World Rugby Statement on SA Referee Craig Joubert’s Performance. He was Wrong.

World Rugby has completed a performance review and clarified South African referee Craig Joubert’s decision in the final minutes of the Australia versus Scotland quarter-final was incorrect.

Joubert gave Australia a penalty with two minutes to go, when in fact it should have just been a scrum to Australia. Australia successfully converted the penalty which allowed them to secure a 35-34 win.

Following the match, the Scottish coach and captain both refused to get involved in a slinging match against the ref.

Joubert previously revealed in a World Rugby interview preceding the match (see below) that he’s very aware of the scrutiny for decisions one does or does not make on the field, and said you can “fear the scrutiny…or embrace [it] for what it is”.

He said at the time that it’s a consequence that he wouldn’t give up for the world.

“I love being in the arena, I love the big occasion,” he said.

Joubert came under fire not only for his decision on the field, but also his hasty exist from the field yesterday – after the final whistle – without the customary courtesy shaking of hands with the captains. Some reports said it may have been due to the very loud and (perhaps understandably) hostile Scottish crowd, whilst others said perhaps he needed the bathroom. (See UPDATE below.)

“Craig has been and remains a world-class referee and an important member of our team.” – Joël Jutge, World Rugby

Today’s World Rugby statement reads: “Following a full review of match officials’ performance, the World Rugby match official selection committee has clarified the decision made by referee Craig Joubert to award a penalty to Australia for offside in the 78th minute of the Rugby World Cup 2015 quarter-final between Australia and Scotland at Twickenham.

“The selection committee confirms that Joubert applied World Rugby Law 11.7 penalising Scotland’s Jon Welsh, who had played the ball following a knock-on by a team-mate, resulting in an offside.

“On review of all available angles, it is clear that after the knock-on, the ball was touched by Australia’s Nick Phipps and Law 11.3(c) states that a player can be put on-side by an opponent who intentionally plays the ball.

“It is important to clarify that, under the protocols, the referee could not refer to the television match official in this case and therefore had to rely on what he saw in real time. In this case, Law 11.3(c) should have been applied, putting Welsh onside. The appropriate decision, therefore, should have been a scrum to Australia for the original knock-on.

“Overall, it is widely recognised that the standard of officiating at Rugby World Cup 2015 has been very high across 44 compelling and competitive matches to date.

“World Rugby High Performance Match Official Manager Joël Jutge said: ‘Despite this experience, Craig has been and remains a world-class referee and an important member of our team.'”

The question needs to be asked, when should players step in and own up if they know they have touched a ball?

All match official performances are thoroughly reviewed and assessed by the World Rugby Match Official Selection Committee.

Before this World Cup, Joubert had already officiated 55 tests.

“It’s an enormous responsibility, but an enormous privilege,” he says in the interview below.

Watch video interview with Craig Joubert before the Rugby World Cup 2015

UPDATE: Referee appointments for the semi-final stage have been announced – France’s Jérôme Garcès will ref the South Africa vs New Zealand match (with compatriot Romain Poite and Ireland’s John Lacey on the line); and England’s Wayne Barnes will ref the Australia vs Argentina match with South Africa’s Jaco Peyper and Ireland’s George Clancy as assistant referes.

UPDATE 21 October 2015: The Scottish Daily Mail newspaper claims today that Craig Joubert revealed to World Rugby that he left the field hastily to help defuse a hostile situation which he sensed may have erupted in front of millions of RWC television viewers if he had remained to shake hands with the captains.