source
The photograph causing so much crap for Jaco Peyper. Here the referee is seen having a playful photograph with welsh fans.
The World Rugby Football Union needs to lighten up. The French Rugby Union (Vice president complained) have made an official complaint regarding this photograph as Jaco Peyper was the referee who sent the French player off last weekend. The French Vice president obviously has an agenda and is trying to make a name for himself and sees this as an opportunity more than anything else. The Frenchmen had no defence as the replay showed him looking first before landing his elbow firmly in the face of the Welsh player.
source
Watching the elbow land on it's intended target makes him 100 percent guilty and a red card was the right call.
Sebastien Vahaamahina was the player sent off and will miss the next 6 games off his season starting in France. He admitted guilt as the evidence was too obvious and he has since resigned from playing international rugby for France. The problem is he is 28 and a decent player so that is a knee jerk reaction as he is taking all the heat for the team being knocked out. That is only right and he needs to learn from his mistakes.
The French jumping in complaining about this picture to me is just wrong. Rather keep quiet and move on. There is nothing wrong with this photograph as it is a rare moment of an official having fun with fans. They can all see the funny side of it and it is harmless fun. The French have no humor as they lost the game down to one stupid crazy moment.
People take things way too seriously and we are not all robots that have no sense of fun. Jaco Peyper wouldn't have been reffing anymore in the tournament anyway as his job is done. He is not allowed to referee any games with South Africa in it so maybe he will get the third place playoff next week.
The world has gone mad in my opinion and there is too much interference into what others do. Next referees wont be allowed to swear at players for being idiots. This is a tough sport and tip toeing around crap like this should never happen and it is nothing. Jaco just got unlucky that someone took the photo and posted it. If they punish him for this the game will be poorer as you have punished a decent official for being human.
I have always lived not having to worry about what others say as it shouldn't make any difference. I would hope to expect that nothing will happen to him as most of the WRU are ex players and this is trying to be too politically correct not allowing the personalities of the individuals come out.
As a player you would kindly take an elbow to the face if your opponent is going to be dismissed and you end up winning the game. The French have sour grapes right now and trying to deflect the story away from them,but are actually just making it worse.