Ex-All Black accuses ‘mastermind’ Rassie Erasmus of ‘controversial’ Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu incident ‘manipulation’

Stephen Donald believes Rassie Erasmus’ manipulation of the media played a role in helping Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu not being sent off in the Springboks’ victory over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

The Springboks delivered a dominant performance en route to a 24-13 triumph over their hosts at the Aviva Stadium, and it was a significant result as it was their first win in this fixture on Irish soil since 2012.

Despite being worthy winners, the world champions were lucky that star fly-half Feinberg-Mngomezulu did not receive at least a yellow card for what looked like a no-arms tackle on Ireland wing Tommy O’Brien early in the game.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalised

Referee Matthew Carley checked television replays of the incident but only penalised Feinberg-Mngomezulu and former All Blacks fly-half Donald feels Springboks head coach Erasmus‘ comments in the media on players being red-carded influenced Carley’s decision.

This, after the Springboks played with 14 men for the majority of the time in two successive Tests after Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert received straight red cards respectively in the Boks’ victories over France and Italy.

After Mostert received his marching orders against the Azzurri, Erasmus hinted at inconsistency in how head contacts were handled throughout that encounter.

“I’m not saying the referee made the wrong call, but I definitely saw a lot of other shots in the game where the first tackle he took was right against the head,” he said.

“It’s tough. I’m not saying anybody was wrong, I just thought the balance on calling the headshots wasn’t as equal.”

And Donald described such comments as “manipulation”, which some of the game’s experienced coaches have used to influence referees’ decisions in the past.

Ireland legend bemoans ‘yellow card’ incident which ‘could have changed things dramatically’ in the defeat against Springboks

‘The experienced coaches manipulate’

“That’s when, honestly, the experienced coaches manipulate. When they get onto it, and there’s only a few that I have really noticed do it,” he told The Aftermatch with Kirst & Beav.

“Steve Hansen did. Gatty (Warren Gatland) did and Rassie clearly does.

“And the way he’s done the last couple of weeks, I think personally (it’s) controversial, but the two locks that have been sent off, I thought theirs (offences) were less dangerous and worthy of a card than Sacha’s.”

Donald feels that Erasmus’ comments on illegal tackles in the build-up to the Boks’ played a part in Feinberg-Mngomezulu not being sent off.

“If Rassie hasn’t done what he’s done (with his comments). Like I reckon the big boys, Mostert and the boys will be thinking, ‘I was at least trying to make a tackle’.

“Sacha saw a bit of red there and just thought I’ll just drop a cheeky one in here.

“And I reckon, honestly, if we hadn’t have had the previous couple of weeks, that would have probably been at least a yellow to be reviewed.

“But well done, Rassie. The benefits of having a very experienced mastermind.”

READ MORE: Ex-Ireland star accuses ‘player of the match’ ref of ruining Springboks contest