Mark Watt-Pringle

[Mark 🇿🇦 @markmywords]

In late 2015, while the rest of the country was on holiday, acting Strategic Fuel Fund CEO Sibusiso Gamede quietly flogged South Africa’s entire strategic oil stockpile - roughly 10 million barrels - at a steep discount (~$28–30/barrel) with the approval of then Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson. No open tender. No board approval. No Treasury sign-off. They called it a “stock rotation.” It was a sale.

Gamede, who was also Joemat-Pettersson’s special adviser, allegedly received large unexplained payments (including into his law firm’s trust account and in cash via ATMs). The Western Cape High Court later declared the deals invalid and corrupt, finding that Gamede’s motives were improper and that he had unlawfully disposed of a fundamental national insurance policy. The oil was sold near the bottom of the market; the buyers locked in easy upside. Taxpayers were left with the bill: the stock fetched ~$281 million, but restitution, interest, storage and costs ran substantially higher. The reserves were never properly rebuilt.

Today those reserves sit at roughly 6.9 million barrels — a fraction of what the Saldanha tanks can hold and well below international norms — while inland petrol has hit record prices. A proper strategic buffer wouldn’t permanently cut everyday pump prices (those are set by global oil, the rand, taxes and refining shortfalls). It would give the country a tool to release stocks in a crisis, blunt extreme spikes and reduce the risk of shortages or panic. Selling the crown jewels cheap and failing to restore them left South Africans more exposed and poorer. Accountability never followed.

[Jedi Rugby @jedirugby]

Dear @WorldRugby
Any response to this?
Something smells here and it is coming from your direction.

[#RugbyFifteen.com @RugbyFifteen]

Those who claim the tackle might have been early are conveniently quiet in their analysis of the forward pass leading to the tackle...

#Springboks #AllBlacks

[Mark Watt-Pringle @sparkywp]

@bensmithrugby When were released from the Looney Bin 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[grapgat @grapgatza]

This might explain a lot about the All Blacks' 'confusion' about what the ruck laws actually are.

On the Rugby Unity podcast, David Pembroke, Ewen McKenzie and Sir Steve Hansen talk about the final match of the RGR series.

They're having a whinge that the TMO was asked to look at the tackle without the ball on Roigard, and the TMO takes them back to the offsides by Roigard before that.
(Which the ref and assistant ref should've seen.)
And was absolutely an offside by Roigard as well as Vaa'i, so any reasonable person would be fine with that call.

But no, they have an issue that the TMO dared point out a valid infringement that he had no business looking at.

The best part is what they then have to say about the ruck where that offsides happened.

Ewen Mckenzie says that was a tackle contest, not a ruck.
SirHansen: "If they're gonna say that Roigard's offside, because that's a breakdown, then PSDT isn't allowed to pick the ball up. You can't pick the ball up at a breakdown"
Ewen Mckenzie: "For me it was still a tackle contest." "PSDT just picks the ball up, he's not the halfback. "
(hint Ewen. Just cos he doesn't have a 9 on his back doesn't mean he can't play halfback)

Law 15.2
A ruck is formed when at least one player from each team are in contact, on their feet and over the ball which is on the ground.

Image 1 - how is that not a ruck???? Tackled player on the ground. SA player and AB player contesting over the ball. Textbook description.

Image 2 - its even more of a ruck now. Ball is on the ground. 5 players over the ball.

Image 3 - The ABs have been pushed off the ball. PSDT is clearly standing in a 'scrumhalf' position.
Roigard miles offsides.

Image 4 - PSDT picks up the ball to pass. How the hell are you meant to get the ball out of a ruck if you can't pick it up as per these geniuses.

How is there any question that this was a ruck.
And that Roigard was offsides.

This is someone that was knighted for their services to rugby?

@Rugby_Unity

[Hawk-Eyed Rugby @Oldmangaming4u]

Hey Boet, you posted one Bok medic walking on and lost your mind. Meanwhile your lot had four water carriers, medics and tacticians standing in a huddle like they were running a board meeting. Look at this. That’s not a drinks break that’s a coaching clinic. We send one doctor. You send a committee. And you’re still 3-1 down.🤣

[Mark Watt-Pringle @sparkywp]

@ChalynRugby In your “humble honest” opinion right…….

[Hanro @Hanro943779]

@bensmithrugby Okay you bunch of cheats

[Hendrik Cronjé @hendrikcronje71]

One member of Rassie’s management team that earned his money during the RGR, is Jaco Peyper. 
The way the Boks adapted in Baltimore under Karl Dickson's way of refereeing after losing 17-24 under him against the All Blacks at Eden Park, is something that needs to be mentioned.👏

[Hawk-Eyed Rugby @Oldmangaming4u]

Here is the Oscar guy doing it again!

[Yagyah Rabin 🇵🇸 🇿🇦 @YagyahR]

@daphmc_ @WorldRugby Hope this help

[Mark Watt-Pringle @sparkywp]

@daphmc_ @WorldRugby Take the time to refresh your rule knowledge- was offsides the whole time #cheating Drama Queen

[The Rugby Issue @TheRugbyIssue]

Leg trip from Mo’unga on KLA👀

#AllBlacks #Springboks #RSAvNZL 🇿🇦🇳🇿#RGR26 🏆 #Rugby 🏉

[Hawk-Eyed Rugby @Oldmangaming4u]

Tupou Vaai gets a penalty here, any AB supporter please explain how he is supporting his body weight?

[Jacques Maree @JacquesMaree73]

Last night the ABs learnt, for the first time via a penalty against Roigard, that ALL players must be onside at a ruck. This had never been explained to them. Next they must learn about supporting their own body weight. That’s going to be a big surprise. (pics: @Oldmangaming4u)

[Hawk-Eyed Rugby @Oldmangaming4u]

My reading across these three Tests is that the All Blacks are coached to stay upright in contact, wrap up our ball carriers’ arms, prevent the offload and force another breakdown. That slows our attacking continuity and buys their defence time to reset. (strange when they say they want a fast paced game)

The concern is the collision risk that comes with that approach. Staying upright to control the ball puts shoulders and heads in the same space, with less margin for error. You don’t have to intend head contact to adopt a technique that increases its risk.

South African fans have highlighted multiple incidents they believe the referee, assistant referees and TMO missed. Those claims deserve examination against the footage, which incidents were overlooked, which were reviewed, and why did they escape sanction?

That’s why the technique deserves scrutiny as a pattern, alongside individual decisions. If you repeatedly choose the tactical benefit of upright tackling, you should also bear responsibility when it produces illegal head contact. The standard must be the same for both teams.

[whezmabeer @whezmabeer]

@Oldmangaming4u 😭

[#PutSouthAfricansfirst @Patriot_S_A]

Did you know that South Africa had a fully operational oil refinery in Durban called SAPREF, but it was closed due to ANC leaders' missteps?
Now, as global tensions rise and energy insecurity worsens, public funds are being spent to “revive” a facility that should never have shut down. When we elect leaders like wolves, they trade strategic advantages for luxury watches and sneakers.

[Gus @GusMcgusface]

Quite notable that no Kiwi podcaster or journalist this week called out Roigard & Barret for simulation?
Those arbiter's of the "Spirit of the game" were awfully quiet 🤫 about it.
#SAVNZL

[grapgat @grapgatza]

I feel like I'm living in the Twilight Zone.
You must be f-ing kidding me.

All Blacks attack coach Mike Blair has called for consistency from referees at the breakdown ahead of the final Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry in Baltimore on Saturday

Blair believes the Springboks deliberately slowed the speed of their ruck ball during the third Test at FNB Stadium in Soweto, and says players who infringe at the breakdown should be penalised rather than coached by officials.

“I think you could go through a Test match, and you can pick out 20 or 30 times where you could’ve made a different decision.

“Our attack is based on our ability to move the ball and move the opposition around, so the cleaner our breakdown, the better for us.

“I think if you are doing something illegal, you should be penalised for it.”

This from the guy that's coaching them to do this? Be careful what you wish for Mike

https://t.co/yU0s1pVDhY