He wasn’t sucked into vibe – White applauds referee Ridley

IT'S not often that a rugby coach dishes out compliments to a referee, but that's exactly what Bulls boss Jake White did following their 32-22 Challenge Cup last-16 victory over Bayonne in France on Saturday.

- ASHFAK MOHAMED

The Bulls scored four tries at the Stade Jean Dauger to advance to Saturday's quarter-final against Edinburgh - who beat the Lions 24-12-in Scotland (1.30pm SA time start).

And while 31-year-old English referee Christophe Ridley handed out a yellow card to Bulls hooker Akker van der Merwe for a high tackle on Bayonne wing Xan Mousques - which looked a bit worse than it was White had no complaints.

"Referees get criticised so much, but I tell you what I really enjoyed today: that referee reffed like a Test referee," the former Springbok coach said.

"He wasn't sucked into any of the things that he could've been sucked into. I just want to say that when you are on the side of the field, you pick up the whole vibe. It's very, very difficult and intimidating for a referee to listen to all that and still be clear-minded.