Peyper goes against the norm

But in doing so he helped Japan to grab a much-needed try

I AM not the only one who was flabbergasted when referee Jaco Peyper penalised the Samoan scrumhalf for a crooked scrum feed in the dying minutes of their game again Japan at the weekend.

For heaven’s sake, refs stopped blowing “under the hooker’s feet” pretty much when the game when professional in 1996 and it was accepted that scrumhalves could feed at an angle because their team had won the scrum and deserved to get possession.

I personally disagree with this and believe that rugby should go back to straight put-ins so that the dying artistry of hooking can be revived. Skilful hookers could win tightheads for their team but now they just scrum with the props ....

But this is besides the point. Why, when the norm for two decades has been to allow scrumhalves to feed as they liked, did Peyper suddenly blow it? Can anybody recall when they last saw a penalty for this?

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend certainly can’t. He is livid that this post-hooter penalty culminated in a bonus point for Japan that could very well seal their place in the quarters ahead of the Scots.

If you recall, Samoa were defending their line and all they had to do was get the ball back from the scrum and kick it out to end the game.

Instead, Peyper out of the blue found fault with the put-in, awarded a penalty to Japan who opted for the scrum and their No 8 then scored his team’s fourth (bonus point) try.

Scotland are in a tense tussle with Japan and Ireland for the two quarter-final spots from Pool A. The Scots need to get five points from their match against Russia today and then on Sunday they have to beat the hosts in a colossal climax to the Pool stages, if they are to have a chance of going through. And they have to do it with a bonus point while denying Japan a bonus point.

Right now in Pool A, Japan are on top with 14 points from three games; Ireland are second with 11 points from three games and after two matches Scotland have 10 points. Ireland also finish on Sunday, against Samoa.

It is certainly possible that Ireland, Japan and Scotland can finish equal on log points and then it comes down to points difference.

A fuming Townsend said: “I’ve never seen a crooked feed penalised at the World Cup or in the Six Nations. It was an incredible call to be honest. It really surprised me. To see it as we went into injury-time for a game-changing decision was an even bigger surprise.”

I think what happened is that Peyper got caught up in the incredible atmosphere at the Stadium. I’ve seen it a number of times ... the refs are human and subconsciously find themselves blowing for a team.

The worst example was Steve Walsh in the 2007 Super 14 final between the Sharks and the Bulls where he got swept up in the Bulls’ late comeback and ignored a myriad of transgressions.