The Springbok rugby camp says it has accepted the outcome of last Saturday’s match against Ireland and that it wants to move on and focus on preparing for the forthcoming fixture against England on Saturday, a statement by SA Rugby said on Tuesday.
Springbok coach Jake White was asked at a press conference at the team’s hotel in Richmond whether there would be any formal follow-up after the incident at Lansdowne Road on Saturday when referee Paul Honiss awarded a try after he had instructed John Smit to talk to his players regarding repeated infringements.
”We can’t change the result,” said White. ”The referee stopped the clock, told John to speak to his players and then he started the clock again.
”In my view, what he forgot was that he had instructed John to go and talk to his players, because if you view footage of the game you can clearly see John is standing with his back to the referee, talking to his players,” said White.
Team manager Arthob Petersen added that any complaint will not change the result.
”The team has accepted the outcome of the match and will now focus its attentions on the important encounter at Twickenham on Saturday.”
White gave his players a day off on Monday. He said he will announce the match 22 to the players on Tuesday and to the media a day thereafter or later.
The team will have two training sessions on Tuesday and will attend an official Springbok Supporters Club banquet in London on Tuesday evening. — Sapa