side went crazy and was asking World Rugby and challenging them about the decision they had made. Everyone knows we are living during challenging times, living during Covid, and the other gentleman couldn’t travel to South Africa because of Covid protocols.

“The fact that was publicly challenged by another coach on the other side, and still to this day I haven’t had any statement from that side apologising about it and I haven’t had any statement from World Rugby either. We’re not asking for any favours, we just want equal grounds.

“I wouldn’t like the whole series to be about decisions taken by the officials, or about the coaches off the field. Even if things are being said on social media or at a traditional media conference, it’s still the media. All coaches want to get their messages across. He [Erasmus] wanted to state his as his own personal view, it had nothing to do with us as a team.

“So if Rassie got into trouble because of what he said on social media, the gentleman that challenged the integrity of the game when the TMO was challenged, that is something that really destroyed the dignity of the series and also challenges the integrity of World Rugby.”