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Joubert opens up on 3N controversy

Tuesday 29th July 2008

Under-fire referee Criag Joubert has admitted he ought to have given a penalty for Lote Tuqiri's 'trip' of Sitiveni Sivivatu during last Saturday's Tri-Nations, but has stopped well short of saying it should have been a penalty try.

Joubert also insisted the re-introduction of Andy Ellis for the bleeding Jimmy Cowan was legal.

Many Australians were fuming at the decision to bring Ellis back on, after he had been replaced by Cowan for tactical reasons, the brought on for Cowan once more with Cowan limping off.

Laws allow for replacement players to be then replaced by the starting player in the advent of a blood injury.

Cowan was bleeding slightly from the mouth, but was also down on the turf for some time before the decision was made to bring him off and is now struggling with a knee injury.

Joubert debated the issue with one of his assistant referees and an IRB official on the sideline, temporarily calling a halt to play during the second half of the test, but he is satisfied he made the right call after reviewing a video of the incident.

"I accept his explanation that Andy Ellis returned to the field after Cowan had suffered an injury that caused bleeding," Joubert said to South African TV broadcasters Supersport.

"He may also have had a sore knee, but I don't want to express an opinion about that."

All Black forwards coach Steve Hansen said the extent of Cowan's injuries was fairly severe.

"His nose was broken and he was bleeding from the mouth," said Hansen.

"Yes, he had a sore knee. But he was replaced by Andy Ellis because he was unable to continue playing because of the blood."

On the Tuqiri/Sivivatu incident, Joubert said he was unsighted, but that he would not have awarded a penalty try in any case as Tuqiri was leading the chase for the grubbered ball

"I was simply not in a position where I could see Sivivatu being tackled without the ball," Joubert said.

"After watching the incident on video, I agree I should have awarded a penalty to the All Blacks. A penalty try would have been out of the question because, in my position, Tuqiri would have dotted down even had Sivivatu been tackled.

"I can only rule on what I see. And because the assistant referee nearest to the incident (Mark Lawrence) also did not see what happened, I ordered a drop-out."