THE FINAL WHISTLE
MARK KEOHANE: Ref got it right — but the red-card rule must change
‘Jaco Peyper’s officiating added integrity to South African rugby and to the notion that quality and ability in a referee should carry more gravitas than nationality’
Respect to the Crusaders. Respect to the Lions. Respect to everyone who filled Emirates Airline Park (once known as Ellis Park) and respect to South African referee Jaco Peyper for showing his quality as the best referee in the world. Peyper’s officiating added integrity to South African rugby and to the notion that quality and ability in a referee should carry more gravitas than nationality. Peyper was huge on a huge occasion — and he needed to be. He made the right decision in red-carding Lions loose-forward Kwagga Smith in the 38th minute, with the Lions trailing 12-3 in Super Rugby’s 2017 finale. The immediate debate, whenever it affects a nation, is about the red-card rule. It goes away the moment it doesn’t affect a nation. For me, the rule should be revisited because the paying public and a global television audience are robbed of a contest, especially in some of the biggest games in the sport.
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