Bok hooker’s shameful treatment of referee leaves rugby world in disgust
Rassie Erasmus might be serving his two match ban for his criticism of referees recently, but that does not mean his players can’t do his dirty work for him.
Up against Italy in Genoa today, hooker Bongi Mbonambi was caught telling referee Matthew Carley to “ref both sides”. Carley warned captain Siya Kolisi about that happening again, but the damage was already done.
The Boks may have won 63-21, but Mbonambi infuriated many, many people online with this comment, which only adds more controversy and rancour to the debate around refereeing at the moment, specifically refereeing the Springboks. It looks as though Rassie’s work is done.
To be fair to Mbonambi, he did apologise immediately after, but it was not a good look.
Here are just some of the comments on Twitter:
“Ref telling Kolisi that “if any of your players tell me to referee both sides, there will be an issue.” Hard not to see Rassie having an impact with that.”
“Bongi telling the ref to ‘ref both sides.’ Where would he have got that idea from? 🤔 Really not a good look from Boks.”
“There is the first evidence of the impact Rassie’s videos had on the refs … right there.”
“Bongi telling Carley to ref both sides and getting scalded for it. Pure Rassie.”
“Ref had to warn a SA player for saying ‘ref both sides’. This septic attitude is seeping outwards from Rassie.”
“Bloody hell. Anything to do with rugby involving South Africa has become a cesspit. Telling a ref to ref both sides is not questioning a decision. It is calling him biased and should be a penalty if not yellow card. Remember when I used look forward to watching South Africa.”
“Sad when the ‘world champions’ need their boss to do the hard yards off the field. Then on the pitch SA ask the ref to ‘ref both sides’ – pathetic. Poor little me.”
Bongi telling the ref to ‘ref both sides.’ Where would he have got that idea from? 🤔 Really not a good look from Boks.
— Craig Ray (@craigray11) November 19, 2022
Ref telling Kolisi that “if any of your players tell me to referee both sides, there will be an issue”
Hard not to see Rassie having an impact with that.#ITAvRSA
— @bhh@mastodon.ie (@BHHooker) November 19, 2022
There is the first evidence of the impact Rassie’s videos had on the refs … right there.
— IG: johngoliath (@JohnGoliath82) November 19, 2022
Bongi telling Carley to ref both sides and getting scalded for it. Pure Rassie.
— Tom Coleman (@LeinsterRoyalty) November 19, 2022
Ref had to warn a SA player for saying ‘ref both sides’. This septic attitude is seeping outwards from Rassie
— Sam (@sami_sp) November 19, 2022
Bloody hell. Anything to do with rugby involving South Africa has become a cesspit. Telling a ref to ref both sides is not questioning a decision. It is calling him biased and should be a penalty if not yellow card. Remember when I used look forward to watching South Africa.
— Enda8402 (@enda8402) November 19, 2022
Sad when the ‘world champions’ need their boss to do the hard yards off the field. Then on the pitch SA ask the ref to ‘ref both sides’ – pathetic. Poor little me. 🤮
— Padraic Kierans (@thepadraick) November 19, 2022
