When will it stop?

[Burgs]

Rapidly plummeting to Burger and Botha respect levels for me.

[James]

If they want to make some rule changes the best thing they could do is make penalties against an attacking scrum only a free-kick. Nothing is more annoying when you lose out on the scrum lottery and you are the attacking team.

[shasta]

BTW did anybody see Du Plessi's elbow drop on one of the Rebels backs last night?

No, but I saw Andries Bekker sin binned for not throwing a punch against the Highlanders this morning. We can only deduce that showing restraint whilst an opponent lands four or five punches on your noggin is a foul in Steve Walsh's eyes. Either that or he didn't have a clue who did what, nor did the touchie he consulted. However, he felt he had to "do something" to show he had things under control without possibly disadvantaging the wrong side.

When will it stop? The IRB's auld farts joining the professional era and embracing available technology would be a good starting point.

[Burgs]

Despite him not really knowing why, I think on balance Walsh actually got the decision right as, while Bekker may not have thrown the punches, he deserved them...sorry, he had over reacted in the first place and was being a naughty chap.

While Walsh may make a few mistakes, and no more than any of the others, he has a far better manner with the players and doesn't have his head up his fundamental orifice, breathing through a whistle. I get the impression the players respect him for that.

[Thequeerone]

Hansie, can be a bit hard to pick up a forward pass on the video...

Don't know about that had no problem missing Wykes try

[shasta]

I think on balance Walsh actually got the decision right as, while Bekker may not have thrown the punches, he deserved them...

That would no way have resulted in a card if treated in isolation from what developed afterwards. The point in relation to this thread is that I seriously doubt it would have been given a yellow if a replay was able to be reviewed.

But you have your opinion and I have mine. Even if yours is so obviously wrong.

[Burgs]

In isolation Walsh may have considered how often it had already happened at previous breakdowns (regularly) with Bekker the scapegoat.
I agree that if a video ref was given that minute of footage he wouldn't gotten a yellow.
None of the punches would have scored in a boxing match though