Aus v SA controversy: Cat among the pigeons

Snickers Man

One of South Africa's leading English-language newspapers the Cape Times has published an extraordinary claim from a leading sports scientist that the semifinal between Australia and South Africa might have been rigged.

The front pageof the Times carries the banner headline "Was Bok game fixed?" and bases its story on a letter and subsequent interview with Tim Noakes professor of sports science at the university of Cape Town.

Noakes effectively says that the match was probably rigged and that the IRB must investigate to prove that it wasn't.

The Cape Times quotes him as saying that the only interpretation of the referee’s inability to penalise illegal actions in at least three areas of the game was “that he (Lawrence) was benefiting personally by ensuring that the Wallabies would win the bent rugby match, the outcome of which was predetermined even before the kick-off”.

Another quote from Noakes says: “I am not saying that there was match-fixing, I am saying the IRB must prove there wasn’t.”

Noakes is a world renowned sports physiologist with a particular interest in the science of fatigue. He would probably know, and the editors of the Cape Times would certainly know, that that last sentences is one of weasel words that would be no defence against a libel claim from Bryce Laurence or anyone involved in his appointment. Noakes is transparently alleging that there was corruption to influence the outcome of the game. He seems to be taunting the IRB and/or Bryce Laurence to sue him.

Another quote from the Cape Times:

“I think an injustice has been done and South Africa as a nation deserves the truth. There was something wrong with that game, it seems it was predetermined and the question is who is benefiting from it,” Noakes said.


The full version of the interview is not available online. One must buy the hard copy edition of the Cape Times, a hard thing to do this side of the equator, to read that.

But sources in South Africa say that Noakes, as well as being a world-respected figure in sports science has also in the past taken a firm stand against corruption and match fixing in cricket, a sport he used to play, in which South Africans have a bit of previous. Apparently he was very vocal during the Hansie Cronje affair.

Either way we don't seem to have heard the last of this. It might just be a case of an outraged academic losing his marbles after one too many glasses of port, but the Cape Times is taking a hell of a risk publishing his comments so prominently.

I don't think the IRB can ignore this.

CatFromHue

Snickers Man wrote: »

Noakes effectively says that the match was probably rigged and that the IRB must investigate to prove that it wasn't.


Another quote from Noakes says: “I am not saying that there was match-fixing, I am saying the IRB must prove there wasn’t.”

Catfromhue in Coppers on a Sat night goes to hot girl: "Now I'm not saying you should sleep with me, I am saying that you should prove why you shouldn't"

Hot girl: "Piss off"

andrewdcs

Sounds like the SA version of the Indo.
Oh Wait! It IS!

Lawyer up bitchz!

The Aussie

Snickers Man wrote: »

I don't think the IRB can ignore this.

I think the IRB can ignore this:D

and besides the South Africans were not to keen on a IRB inquiry after half the All Blacks got "Food Poisoning" before the 95 RWC Final.*

You win some you loose some, thats sport ladies

*i love the "Food Poisoning" defence:D

Gracelessly Tom

Two words spring to mind...... Sour and Grapes.

LeinsterDub

Snickers Man wrote: »

the semifinal between Australia and South Africa might have been rigged. ...

I don't think the IRB can ignore this.

I know the Boks despite loosing the quarter final to the Aussies have kidnapped the All Black and will now take their place in the Semi! Shocking stuff !

danthefan

It is not possible to rig a rugby game, the thought that anyone would even try is just ridiculous. If SA scored 3 clear tries in the first 20 minutes, the game would effectively be over and the only way Lawrence could change that would to be basically sacrifice his career.

JustinDee

Talk about a sore loser.
Trek op, fella!

JustinDee

CatFromHue wrote: »

Catfromhue in Coppers on a Sat night goes to hot girl: "Now I'm not saying you should sleep with me, I am saying that you should prove why you shouldn't"

Hot girl: "Piss off"

Lol.

Very 'Inbetweeners' lol

durkadurka

Pathetically bad losers these SH teams

GerM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Catfromhue in Coppers on a Sat night goes to hot girl: "Now I'm not saying you should sleep with me, I am saying that you should prove why you shouldn't"

Hot girl: "Piss off"

I'm going to need closure on this.

JustinDee

durkadurka wrote: »

Pathetically bad losers these SH teams

Oh come on...
Firstly, the team hasn't said anything of a kind. Its a sports 'physiologist' talking to a journo.
Secondly, have you read any of the overreactions from posters here this RWC or during the past Six Nations?
Being a sook after losing is hardly exclusive to Jaapies, Aussies and Kiwis.

GerM

I suppose Lawrence rigged Steyn missing two penalties and Lambie pushing that drop wide. I guess he also arranged for Roussow to interfere with a jumper in the line out 10 minutes from the end with his team in front. Did Lawrence have a bad game? Yeah, pretty much but he didn't cause the Boks to lose and anyone genuinely querying his integrity on this basis is pathetic.

mrboswell

Snickers Man wrote: »

Noakes effectively says that the match was probably rigged and that the IRB must investigate to prove that it wasn't.

I'm not saying the above is total bull, but its up to Noakes to prove that its not :rolleyes:

durkadurka

JustinDee wrote: »

Oh come on...
Firstly, the team hasn't said anything of a kind. Its a sports 'physiologist' talking to a journo.
Secondly, have you read any of the overreactions from posters here this RWC or during the past Six Nations?
Being a sook after losing is hardly exclusive to Jaapies, Aussies and Kiwis.

Yeah I meant the people not the teams really.

The Aussie

durkadurka wrote: »

Yeah I meant the people not the teams really.

Do you generalise much or just a hobby of yours

All it means is that one person is venting frustration and he has been given a forum in which to put a very abstract point forward.

wow that is
1 - dreadfully bad reporting
2 - horrificly poor 'expert analysis'
3 - the sourest of all grapes.

I'd hope that the paper would have a suitable number of complaints from genuine rugby fans in SA telling them to cop the f on.

chupacabra

This shouldnt even go far enough for the IRB or Lawrence to have to make a statement and if it does then shame on this Noakes guy and the paper for printing it. South Africa shot themselves in the foot by not turning an endless number of chances into points and I guess people back home just cant take defeat on the chin.

JustinDee

durkadurka wrote: »

Yeah I meant the people not the teams really.

Ah thats okay, I thought you were generalising . . . lol

CatFromHue

GerM wrote: »

I'm going to need closure on this.

Maybe tomorrow night!


As of to night it didn't happen at all!

thomond2006

Noakes has come out and said his comments were misinterpreted, I read it in a SA newssite yesterday.

I don't think you can misunderstand those quotes tbh, looks like he knows they were stupid comments.

The Aussie

He might have had time to cool down a bit and realize how it will affect his professional career, though the damage might be done by now and its damage limitation time.

Quick back peddle quick faster:D

yammycat

Snickers Man wrote: »

I am saying the IRB must prove there wasn’t.”

can't prove a negative