Some of the best sour grapes of all time.....rivals Suzie

[Rex Messup]

A South African sports scientist has cried match-fixing after the Springboks were dumped out of the Rugby World Cup by Australia.

Professor Tim Noakes wrote a letter to South African newspaper Cape Times saying controversial referee Bryce Lawrence "was benefiting personally by ensuring that the Wallabies would win the bent rugby match, the outcome of which was predetermined even before the kick-off".


Match-fixing allegations have always had an unfortunate presence in the world's of football and cricket, most recently with the news that Australian cricketer Nathan Bracken was named in a match-fixing trial in London last week.

But it is now rugby, which has for the most part been uncorrupted by match-fixing scandals, which must deal with the subject.

Lawrence's refereeing ability has been questioned several times recently, most notably in Australia's Rugby World Cup 2011 matches against Ireland and South Africa.


In the former the decisions went against the Wallabies, and although much complaining of his performance ensued, no serious allegations of corruption were heard.

Do you think there is any merit in Professor Tim Noakes' claims? Was Bryce Lawrence's performance merely poor refereeing? Let us know in the comments.

However, in this case the eminent University of Cape Town professor is crying foul.

Noakes has pointed to several instances in the match, including Australia flanker David Pocock's play at the breakdown and a series of high tackles, which lead him to believe the match was 'bent'.


"When science is manipulated to produce a predetermined outcome, it’s called 'bent' science. Such science is usually directed by large commercial interests. When the outcome of a sporting event is predetermined, we call it 'match fixing'," Noakes said in his letter.

In a subsequent interview with Cape Times Noakes defended his position in a bizarre 'guilty until proven innocent' stance.

"I am not saying that there was match-fixing, I am saying the IRB must prove there wasn’t," Noakes said.

"I think an injustice has been done and South Africa as a nation deserves the truth.

"There was something wrong with that game - it seems it was predetermined and the question is who is benefiting from it."

[brokendown gunfighter]

too right it was fixed,we need to find out who paid the South Africans for the forward pass & dropping the ball just short of the line.
Bloody Indian bookmakers,they're everywhere

[Elf1]

too right it was fixed,we need to find out who paid the South Africans for the forward pass & dropping the ball just short of the line.
Bloody Indian bookmakers,they're everywhere

Yeah and I did not have any f%^&en cash on it with them

[GIGS20]

It seems it was predetermined if you're South African and ignore the fact that the Boksburg haven't beaten us this year.......and they're old........and they had injuries........and they haven't been playing well all tournament.......and they lost their only open side option early in the match..........and they couldn't hold onto their ball.......it just seems so obvious that the Wallabies couldn't have won in that situation without help from a referee who has consistently destroyed us every match!

[James]

We had Lawrence in Durban. The Boks definitely got the rub of the green that day and were successful in slowing down our ball in the way Pocock did last weekend. Somebody learnt from that experience and for once that somebody was us.

[AndyS]

It is certainly amusing. If the IRB were going to look into match fixing with that game, it wouldn't be the ref they'd be investigating...

[BeeJay]

Everyone knows that South Africa is God's chosen country. When they win, it's because they are God's chosen people. If they lose, it's because everyone's against them 'cos they're God's chosen people.

[mudskipper]

South Africa just weren't worth... coulddn't score a try to save themselves in that match...