Hell hath no fury like a Scottish man scorned.
Few gave the Scots a chance going into their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia on Sunday, but they ended up coming closest of all the European teams to eking out a win.
A late Mark Bennett interception looked to be enough to send Scotland through to their first semi-final since the second World Cup until referee Craig Joubert awarded Australia a controversial penalty in the dying moments.
Joubert, who was criticised for his performance in the 2011 World Cup final after some questionable calls helped New Zealand beat France, gave Australia a penalty for offside after Scotland knocked it on. But replays suggest the ball was touched by an Australian hand – which would have made the Scottish player onside.
Scottish captain Greig Laidlaw questioned the decision in his post-match interview, and it seems that it might take the people of Scotland to forgive Joubert for his actions after a petition was launched to ban the South African ref from Scotland for the rest of his life.
The petition, creatively named “Petition to have a lifetime ban imposed upon referee Craig Joubert after his sh*te decisions put Scotland out of the 2015 Rugby World Cup“, already has more than 1,000 signatures and is sure to pick up a few more over the next few days.
Joubert apparently ran from the pitch immediately after blowing the final whistle, denying Laidlaw and co the chance to seek an explanation for the call.
Craig Joubert you are a disgrace and should never referee again!! How dare you sprint off the pitch after that decision!!! #RWC2015
— Matt Dawson (@matt9dawson) October 18, 2015
