Springboks: South African journalist slams referee Paul Williams, saying he ‘should be banished to the bush leagues’ after Wallabies win

Adam Kyriacou

A South African journalist has launched a scathing attack on referee Paul Williams following the Springboks’ loss to the Wallabies in Adelaide.

Slamming the New Zealand match official throughout an opinion piece, writer James Richardson believes “diabolical decision-making” cost South Africa the win.

He also stated in the feature that the match official “has no place taking charge of big games and should be banished to the bush leagues for the rest of his days”.

The Springboks were well beaten on the day by a much-improved Wallabies outfit as the Round Three result puts South Africa bottom of the Rugby Championship.

Brought shame onto the game

However, Richardson from The South African, insists that referee Williams was a key contributor to South Africa’s loss in a staggering piece over the weekend.

“Paul Williams of New Zealand has brought shame onto the game of rugby with one of the worst officiating displays in modern rugby,” the journalist has written.

“Williams’ efforts were either criminally incompetent or evidence of bias.

“On several occasions Australia got a massive lift from a dodgy call from the Kiwi whistle-blower.”

Highlighting hooker Joseph Dweba’s early lineout throw that was called not straight as one contentious moment, the writer continued his criticism of Williams.

“Starting with a pedantic call for a supposedly skew throw in, followed closely by a strange high-tackle penalty when Faf de Klerk cleared out when Lood de Jager burst towards the Australian line,” he added.

“Australia were allowed to continuously engage in spoiling tactics in the last 15 minutes of the first half when the Springboks dominated but were stopped by the Wallabies, mostly by illegal means.

Clearly scrumming inwards

“The Wallabies might twice have conceded a penalty try but instead first saw a scrum penalty go their way when their skipper James Slipper was clearly scrumming inwards bringing the packs down.

“Australia’s captain should have been in the bin, and the scores should have been level at this point.

“Instead, play continued and Australia, with the ear of the referee stalled for time again and again and took control of the contest as a direct result.”

Richardson also believes that Marika Koroibete was lucky not to have been penalised for his outstanding try-saving tackle, adding: “Marika Koroibete should have been carded for the flying shoulder charge that denied Makazole Mapimpi a try.”

Continuing the criticism, the piece went on to also slam Wallabies scrum-half Nic White for how he reacted to Faf de Klerk making contact with his head.

“Perhaps the worst incident in the first half was one that brings shame onto the game of rugby,” Richardson said.

“Williams bought into play-acting from Australia scrumhalf Nic White whose actions have no place in the sport at all.

“Paul Williams and Nic White bring the game into disrepute.

“De Klerk provided a basis for the call with his attempt to disrupt but the subsequent reaction from White to try and draw a response from the official and Williams bizarrely believing that the incident warranted a yellow card let alone the relieving penalty they also received.

“Meanwhile, Australia had received a yellow of their own earlier but continued to spoil with little to no consequences.”

The writer added: “The second half saw more of the same, as Australia sought to consistently slow down Springbok ball by lying in the way and using their acting skills to good effect.

“Williams’ diabolical decision-making robbed the Springboks of momentum and points and changed the nature of the game.

“This referee has no place taking charge of big games and should be banished to the bush leagues for the rest of his days.”

READ MORE: Rugby Championship: Five takeaways from Australia v South Africa as Wallabies get back on track