'The Samoans were in danger of losing the place. They were questioning
a lot of decisions and thought that I was blowing against them'
JIM FLEMING
South Africa 42,
Western Samoa 14
SCOTTISH referee Jim Fleming found himself at the centre of a racist
remarks row after the South Africa v Western Samoa Rugby World Cup
quarter-final clash on Saturday with claims that Springbok scrum half
Joost van der Westhuizen had taunted the South Sea islanders during and
after the game.
Fleming, one of the world's top referees who is a leading candidate to
officiate at the showcase RWC final, said later that he had been unaware
of racist taunts being made throughout the game.
The issue was raised at the post-match press conference when Western
Samoan captain Pat Lam declined to deny that the South Africans had made
racist remarks during the highly charged game and in the tunnel as the
players were leaving the pitch.
Yesterday, Fleming said: ''Kitch Christie, the South African coach,
asked me at the reception if I had heard anything but I told him I
hadn't.
''That was the first time that I had even heard the suggestion that
the South Africans were abusing the Samoans,'' he added.
Lam was asked at the press conference whether van der Westhuizen had
made racist remarks as the teams were returning to the dressing-room.
After a pause he said: ''No comment.''
However, he is reported in the Johannesburg Sunday Times as saying:
''He said a lot to us and what he said after the game couldn't be
printed.
Fleming said: ''I was through the tunnel before the players arrived.
The match officials are whisked away by security men.''
The game, which the South Africans won 42-14 and which heralded a
four-try return for black Springbok winger Chester Williams, was played
in a highly emotive atmosphere with virtually all of the 60,000 Ellis
Park crowd backing the Springboks.
Fleming said: ''The atmosphere was very intense and, in fact, I've
never refereed in an atmosphere like that before. A lot of that was due
to the fact that there was so little support for the Western Samoans.''
The Western Samoans, who played their usual game of big-hit tackles --
some of them high and late -- found themselves on the receiving end of
Fleming's whistle.
The penalty count of 21-8 in favour of the Springboks incensed the
Western Samoans and later coach Bryan Williams confined himself to
saying that he had not agreed with some of Fleming's decisions.
The referee said: ''The Samoans were getting rather excited and Pat
Lam was doing a lot of talking to me. Frankly, they were in danger of
losing the place. They were questioning a lot of the decisions and they
thought that I was blowing against them. They were getting rather
agitated.
''I'm sure that if the South Africans had been resorting to racial
abuse then Lam would have mentioned it to me.''
The Western Samoans were critical of the referee's performance,
casting doubt on two of Williams' tries, one which may have been
preceded by a forward pass and another when he seemed not to have
grounded the ball properly amid a melee of bodies.
There is little doubt that Fleming was given scant assistance by his
French touch judges Patrick Robin and Joel Dume.
Western Samoan full back Mike Umaga was guilty of two vicious
head-high tackles. The first, on Andre Joubert, which immediately
preceded Williams' first try, was missed by Fleming who had been
watching the run of play.
Umaga was involved again a short while later when he crashed into van
der Westhuizen. The Springbok scrum half made a meal of the clash and
the penalty was awarded but from then on the crowd were baying for
Umaga's blood.
Yesterday, the RWC authorities announced that Umaga was to be
''cited'' for dangerous tackling.
The tournament organisers decided following the brawl which marred the
South Africa v Canada match that if a referee took no action at the time
then they would use television evidence to take retrospective
disciplinary measures.
The hearing will be held today, shortly before the Samoans are due to
fly home.
Springbok full back Andre Joubert may have played his last game in the
World Cup. Joubert broke a bone in a hand early in Saturday's game and
although the Springbok management are hopeful that he will return later
-- by which they mean the final on June 24 -- his further participation
must be in some doubt.
Forwards Ruben Kruger, Mark Andrews, and Kobus Wiese also were hurt
during the game, while wing James Small continues to be troubled by a
nagging hamstring injury that forced him off the bench.
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