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Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
My guide to the Lions Test referees
In 2009, World Rugby ripped up the history books and appointed British and Irish referees to officiate on a Lions tour. Not just any Lions tour; this was a tour to the rugby heartland of South Africa. And though Nigel Owens, Alain Rolland and I were not involved in the Test matches, we were involved in some of the full-blooded provincial games, as the Lions faced up against the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers. I was appointed to referee the Lions against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein – having run touch in three other games – and it was one of the highlights of my career. Not only did I experience the sea of red shirts around the city in the days leading up to the match, but I saw the best players of the home nations take on the world champions in their own backyard. It was epic, and a huge honour to be the first Englishman to referee the Lions. There will be two other firsts on this Lions tour: Nika Amashukeli will become the first Georgian to referee the Lions and Andrea Piardi the first Italian. The trio will be completed by Ben O'Keeffe, who refereed the second Test in the last Lions series in 2021, a game played only a few days after Rassie Erasmus's 62-minute online rant about what he perceived to be refereeing inconsistencies. Amashukeli continues to make 'firsts'. Not only was he the first match official from Georgia to referee at a World Cup, but he was also the first to referee a Six Nations hame and a Champions Cup final. Piardi has been the go-to man over the past three seasons in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and refereed the final for the past three years. O'Keeffe burst on to the scene at the 2019 World Cup when he superbly refereed the final pool match of the tournament in the highly emotional Japan v Scotland game. At the 2023 Rugby World Cup he refereed the quarter-final between France and South Africa and the week afterwards he was in charge when England lost to South Africa in the semi-final in Paris. It's fair to say that they are a very experienced team, but like every Test match, the coaches will currently be analysing each referee to see if they can gain an advantage, or perhaps an insight, into how the officials may interpret the game. And if I know Joe Schmidt, he will be looking at some of the stats and noting that these three officials have some distinct differences. Emphasis will be on attack I have explained on these pages before that nothing sucks the life out of a stadium more than a promising attack being stopped by a referee's whistle for a technical side entry or a holding-on penalty given too quickly. Referees who reward the attack more tend to produce games with more continuity and fewer stoppages. Over the past two international seasons, O'Keeffe, who will referee the opening Test this weekend in Brisbane, has given almost 60 per cent of his penalties against the defence. This tendency was obvious when he refereed the Lions v Western Force in Perth on June 28. O'Keeffe gave only 16 penalties all match and, amazingly, none were against the attack. This could explain why Farrell opted for disruptors in the back row rather than an out-and-out jackler, putting Tom Curry ahead of Jac Morgan. Most pleasing for the spectators is that all three of the referees insist on quick ball when teams are attacking, and they all go hard against defending players who are lying on the wrong side. All three also have an average ruck-speed time of less than three seconds, a measurement of how quickly the ball comes away from the breakdown. This would suggest we are in for some attacking rugby. Lions should target scrum in first Test Amashukeli is not one for wasting time at the scrum. He resets only one in five scrums, and that is supported by being top of the scoreboard when it comes to having the highest ball in play. The Lions have used the scrum to devastating effect so far this tour, securing 18 penalties through the series. O'Keeffe averages five penalties at the scrum per game, and having witnessed the Aussies concede a couple against Fiji – a team without the power of Tadhg Furlong and Ellis Genge – I expect it is an area that the Lions will target. Worrying for the Lions is that Piardi, who will referee the second Test in Melbourne, resets more than one in three scrums. Which is often a sign that the referee does not give penalties to a dominant scrum. I imagine that John Fogarty, the Lions scrummaging coach, will be whispering into Piardi's ear this weekend as he runs up and down the touchline in front of the technical boxes. Best to call on TMO sparingly This week I was asked to join Scotty Stephenson, the Kiwi broadcaster and commentator, on his early-morning breakfast show. He was discussing the use of TMO after three potential New Zealand tries were scrubbed off in the van. I explained to him that technology improves sport – think Snicko in cricket or Hawk-Eye in tennis – but that it is so important that TMOs don't go looking at every pass or rewind every single breakdown. If they do, we will be waiting until September for this series to finish. At the end of the Lions' match against the Australia and New Zealand invitational side, I was scratching my head to understand what Shannon Frizell had done wrong for the TMO to come in, but after a lot of searching for the best angle, he was given a yellow card for a dangerous clean-out. TMOs are there to prevent the big howler – not to scrutinise every clear-out – and Amashukeli buys into that, averaging just over one review per match. Some readers will remember the Champions Cup final, with seven TMO interactions between the Georgian and the South African, Marius Jonker. They will work together again in the third Test, but I am hoping that the European final was just a blip in the figures. O'Keeffe will kick things off this weekend with his compatriot Richard Kelly in the van, and I'm hoping the number of TMO referrals is around fewer than two, O'Keeffe's average in each of his past nine matches. If it is, it will add to the flow of the game. My main hope, however, is that this is the last time you read the names Amashukeli, Piardi and O'Keeffe in these columns and they can reminisce on being part of Lions history for all the right reasons.
News24
3 days ago
- Climate
- News24
Friday's weather: A mix of damaging waves, fog, cold, rain and thunderstorms
Kelly Cestari/World Surf League via Getty Images The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has forecast wet conditions in parts of the Free State, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. Damaging waves are expected in Alexander Bay and East London while thunderstorms are forecast for the Free State. Impact-based warning Yellow Level 2 warning: Damaging waves along Alexander Bay and East London are expected, creating difficulty in navigation at sea. Small vessels are at risk of taking on water and capsizing. Yellow level 2 warning: Damaging waves Affected area: Eastern Cape Validity period: 18 July 2025. #saws #weatheroutlook #southafricanweather — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 17, 2025 In the SAWS' colour-coded weather warning system, yellow indicates a moderate risk of impact that requires caution and awareness, while orange indicates that higher-risk impact is expected, requiring increased attention and preparation. SAWS uses the numbers to indicate the likelihood of weather-based impacts occurring. Levels 2 and 6 are high, and Level 4 is low. The weather in your province Gauteng: Partly cloudy and cool. Mpumalanga: Partly cloudy and cool to warm, becoming cloudy with drizzle in the east from the evening. Mbombela: 8°C — 23°C Ermelo: 7°C — 19°C Emalahleni: 8°C — 21°C Standerton: 6°C — 20°C Skukuza: 12°C — 28°C Limpopo: Morning fog patches in the central parts, otherwise fine and cool to warm. Polokwane: 8°C — 23°C Phalaborwa: 13°C — 27°C Tzaneen: 10°C — 24°C Musina: 10°C — 26°C Lephalale: 9°C — 26°C Mokopane: 10°C — 26°C North West: Partly cloudy and cool. Klerksdorp: 9°C — 22°C Potchefstroom: 08°C — 21°C Mahikeng: 10°C — 23°C Rustenburg: 10°C — 23°C Vryburg: 6°C — 21°C Free State: Partly cloudy and cool to cold, with isolated showers and thundershowers in the east and along the Lesotho border. Bloemfontein: 07°C — 18°C Welkom: 08°C — 21°C Bethlehem: 04°C — 18°C Northern Cape: Morning fog patches over the western interior, otherwise partly cloudy, cool to cold but fine in the east. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly. Upington: 4°C — 19°C Kimberley: 3°C — 18°C De Aar: 2°C — 15°C Alexander Bay: 09°C — 21°C Springbok: 5°C — 15°C Calvinia: 2°C — 14°C Sutherland: -1°C — 10°C Western Cape: Cloudy in the south-west with fog patches in the north, otherwise partly cloudy and cold but cool over the west coast district. Isolated showers and rain are expected in the extreme south-west and south-east. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh westerly to north-westerly along the south coast, otherwise light to moderate southerly to south-easterly, becoming moderate south-easterly along the west and south-west coast in the evening. Cape Town: 10°C — 16°C Vredendal: 7°C — 18°C Riversdale: 8°C — 17°C George: 8°C — 16°C Worcester: 6°C — 16°C Beaufort West: 5°C — 13°C Oudtshoorn: 6°C — 16°C Weather forecast for today & tomorrow: 17 - 18 July 2025. Isolated to scattered rain & thundershowers are expected over the central, eastern and south-western parts of the country. With a possibility of damaging interior winds & damaging waves along the coastal areas. #saws — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 17, 2025 Western half of the Eastern Cape: Morning fog over the interior, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to cold, but cloudy with isolated showers and rain along the coastal areas west of Gqeberha. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong south-westerly, becoming light to moderate from late afternoon. Eastern half of the Eastern Cape: Morning fog in the north-east, otherwise partly cloudy and cold, but cloudy with isolated to scattered showers and rain in the east. Very cold conditions are expected over the northern high ground. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh south-westerly, reaching strong in places. Gqeberha: 8°C — 18°C Makhanda: 7°C — 15°C Cradock: 2°C — 15°C Graaff-Reinet: 2°C — 14°C East London: 12°C — 19°C Port St Johns: 14°C — 19°C Mthatha: 8°C — 15°C Komani: 1°C — 14°C Qonce: 7°C — 17°C KwaZulu-Natal: Partly cloudy and cool to cold with isolated showers and rain, but scattered along the coast and adjacent interior where it will be cloudy. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong southerly to south-westerly. Durban: 16°C — 20°C Richard's Bay: 17°C — 22°C Pietermaritzburg: 09°C — 16°C Ladysmith: 03°C — 19°C
The Herald
5 days ago
- The Herald
Attempted murder charge under investigation in gross elder abuse case
Six staff members are in custody after an elderly woman at an assisted living facility in Dagbreek, Welkom, was found tied with duct tape and left without basic care. The 81-year-old woman allegedly refused to take medication from staff on Monday last week, said Free State police spokesperson Sgt Palesa Thabana. A visitor saw blood and injuries on the victim's face, hands and arms. She was also 'discovered to be under extremely wet and cold conditions'. Police were alerted. 'Investigations revealed how the victim's hands and neck were tied with duct tape and her face covered. Police confiscated a roll of duct tape and pieces of tape with traces of blood,' said Tabana. Four female suspects aged between 35 and 73 were arrested on July 9. They are charged with attempted murder, assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, kidnapping and contravening the Older Persons Act. Further investigations led to the arrests of two other women aged 30 and 33 on Monday. They are charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and contravening the Older Persons Act. They are applying for bail in the Welkom magistrate's court on Wednesday. The Association for the Aged operates a national toll free helpline to report elder abuse. The number is 0800 10 111 0. TimesLIVE
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Committee Mobilises Joint Oversight to Tackle Municipal Audit Failures
The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), together with the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), and other relevant parliamentary oversight committees, have committed to a coordinated approach to municipal oversight. This follows the alarming municipal audit outcomes that the Office of the Auditor-General (AG) reported to the committee earlier this year. During the committee meeting this morning, the Chairperson, Dr Zweli Mkhize, expressed deep concern at the lack of progress in municipal finances. The audit outcomes for local government for the 2023/24 financial year showed that only 16% of 257 municipalities achieved clean audits, while the rest either regressed or remained stagnant, with audit opinions ranging from qualified to disclaimers or non-submissions. When she presented the audit outcomes to the committee earlier this year, the AG noted that, despite having exercised all available remedial powers under the amended Public Audit Act, the audit outcomes remained largely unimproved. In response to this, Dr Mkhize said that the committee will adopt a revised and more collaborative oversight model with a focus on intergovernmental accountability. Based on this new model, the committee will, with relevant oversight committees, conduct joint visits to provinces and municipalities, beginning with the Free State on 24 and 25 July. Oversight visits to the North West and Eastern Cape will then follow. According to the Chairperson, the committee wants to avoid duplication, promote institutional coherence and ensure that every sphere of government accounts for its constitutional responsibilities through this collaboration. During these oversight visits, Members of Parliament will engage with Premiers, Speakers of the provincial legislatures, Members of Executive Councils (MECs), municipal mayors, Speakers of municipal councils, and accounting officers. Provincial legislatures will also be involved in the process. 'The purpose of this,' the Chairperson said, 'is to evaluate the systemic causes behind repeat audit failures and to demand clear responses on what corrective actions have been taken and what measures are in place to prevent further regression.' The focus is on accountability and ensuring that there are consequences to prevent repeat offenders, the Chairperson said, adding that this will help improve governance and ensure effective service delivery. He said the committees would pay particular attention to repeat disclaimer audit opinions, the poor quality of financial statements, overreliance on consultants without any tangible improvement, and persistent irregular expenditure. Unfunded budgets, non-functional internal audit units and poor contract management will also come under the spotlight. Dr Mkhize confirmed that the committee sought legal clarity about coordinating oversight across spheres of government. He said the committee solicited several legal opinions to ensure the planned oversight is rooted in the principles of cooperative governance with due regard for the autonomy of each sphere of government. The Chairperson said the committee is satisfied that the oversight plan now aligns with constitutional provisions. 'This new approach,' he said, 'reflects Parliament's commitment to proactively preventing dysfunction rather than reacting to failures. It is designed to hold not only municipalities accountable but also provincial governments, which are constitutionally obligated under Section 154 of the Constitution to support and monitor local government. Premiers and MECs will therefore be asked to account for how they have fulfilled their oversight roles, particularly in cases where municipalities have consistently underperformed.' The Chairperson said this joint oversight model is an institutional response to the Auditor-General's earlier call for decisive intervention and her letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly. 'The Office of the Auditor-General should not be placed in a position where it is compelled to perform administrative duties, such as correcting municipal submissions,' he said. 'The AG's function is to provide independent audit outcomes, not to compensate for governance failures.' Dr Mkhize reiterated the importance of this new collaborative oversight approach and said it is an important shift from fragmented accountability to a much-needed collective responsibility. 'We intend for this model to serve not only as a corrective measure but also as a blueprint for systemic reform and to ensure that audit reports reflect tangible improvements in governance and service delivery at the municipal level,' he said. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
The Herald
6 days ago
- Health
- The Herald
Foot and mouth disease outbreak reported in the Free State
A foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak has been reported in the Free State, the department of agriculture said on Monday. The department said the outbreak was confirmed last Thursday on a commercial farm in the Moqhaka Local Municipality, located in the Kroonstad state veterinary area. Spokesperson for the ministry of agriculture Joylene Van Wyk said the affected property was placed under quarantine on July 8 and immediate control measures were implemented, including surveillance and vaccination. 'Trace-back activities are ongoing to determine the source of the infection, while farms in the surrounding 10km radius are undergoing surveillance to determine the possible extent of the spread,' Van Wyk said. She confirmed 270 FMD outbreaks had been reported across five provinces in South Africa by July. While 21 of the outbreaks had been resolved, 249 remained unresolved. 'The Eastern Cape has recorded 40 outbreaks, with 38 still open and two resolved. There have been no new reported cases in the Western Cape since September 2024. KwaZulu-Natal has been the most affected province, with 191 reported outbreaks, of which 172 remain active and 19 have been resolved. Since May, Gauteng has reported 32 outbreaks, North West has four open outbreaks, while Mpumalanga has reported three outbreaks,' she said. TimesLIVE
