On the trail of the pied Peyper
OPINION: Sanzaar have elected to dance merrily along a tightrope by appointing Jaco Peyper to control the Super Rugby final.
South African referee Peyper, we are told by Sanzaar CEO Andy Marinos, deserves to adjudicate what is sure to be an emotional encounter between the Crusaders and Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg because he’s the best on offer.
That may be so. But it’s still a bold call to ask a ref to keep his head straight while 60,000 of his countrymen and women feverishly urge the Lions to claim their first title.
It would be mischievous to question Peyper’s integrity, or ability. What was inevitable, however, was that the decision to put a South African in control of this fixture was going to attract intense scrutiny, and comment, from the public and media. And that is warranted.
Everyone wants the best people in charge.
Any pre-match accusations of bias against Peyper would be irrational and a nonsense. He has nothing to gain by allowing the Lions’ team and the audience at Ellis Park to sway his decisions, because to do so could - and should - compromise his career.
It is no secret that some coaches of the home sides worry when a local man is asked to control a game, believing he may try too hard to appease the visitors, eager to prove he isn’t walking around with an eye-patch clamped over one eye while the other wildly swivels around in its socket in an attempt to ensure the hosts are not pushing their luck.
Privately, Lions coach Johan Ackermann may be expressing concerns to those around him.
He could ask whether Peyper, following the fallout from the semifinal between the Hurricanes and Lions at Ellis Park last weekend, will be out to prove he has nothing against the next Kiwi team to visit Johannesburg - to level the scores, so to speak.
There is no doubt Sanzaar have also cleared the path for Peyper to cop accusations of bias should he be forced to make a controversial call.
It is disappointing to note that while Kiwi ref Glen Jackson has been listed as one of the assistant referees, Aussie Angus Gardner has been ignored.
The other assistant ref is Marius van der Westhuizen. Marius Jonker will be the TMO something that could concern the Crusaders more than the appointment of Peyper.
The Crusaders have had little to fear from Peyper in recent times.
He was in the middle when they beat the Hurricanes 20-12 in the round-12 match in Christchurch, and their successes over the Waratahs, Brumbies and Sharks last year coincided with him being in control.
A neutral ref, South African Craig Joubert, was no help to the Crusaders when they lost the 2014 final to the Waratahs. His botched penalty against Richie Mccaw in the dying minutes, for which he later apologised to coach Todd Blackadder, gave the Bernard Foley the chance to kick the match-winner in Sydney.
In the 18-13 loss to the Reds in the 2011 final in Brisbane, the Crusaders were bewildered as they tried to comprehend the interpretation of the breakdowns by New Zealand ref Bryce Lawrence.
So, back to the final this weekend. Twenty-three Lions players will be unfurling the welcome mat at 1700m above sea level for the Crusaders. The visitors’ job is take make sure Peyper isn’t allowed to influence their outcomes.
But the concern is that if he’s forced to make a difficult call late in the game, and given rugby’s complicated law book that is quite possible, then all hell could break loose. That is the burden Peyper must carry. And Sanzaar have forced him to do it. 2017: 2016: 2015: 2014: 2013: 2012: 2011: 2010: 2009: 2008: 2007: 2006: 2005: 2004: 2003: 2002: 2001: 2000: 1999: 1998: 1997: 1996: 4th, won 12, lost 5 (70%) 1st, won 14, lost 5 (73%) 6th, won 8, lost 9 (47%) 14th, won 3, lost 13 (19%) 9th, won 9, lost 7 (56%) 8th, won 8, lost 8 (50%)