Wayne Smith, Bret Harris | May 15, 2009


Article from: The Australian

WESTERN Force coach John Mitchell's post-match criticism of South African referee Marius Jonker has been referred to the SANZAR tournament director for a ruling on whether he must front a judiciary hearing.

Mitchell, in an interview with The Australian, attacked Jonker's handling of the Force-Stormers match in Cape Town last Sunday, in particular taking him to task for taking no action against Stormers centre Dylan des Fountain for his gridiron-style block to prevent Ryan Cross from making what would have been a match-saving tackle on rival fullback Joe Pietersen.

The Stormers won 25-24 and in doing so ended the Force's late charge to the finals and turned tomorrow's final-round clash with the Highlanders at Subiaco Oval into a virtually meaningless affair.

After studying a video of the incident, Jonker the next day acknowledged to Mitchell there had been obstruction, but insisted he had had players in his line of sight and had not seen the incident.

The ARU, acting on a complaint from South Africa, has studied Mitchell's comments and referred the matter back to Johan Botes, the South African tournament director.

Ironically, while Mitchell now faces the possibility of a judicial hearing, Jonker has been rewarded with the appointment to control tomorrow's Waratahs-Lions match in Johannesburg.

Force chief executive Greg Harris, meanwhile, has confirmed the Perth franchise is negotiating with former Bulls and Waratahs attack coach Todd Louden, currently the coach of the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan, to replace John Mulvihill as Mitchell's assistant.

Louden has one year to go on his Ricoh contract, but the Japanese seasons runs from September to January, which would give him time to link with the Force before the start of the Super 14 in February.

Mulvihill, who is understood to be seeking a coaching job in Japan or Europe, joins the lengthy list farewelling the Force tomorrow night in its last game at Subiaco Oval before moving to Members Equity Stadium next year.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html