Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has thrown All Blacks refereeing complaints back in their faces ahead of Saturday’s tense Bledisloe Cup showdown.
On arriving in Auckland, McKenzie quickly took issue with rival Steve Hansen’s criticism of Jaco Peyper’s officiating in last weekend’s 12-12 draw first Test in Sydney.
Hansen said Peyper had a “bad day at the office”, revealing the South African referee apologised to New Zealand for three short-arm scrum penalties and a yellow card to Wyatt Crockett.
But McKenzie said the All Blacks needed to look at how they’ve bent the laws over time to see how they’re now paying the price.
It comes as former Test official Jonathan Kaplan, writing in his own blog this week, said referees were now taking better action at the Kiwis’ negative slowing-down tactics under pressure.
Statistics back up Kaplan’s comments with New Zealand copping significantly more yellow cards – seven in their past 10 Tests – than in the previous four seasons.
McKenzie said Hansen’s gripes about the scrum and Crockett’s sin-binning were highly selective, and praised referees for being more consistent in punishing cynical indiscretions.
“I think teams have to look at themselves over time rather than just one game and one mistake,” he said on Friday.
“There was three free kicks against the All Blacks (scrum) but there was still 14 more penalties against them, so it depends on which bit you want to look at.”
Australia must end a 28-year drought at Eden Park to keep the Bledisloe series alive.
It was the corresponding match 12 months ago in Wellington when McKenzie spoke out about All Blacks not being yellow-carded for piggy-back indiscretions in the first half of their 27-16 loss.
He felt there was now greater refereeing consistency under directives from the International Rugby Board and SANZAR.
While Peyper was singled out by the All Blacks, McKenzie made reference to other opinions like that of Kaplan.
“NZ were again guilty of marginal tactics under pressure,” wrote the South African, who controlled 68 Tests.
“Are the referees finally beginning to understand what needs to be done to eliminate this constant in their game when they come under pressure in their 22m area?
“Jaco Peyper made mistakes in this game no doubt, but needs credit for dishing out the cards when they were deserved.”
The All Blacks received to just one yellow card in 12 Tests in 2011, before it grew to five in 14 in 2012 and seven from 14 last year.
Australia have their own refereeing issues to attend to in Saturday’s match with French referee Romain Poite the man who whistled their scrum off the park in last year’s Lions series-deciding loss in Sydney.
Campbell Watts
Guest
Just not that dominant anymore eh??? 50 what points Louie....?
Riccardo
Guest
Boring? Sorry the Wallabies were unlucky but really? Tough crowd...
Ruminate
Roar Guru
Funny how these apologies from refs all get into the media from the mouth of a Kiwi...
Ruminate
Roar Guru
Reputation meaning: "The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something". So yes, reputations are assigned by the opinions of others, not given to yourself. Sounds about right for the comment about the Kiwis at the breakdown and the Wallabies scrum. Both teams have their respective reputations irrespective of their winning or losing record.
AlanKC
Guest
"The second concern held by the All Blacks is that they are encountering referees with pre-determined ideas about how New Zealand play." - Your press is starting to sound more and more Australian by the day, well done.
Digs
Guest
Well if he doesn't he should because no doubt he defined the tactics and is now paying the price for it. I hope ABs get penalised off the park for it because it makes for very boring rugby. As far as I am aware expressing an opinion is what this site is about or aren't we allowed to disagree with the great 'Lord' Hansen and his followers who spin absolute tripe before every game?
AlanKC
Guest
That's what's called a "pushpoll" F.
AlanKC
Guest
Regardless of why it's good to see NZ resorting to using the media for a change. Usually it's us playing the game in the papers rather than on the field - hopefully the outcome will be the same for Hansen and his squad.
Bobbo7
Guest
I think most agree that NZ copped the whistle a bit, but it happens. All coaches should just shut up and get on with it. Starting to get a bit sick of all teams and fans blaming refs for results.
dirtyrottenscoundrell
Guest
Now if Hansen had the advantage of (Conrad's) learned opinion we would not be reading the current load of tripe coming out of the bloated buffoon. Here say / heresy take your pick - Old coppers just can't help themselves.
Jerry
Guest
I'd imagine he probably is to some extent. Peyper made mistakes that favoured the AB's but Hansen has no reason to bring those up. Just like McKenzie was completely one sided when he complained last year.
Rebel
Guest
Ummm, no they're not out to get the ABs, that's the point. They're also not scared to penalize them, there is no conspiracy either way. Pretty simple concept that shouldn't be hard to grasp.
RobC
Roar Guru
One thing that the NRC adopted from Varsity / Sth Africa is the point score. The other thing I hope NRC adopts is two on-field referees, and relevant change in team behaviour. Hopefully this accelerates the same practice in SR. And one day internationals. There's just too many things going on for a ref and two touchies/ARs to manage. But its not an overnight process.
colvin
Guest
I have to agree. I was talking slightly tongue in check; but I do believe the IRB have got to get on top of the rules/interpretation situation. Too many games are determined by the referees, and not the teams. Too many penalties. I don't know whether people remember this feature of the RWC in NZ. In the early rounds the referees blew the pea out of the whistle. A huge number of stoppages in each game. From the quarter finals on there were very few penalties. It was if the referees had been instructed to lay off. Hardly any penalties in the final. Too retain its credibility rugby has to determine better which offence deserves 3 points and which do not. 50/50 situations should never occur. If they are not at least 80/20 then there should be no penalty or stoppage.
Firstxv
Guest
...in your learned opinion of course. Nice to know you know what Hansen knows...how does that work?
Digs
Guest
Having just watched the game again I think the idea that Australia got the 'rub of the green' is rubbish. There were some very poor calls against Australia in that game. One thing was absolutely clear whenever Australia got within the 22, the all Blacks would try to illegally foul at the breakdown. They got off lightly and Hansen knows it, hence the bravado in the media.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Completely agree. Assuming the Herald had sources and quoted them correctly. Neither Joubert nor Peyper have placed their apologies on the public record.
eagleJack
Guest
Wow! Colvin, that is an incredibly sad article. Referees make mistakes. They are under immense pressure. Im really surprised by the reaction of those within the ABs setup over last week's game. And of course the Crusaders were robbed too. Kinda sensing a pattern here. Best of luck to both teams tonight. Geez I hope we aren't spending next week talking about the refs. They aren't the one's dropping the ball, making misreads in defence, or pushing the boundaries.
Boomeranga
Guest
It'd be good to know what else Peyper had to say about the match. If Peyper also stood his ground on other decisions, or made any admissions on decisions that went against Australia as well as NZ. Without being privy to the whole conversation it's difficult to know Hansen isn't just positioning the conversation to suit his own purposes.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
- refs are human too That's the sort of a priori fallacy that got us in this pickle in the first place.