Better understanding of refs needed in URC – Dobson

Stormers coach John Dobson believes that there needs to be better understanding of reffing interpretations if South African teams are to succeed in the United Rugby Championship.

The Stormers were looking set for a possible major upset over Irish powerhouse Munster when leading them 15-7 at halftime over the past weekend, before the home team fought back to win 31-18 on the back of a host of penalties that went against the visitors, including a contentious yellow card against captain Salmaan Moerat.

“I think all the South African teams are struggling with it (reffing) at the moment. In fact I think we need to have some sort of conversation, because we don’t have any interaction with the referees before the games, but I think to avoid this trend there has to be some form of interaction,” explained Dobson.

“The Sharks had a really tough experience here last week and we felt the same, when Mike Adamson, the Scottish referee pulled out of the game we were asked if we were happy with an Irish referee and we said yes because Andrew Brace is a really good referee.

“But I don’t know what it looked like from the outside but that second half looked like a different game to the first half to us. We are going to have to try learn as quickly as we can because these teams don’t play fast rugby, they play direct, keep ball and once they’re in your 22m they are very hard to stop.”

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The Stormers were penalised heavily at the breakdown during the match as well as during the mauls, while Moerat received his time out for playing the jumper in the air at a lineout, while Munster were also penalised for the same offence but without the sanction.

“His yellow card was apparently for playing the jumper in the air, that’s why he was so animated later in the game when we got a penalty for our jumper being played in the air and he was enquiring why the sanction wasn’t similar,” said Dobson.

“I don’t want to personalise it, but the breakdown is an issue. I think we had about 10 penalties in one half and it’s the breakdown and the mauling that we need to get on top of, like what is obstruction and (various interpretations) at the breakdown, it’s something we have to work our way through and adapt to quicker than we have.”

The Stormers will now hope for a better understanding as they look ahead to their next encounter against Edinburgh this coming weekend.

“There is a lot of positivity in that change room…our next target is Edinburgh and the guys already gave a big shout out to Edinburgh, watch out here we come we are back with a bang,” claimed Stormers team manager Chippie Solomon.