Deans exasperated by scrum calls

 

By , 20 Jul 2009

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An exasperated Robbie Deans believes the Wallabies scrum is being picked on by referees because of the bad reputation it has had in the past.

Australian tighthead Al Baxter was pinged several times by South African referee Craig Joubert for scrum infringements, some of which cost the Wallabies priceless attacking opportunities during Saturday’s 22-16 Eden Park loss.

Even New Zealand commentators were bemused by some of the decisions, while Deans was seen on television throwing his hands up in frustration after one call.

He later agreed with a television interviewer who had suggested Baxter was being “picked on”.

Asked at the post-match press conference how frustrated Baxter was by the decisions, Deans replied: “Clearly very frustrated. I think he was frustrated with good reason, to be fair.

“I don’t wish to talk any further about it. I don’t see any benefit in it. It’s an area of frustration.”

But the disappointed coach did elaborate when asked later if Australia’s reputation for poor scrummaging – largely dispelled by a powerhouse performance against England last year – was still costing his side.

“There’s absolutely no doubt about that,” he said.

“It’s not my area but there are people responsible for that, the adjudication of the game, they should deal with it because it’s a source of frustration, not just for players but for spectators as well.

“It’s nonsense.”

Baxter said Joubert had an issue with his binding in the scrums.

“He was saying I need your bind higher on the opposition,” the prop said.

“Obviously there was a disconnect between what I thought I was doing and what was happening.”

But Baxter said he would analyse video of the game before deciding whether the calls were fair.

“He’s a top-level referee, he’s been there plenty of times before so it’s something we’ll have to look at and make sure we get sorted out.

“It certainly hurt momentum at certain times.”

Deans also said Australia’s wobbles under the high ball were partly due to refereeing.

“There’s a lot going on around that I think needs to be adjudicated as well … (at times), you can’t even get to the ball,” he said.

Asked if the refereeing was the most disappointing aspect of the Wallabies’ loss, Deans was philosophical.

“That’s just part of life, that’s the way it is, life is unjust,” he said.

“What did Bill Gates say? It’s unjust, get used to it.”

Deans said the loss, after the Wallabies had led 10-0 at their hoodoo ground, had flattened his players.

“I guess in this instance they have a sense of not being far away which in an ironic way makes it worse,” he said.

“I suspect just from observation that it probably hurt more (than other games).”

© AAP 2012

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