The head of World Rugby, Aussie chap Brett Gosper, is unafraid to make the odd risque remark.
Earlier in the year, he responded to the news that England had been knocked out in the pool stages of the cricket world cup, by joking that he did not want to see something similar happen in it's rugby equivalent, a comment that generated alarm in Wales.
Gosper refused to apologise but did clarify that the tweet was just an acknowledgement that the buzz surrounding a tournament is greater the longer the host nation remain involved. Given that Australia were also in England's pool, one would have to admire the fact that concern for the tournament atmosphere superseded his patriotism.
Yesterday, he was quizzed by the BBC about Craig Joubert's handling of the Australia-Scotland game. He acknowledged that mistakes do happen but asserted that the standard of refereeing in the competition had been phenomenally high.
Of Joubert's brisk post-match jog for the tunnel afterwards, Gosper merely speculated that he may have needed the bathroom.
Mistakes do happen but it’s a tough job. There’s a review taking place of all aspects, including his exit from the pitch. Maybe he was keen to get to the bathroom, who knows?
What I would say is that the standard and level of refereeing has been phenomenally high at this Rugby World Cup and they have worked very hard at this tournament. There seems to be some controversy around it and we are doing a full review of that.
Patently a joke, but many of the wounded Scots of the twittersphere, were not in the mood for it. Woody Allen posited that comedy equals tragedy plus time. It is the contention of many that Gosper overlooked the final part of the equation.
Neil Macdougall best summed up the consensus when he accused Gosper of quite 'literally talking pish.'
Gosper is a fecking clown if he seriously thinks we'll swallow that cock & bull story. Literally talking pish. #Joubert
— Neil Macdougall (@DougallChops) October 19, 2015
@RugbyPodcast @jbeardmore Brett Gosper's comments do nothing to help calm anyone's anger. — Chris (@zaku6r84964) October 19, 2015
Brett Gosper there taking the ever decreasing standard of officiating in rugby union terribly seriously ??? https://t.co/560BVw0jI9
— Rhys Knott (@buck_mitchell) October 19, 2015
