The Springboks are out to build “respect” for referees again, and former test referee Jaco Peyper is very much part of that campaign.
Peyper has been helping the Springboks fulltime since his retirement after the Rugby World Cup last year and has been given the task of helping the Boks not only adapt to the law amendments but ensure that in the long run they don’t fall foul of referees in test matches.
Given the history of Rassie Erasmus and World Rugby after the British and Irish Lions tour, the Boks have done a lot to mend the fences that were broken in that time, but there is always more that can be done.
And as many who follow Erasmus know, every small inch that the Boks can use to keep themselves ahead of the chasing pack is a good thing.
So as Peyper calls his role a bit of “developing science”, it has changed a bit from referees who often help their national teams prepare for the international season.
That in itself is nothing new. As Peyper pointed out, Andrew Brace and Frank Murphy help Ireland out on a regular basis and Peyper has fulfilled that role in the past.
What is different this time is that it is a fulltime role that will no doubt have many facets, including live refereeing while the Boks are training, a luxury that isn’t enjoyed by a lot of teams across the world.
One hit out with the Springboks and Jaco Peyper will stick with the laws side of the game.
— Mapantsula a Rugby Show (@MapantsulaRugby) July 1, 2024
Press conference clip from @foreversports pic.twitter.com/mx0a8gd3Ks
And as Erasmus has indicated this past week, there are subtle nuances to his role that will help the Boks in the long-run.
ONE-ON-ONES WITH PLAYERS
Coaches often talk about “painting pictures” to make a referee's role easier, but Erasmus has Peyper doing that, and a lot more.
“He does one-on-ones with the players, with the captain, who was Pieter-Steph du Toit (against Wales), and vice-captain Jesse Kriel, and then the wingers on how to talk to the assistant referees,” Erasmus described his role last week.
“Also to the props on how to communicate those kinds of things with the referees so since the World Cup we have changed our mindset around how we approach the officials.
“Even though we may be right, that doesn’t mean you can be disrespectful towards referees and their assistants. I think that helped a lot, and having Peyper here now makes us understand even more how much pressure a referee is under.
“He told us the other day that they make 950 decisions or non-decisions during a game, and making 20 mistakes in a game is actually not that bad.”
Given that explanation, it is understandable that helping players find the right words in the emotional heat of battle can clarify rather than inflame situations for match officials.
And if a referee doesn’t feel that teams are hostile towards them, it could also subtly aid in 50-50 decisions.
Recently top ex-referee Nigel Owens praised Peyper’s appointment in Sunday newspaper Rapport, where he said it could only be a positive for the Boks.
“The Springboks will benefit incredibly from Jaco’s appointment,” Owens said.
“We all know of his quality and experience as a referee, and he will certainly be missed on the international stage, but his input in the Springbok camp to help them better understand the laws of the game and lower their penalty count will be valuable.
“We saw it during the quarterfinal, semifinal and final of the World Cup when the Boks won each game by one point. One penalty, and it’s three points, and then you’ve lost one of those games. It’s crucial, and Jaco will bring that to the table.”
CLASSIFY PENALTIES
Peyper on Monday tried to explain his role to those who would listen.
Springbok laws advisor Jaco Peyper on joining the national team and his role.
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) July 1, 2024
WATCH press conference with scrumhalf Grant Williams and assistant coach Tony Brown ➡️➡️➡️https://t.co/6qd5uGXDTa pic.twitter.com/e1NKVzOge3
“It’s still a bit of a developing science. The first brief was something we started last year, during the World Cup campaign I spent a bit of time with the team, and the coaching team asked me what they can fix,” Peyper explained.
“I said we need to build a respect theme, not just in this country for this team, but also around the country, we need more referees to serve the game.
“We need to create that environment for more people to serve the game. These fellows have to coach within the framework correctly. So my job is not to judge the refereeing performance, my job is to make sure these fellows coach within the key focus and those players go out and execute.
“After games there will be alignment, whether we will adjust after games or whether the referees will adjust. That’s the main day to day.”
Peyper would help the Boks classify the penalties they concede in one of two categories - namely if it is a system fault, or whether it is a player fault. Either way the Boks can then know how to fix them.
“It’s pretty clear what World Rugby wants, they put out a guideline and then we have to adapt. We never play to not concede penalties, we play to avoid giving away penalties. If you take part in the game you are going to concede penalties somewhere, so we class them in one of two categories. It is a developing science and is a job that is going to get more detailed as we go, because it is kinda the first of its sort,” Peyper added.
“I think the coaches are finding it more and more vital because as the game gets faster and more dynamic, you need it more and more because you can’t fix everything on a Saturday.”
The road to helping the Boks hasn’t been all that easy, as Peyper had to tell his wife Zenobia after the World Cup that retirement didn’t quite mean an end to rugby.
“A few months ago I met with my wife and we agreed that I was done with rugby and two weeks later, we were at the same restaurant with another bottle of wine and I had to explain to her I was back in rugby. It’s been quite a turnaround but I guess when rugby is in your blood, it is hard to stay away,” he laughed.
And as long as he stays, Bok rugby can only benefit from his knowledge.