TMO rulings cost Sharks dearly

I WONDER where the other two blind mice were on Saturday evening while the third optically challenged rodent was masquerading as a television match official (TMO) during the Super Rugby match between the Bulls and the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld?

The blatantly ridiculous decisions – I know what I would really like to call them – by the “official” in the stand cost the Sharks a match they deserved to win and could, and probably will, cost them dearly at season’s end.

That this alleged TMO could judge the clearly forward pass for a Bulls try “inconclusive” while managing to see Ndungane knock the ball on where even cricket’s snickometer would have struggled, and then allowed the Bulls’ fourth try, leaves a terrible taste in the mouth.

I truly feel for the players and coaches, who are muzzled by rugby officials from telling it like it is in post-match interviews, and who are restricted to platitudes and “back to the drawing board”-type sugar-coated comments.

Saturday’s unsavoury incidents were a major talking point among rugby-following friends on Sunday and, regrettably, the overwhelming view was that incompetent and overly officious officials are putting them off watching this great sport – the type of thing we saw on Saturday is bad for one’s health.

That this “official” should be allowed to officiate at any level of the sport again would be a travesty. CLYDE BAWDEN Umhlanga

Ref could do with Braille and Target

JUST when Bryce Lawrence went awol, we are rewarded with a thickskinned, green avocado.

Shall See are both sponsoring a Braille version for the unconscious TV ref on how to spot the team or the ball going forward.

Hopefully they should grasp this concept in front of the WC, or is it before (where they belong – get the drift, else how will the home team ever win)?

Jurie Else quoted that it was not Doom but rather Target, for crawling and flying seks, the way he shafted the rugby public. Puppets, the exit specialists, are putting a disclaimer on their jerseys that they do not necessarily share the views on the applications of the rules by the wearer.

This responsibility is totally in the paws of the guide dog sitting on the side of the field.

If we could just train Fido to blow the whistle, we might just get a fairer performance, then again, it depends on who is offering the biggest stake.

May the administrators and officials fill the stands with more than their boyfriends and the two car guards.

Voting with your wallet is not a concept to be confused with the bums in the suites or on the seats.

This weekend’s game between the Bulls and Sharks puts new light on 15 playing 16 – need some serious load shedding, and a few red cards would have made it a fair contest, say 13 against 19.

Second game I watched this year – second and last. DON MCMILLAN Umhlanga

Zuma needs to ‘play by the rules’

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma, in response to reaction to his State of the Nation address, called for the need to “play the ball, not the man”. His problem is that he, in soccer terms, has “handled the ball” too many times. That is “dirty play”.

So he cannot with integrity call for playing by the rules. The whistle has been blown on him. He tries to continue playing on the “innocent until proved guilty” principle. He is his own worst enemy and must play by the rules.

If he is so innocent, let him be open, reveal all the details and face an open court with an independent judge.

In cricket, according to the rules, play can stop for a “referral” by an “independent” umpire. But the ANC has managed to manipulate most of the supposedly independent “referral” institutions so that the artful dodger can be protected.

Zuma has set the model for avoiding facing the truth. No wonder corruption is rampant. As a result too many believe they can “get away with it”. That is why our moral and ethical values have sunk so low.

Little wonder there are so many qualifications cheats in this country. It is okay to cheat. RON LEGG Hillcrest

Congeniality helps people to get along

I AM responding to Mr Brown’s letter about the formalities of strangers’ responses when greeting (The Mercury, March 2).

I would like to suggest that the shop assistant, who may appear faceless and devoid of feelings, is neither. If I may dare you, Mr Brown, to give an honest answer when asked, “How are you?”, I think you would be pleasantly surprised.

While having my purchases handled, as intimate a situation as that can be, I have spoken to various assistants and told them exactly what kind of a day I’m having when asked, which has led to much amusement and discussion thereafter, and us both feeling that we have valued each other’s opinions. This has also helped me appreciate that person a little more than if I had only answered, “Fine, thank you”.

If we greeted more assistants as though they really mattered and made a point of doing so regularly, maybe even acknowledging them by name, a trip to the shops could turn into “having a nice day too” and actually feeling it. JULIE MAHOMED Pietermaritzburg

Job application process is costly

IT IS unacceptable that employment agencies request a fax from job applicants even though they have received an e-mail with a curriculum vitae and other information.

Many people who apply for jobs do not have fax facilities available.

I had to pay R350 to fax information I had already e-mailed and then did not get a reply. I did not receive a reply address to my e-mails, only a no-reply notice.

Faxing is antiquated and is not used in other countries in which I have lived.

I was taught to answer or at least acknowledge all e-mails or letters, but this common decency has lapsed. I wish the agencies or companies who ask for applications would, at least, have an automatic reply to all incoming e-mails. STELLA MILLS Westbrook