'Bitter' Rassie Erasmus calls out referee decision yet again on Twitter

Sunday, 06 November 2022 at 12:58

bySteven Smith

Rassie Erasmus has called out the decision to allow Mack Hansen's try stand as Ireland overcame South Africa in Dublin on Saturday.

The try came from a turnover with props Andrew Porter and Finlay Bealham exchanging a quick pass, but the former’s pass to the latter has proven to be forward.

Bealham was standing in front of Porter when the pass was thrown, which is a pretty good indication of the direction of the pass. However, nothing was checked by the TMO on the day.

Tweeting a video of the Mack Hansen try, Erasmus tweeted: "Tough test match, thanks for all the support from, also thanks to the Ireland supporters at the Aviva, you definetly understand the game and its great to play in an atmosphere like yesterday ! Surely was a game of big battles,but small margins,"

Rassie Erasmus

@RassieRugby

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Tough test match, thanks for all the support from 🇿🇦, also thanks to the Ireland supporters at the Aviva, you definetly understand the game and its great to play in an atmosphere like yesterday ! Surely was a game of big battles,but small margins 👇🏿

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11:54 AM · Nov 6, 2022

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Reacting to Erasmus' tweet, one Springbok fan wrote: "Tend to the garden you can touch. Our forward play has regressed, O'Connell is now the third forwards coach this season who has nullified our pack,"

"Holy smokes, you are right. That’s a clear neck roll on Sheehan. How did they miss that. Shocker," commented an Ireland fan.

Another South Africa supporter commented: "Rassie, maybe blame selections, impotent game-plan, lack of attack coaching as the reasons for losing half of the games this year…such an amazing pool of players to choose from so these losses are on the coaching team and nothing else,"

"Erasmus being a bad loser again. Bitter as always," commented another Twitter user.

A fans poll has ranked rugby’s five biggest d*heads**

We all love to hate. For every force of good there is in rugby union, there is an equal force of bad to provide balance. A yin to their yang. For every hero, a villain.

As much fun as it is to see the sport's most treasured icons succeed, audiences can sometimes take equal pleasure in seeing a star plummet from the heavens and fall to the depths below.

We've ran a poll to discover who, whether it be for their antics on or off the pitch, have developed an unenviable reputation in the game.

Find out the top five below.

#5. Dan Biggar (Wales)

Biggar is the epitome of players you hate until they are on your team.The way the fly-half continues to moan to referees vociferously has seemingly only got worse throughout his career. It got so bad that popular online personality and diehard Scotland fan Glove39 made a video called ‘birdman’ mocking the way in which he always raises his arms in frustration to officials.

Dan Biggar facts:

Biggar has twice been selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions (2017 & 2021)
On 7 December 2015, Biggar won the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year Award
Biggar came through the Ospreys development pathway, having attended Gowerton Comprehensive School in Swansea
The fly-half has his own routine before kicking goals, which fans now call “The Biggarena” after Los Del Rio’s 1995 hit, Macarena

#4. Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)

A flanker that plays on the edge and never fails to get under the skin of opposition fans. His late hit on Stuart Hogg and foul-mouthed war of words with the Kyle Sinckler during the 2019 Six Nations did him no favours. The sort of player you love to have, but also love to hate.

Peter O'Mahony facts:

During his career, O'Mahony has captained Presentation Brothers College, Ireland U18, Ireland U20, Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions
O'Mahony was born in Cork, where he attended Presentation Brothers College
The flanker captained Ireland at under-18 and under-20 levels

#3. Mike Brown (England)

In his own words, the fullback is a 'marmite player' with fans either loving or hating him. A skinhead who enjoys confrontation is not the traditional mould for an England No15.

Mike Brown facts:

He has won three Six Nations Championship titles with England and two English Premiership titles with Harlequins
Having mainly played football and little rugby, he initially wanted to play fly-half
Brown was an integral part of the England team that won the RBS Six Nations Championship in 2016 and played every match in the 3–0 whitewash of Australia
Brown married long term partner, fashion designer Eliza Scarlett Woodcock, the daughter of former England international footballer Tony Woodcock, in summer 2016
He was selected by the general public for the 2014 RBS Six Nations player of the championship award

#2. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)

The world Cup-winning lock is undoubtedly world-class, but he is also one of the dirtiest players in the sport. If your team has played against him, you will not be a fan. A proper sh**house, but huge biceps.

Eben Etzebeth facts:

Etzebeth may be 6ft 8in and more than 19st (2.03m/123kg) now but he did not dominate rugby in his early school days, leaving his growing until later in his teens
In 2016, aged 24, Etzebeth became the youngest player to play 50 Tests for the Springboks in the game against Australia at Brisbane
The lock was voted South African Young Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013, and was nominated for World Player of the Year in 2013 when the award was won by New Zealand’s Kieran Read.
Etzebeth’s biceps have a circumference of 19 inches… 48.26cm.
In 2017, Etzebeth became the 59th player to captain the Springboks in a Test match when he led the side in the match against France at Ellis Park

#1. Owen Farrell (England)

Owen Farrell (c) of the Saracens during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Saracens at the Recreation Ground on 17 Oct. Photo: Steve Haag/PPAUK

Could it be anybody else? Farrell fits the label “our guy” better than most, meaning you love to hate him unless he’s in your squad. Then you’d go to the end’s of the earth to defend him. The England captain, also known as 'Shoulder boy' for his high tackling, does himself no favours with his poor tackling technique.

Owen Farrell facts:

The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.

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