How Referees Are Killing Rugby | Andrew Brace vs South Africa & Argentina

This is our comprehensive analysis of the controversial refereeing performance by Andrew Brace during the tense South Africa vs Argentina match. This deep-dive video uncovers the inconsistencies, contradictions, and lack of in-game awareness exhibited by Brace, whose decisions considerably influenced the dynamics and potentially the outcome of the match. The analysis kicks off with a key incident where South Africa’s scrumhalf, Grant Williams, was left motionless on the field due to a dangerous charge-down attempt by Argentina’s fullback, Juan Cruz Mallia. Brace’s inability to promptly halt the game, despite the incident unfolding right in front of him, exemplifies his apparent lack of situational awareness. Additionally, we spotlight his inconsistent application of the ’dangerous play’ rule, a constant source of frustration for players, coaches, and fans alike. Continuing with a focus on Brace’s interpretation of ’dangerous play’, we further investigate incidents where the existing guidelines set by World Rugby seem to have been overlooked. Despite the explicit rule – ’contact to the head equals red’, Brace’s application of this rule varied considerably throughout the match, raising questions about his consistency and the overall effectiveness of the law. As we delve deeper into the game, we highlight several crucial moments where Brace’s lack of game awareness becomes glaringly obvious, notably when players were forced to bring serious injuries to his attention. The video emphasizes the severity of such oversights in a contact sport like rugby, where player safety should be paramount. We then widen our scope to Brace’s previous refereeing performances, specifically a United Rugby Championship game between the Stormers and Munster. This contextual look allows us to demonstrate his persistent inconsistencies, especially concerning ’dangerous play’, and further question his aptitude for officiating at this high level. To highlight the potential implications of Brace’s controversial decisions, we revisit a key moment from the South Africa vs England game in 2021. In a critical moment with the match hanging in the balance, Brace’s questionable ruling directly influenced the game’s result, further fueling the debate about his refereeing competence. To make it worse, he lies in the face of Springboks captian, Eben Etzebeth, despite him clearly seeing the England bench entering the field of play. Finally, we return to the South Africa vs Argentina match, examining numerous instances where both teams were at the receiving end of Brace’s contentious calls. This examination not only demonstrates his lack of consistency but also the significant impact of his decisions on the game’s outcome. In the last clip I show Duane Vermeulen making an illegal tackle on the goal-line, where he dives with no arms, and makes contact to the head of Argentinian ball carrier, Thomas Lavanini. This got missed, and directly after it South Africa got a turnover, this cost Argentina 7 points and a possible victory. This video aims to expose the problematic areas of current rugby refereeing and stimulate a discussion around potential improvements. We believe that by dissecting specific incidents, we can contribute to the broader dialogue about the state of rugby officiating and its effect on the game we all love. Lastly, I would also like to thank VHA Accounting Solutions for their partnership during this 2023 Rugby Championship. This video was sponsored by them. We look forward to a great partnership during this Rugby Championship For this Video I used CoachPaint from TRACAB, they’re the best in the industry with regards to telestration software: For a 14-day Trial you can use this link: Check them out on: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: #CoachPaint #Tracab