The IRB has confirmed that referee Alain Rolland erred in not allowing Australia to make a late substitution against South Africa last Saturday.
The Wallabies were forced to play out the closing stages at Loftus Versfeld a man short, although it did not affect the result as the Springboks had all but sewn up a 31-8 victory.
An IRB statement said that, according to Law 3.12 (exception 2), Australia reserve hooker Saia Fainga'a should have been permitted to replace injured hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Touchline microphones picked up Rolland - an experienced referee who officiated at the 2007 World Cup final - telling the Australians that they could not make any more substitutions as they had already used the usual maximum of seven.
"The area of substitution management is a team effort. This was an unfortunate case of human error by the match officials who accept that they made a mistake," said IRB match official selection committee chairman John Jeffrey.
Australian Rugby Union chief John O'Neill said despite the match officials' inaccuracy, no decisions on the night affected the final result of the Test.
"South Africa were absolutely the better side, we congratulate them, they dominated the match, and that is not up for debate at all," he said in Sydney on Thursday.
"However, given the circumstances where the Wallabies were dealing with a massive and mounting injury toll, it was frustrating and unfair for the team to carry additional burdens.
"The challenges they faced at a ground where no Australian team has ever won were difficult enough.
"So I appreciate the IRB acknowledging the match official team failed to recognise Law 3.12 and allow the Wallabies to play out the match with a full complement of 15 players."
Rolland, who will also referee the match between South Africa and New Zealand in Soweto this Saturday, was assisted in Pretoria by Greg Garner of England and Romain Poite of France, with South African Shaun Veldsman the Television Match Official.
Comments
sandal says...
All the officials involved in this decision -- and most certainly Alain Rolland, who has overall control of the game -- should have been stood down before this weekend's test in Soweto.
Given that that is not now practicable, they should be suspended for an appropriate period.
This was a major error, for which the officials should be accountable.
Posted 13:22 04th October 2012
Sprogrugby says...
I've been throwing this one around all week, as I thought Rolland was wrong at the time and despite conversations with other fellow refs who thought he had it right. Another ref friend of mine and super 15 official (Asst Ref) once told me simply, each of your 7 substitutes is entitled to come on the field once (be it tactical (substitute) or due to injury (replacement)) PLUS any other substitutions due to exceptions I.e. blood or front row being injured. If a blood injury can't be stemmed in the 15 mins allowed, this blood replacement becomes 'permanent replacement' due to injury. If they've previously used the 7 subs, you don't have to take the player off 'BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE THE 8th SUB'. That is not the intention of the law. Similarly, you can return a front rower to the game in the event of injury EVEN IF IT IS THE 8th SUB, as the idea is to maintain contested scrums for along as possible. I thought that made sense but Alain Rolland confused the hell out of me. It's true that teams take advantage of that law (apparently the south african teams do it a lot) , but I'm not sure how you can stop it unless you change the law. I'd rather leave it as it is so we can have contested scrums and 15 v 15 as much as possible.
Posted 13:17 04th October 2012
Pearcewreck says...
The same Alain Rolland who got it completely wrong when he sent off Sam Warburton, probably the worst refereeing decision in World Cup history.
At least he is consistently hopeless.
Mind you the IRB were equally hopeless in choosing the son of a Frenchmen to referee France. Not biased at all, no.....
Posted 12:39 04th October 2012
startledwombat says...
as if the referees didn't have enough to keep on top of.
Posted 11:35 04th October 2012
melkdave says...
Well who would have thought it,i for one didnt know there was an exception law .But then when i played you wherent allowed subs anyway .Though you would think a international referee would know it.I dont really blame A.Roland ,i suspect this is the 1st time its ever been needed.Also it the IRB havent really sorted out the tactical subsitution of a prop in the 1st half ,so he can return fresh for the final quarter.Once a player is subsituted he cant return except if a hooker/prop and only for a injury to annother. and only if no other qualified player is on the bench.Australia where not doing that ,but rotating their props ,which is illegal.as far as i know..Wheres the IRB santion ect for that ??Also isnt it a waste of a subsitution,if Australia hadnt done that they would have had one left anyway..
Posted 10:40 04th October 2012
isthatrightref says...
Obviously everyone who blamed Deans for this will now be rushing for their laptops to offer their apologies... yeah right. That said, interchanging the Bens is clearly a rort & needs to be addressed.
Posted 10:17 04th October 2012
GoWalesGo says...
Well done Rolland you stubborn bastard, why don't you swallow your pride and make the correct decision next time
Posted 10:01 04th October 2012