It’s too easy for Kiwis to dismiss the latest Bledisloe refereeing controversy as just another example of Wallaby whinging.
There’s no doubt the All Blacks are the best rugby side in the world by some distance. Yet the chasing pack are entitled to a fair go from referees – and they aren’t getting it.
Australia themselves have had some recent experience of benefitting from bad decisions. No more so than the infamous call that went their way in the Rugby World Cup quarter final against Scotland.
All the wash-up from Bledisloe Cup 3:
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» Eight talking points
» What changes should the Wallabies make?
» DIY player ratings
» Read the match report
» Re-live the action with our live blog
» Watch the highlights
Yet bad decisions seem to even themselves out for all teams except the All Blacks. Right now, to beat them you need to hope that the men in black have a bad day and the referee has a good day.
To find a bad decision that has arguably cost the All Blacks a game, you need to go as far back as Wayne Barnes’ diabolical and infamous forward pass miss in the game against France in Rugby World Cup 2007.
It’s not just the Australian media and long-suffering rugby public asking questions either. Nor, is this an issue that has cropped up in 2016 as the All Blacks sweep all before them and break world records.
Following the World Cup Final in 2011, Thierry Dusautoir queried multiple decisions that he argued changed the course, if not the result of the game. Many felt France had done enough in the final quarter of the final to earn multiple kickable penalties that simply were not awarded.
Dimitri Yachvili went so far as to say that “the referee was under a lot of pressure. He did not want us to win.”
In 2013 during the Tri-Nations, Stuart Barnes, England’s preeminent rugby commentator called the number of favourable decisions that went New Zealand’s way “disturbing”.
Even an ex-All Black, Justin Marshall, struggled to explain and understand several decisions that went against South Africa including the sending off of Bismarck Du-Plessis for a perfectly timed hit on Dan Carter in Auckland that year.
And so it was that Saturday morning, London time, I sat watching Sean Fitzpatrick not even attempt to justify the referees;’ decision to disallow Speight’s try. Quite simply it was an awful decision, Fitzpatrick said.
Michael Lynagh, a very fair-minded commentator, went ballistic on Twitter claiming “That decision was an absolute joke. Wrong. Game changing.”
Of course even if the Wallabies had gone 17 versus 15 up the All Blacks probably would have won the game. They find a way like wonderful teams do. But the sad thing is we will never know. A classic Test was ruined.
Whatever the case, it is too easy for the parochial Kiwi media and pubic to suggest this is simply a case of sore Aussie losers. There are obviously a lot of disgruntled South Africans and Englishmen too as well as some quite dumbfounded and embarrassed Kiwi greats!
It’s also worth making a couple of further small points.
Shaun Veldsman is not good enough to be a TMO, international referee or even to walk the touch line. He is incompetent. Why he is on the panel and whether he stays there needs to be answered quickly by SARU, SANZAR and the IRB. He is an embarrassment to the game.
Finally, winners are grinners. The All Blacks are magnificent and quite understandably, the Kiwi public is very proud of them. But Aussie rugby is on its knees.
South African rugby has been compromised by political interference. New Zealand may just want to stop and think what that all means for them in the long run.
RobC
Roar Guru
thanks for your thoughts wre01. The ABs respect the laws and its interpreters and play them accordingly. Its not just the players on the paddock. Everyone else should do the same. In short. Ref favour the blacks. Because ABs favour the Refs.
Kitch
Guest
Look.. one of cheikas merry clowns...its stick the boot into the ABs week! One of the most selective bias unsubstantiated pieces of hate writing I've ever read! Could pull out quotes and isolated incidents from any teams past and claim they get the rub of the green!
Ruggerphil
Roar Rookie
I think the ABs should have been awarded a penalty try and Foley a yellow card when he tacked Coles without the ball......I think that was a worse decision than the Speight. Funny the Australian media......and Clown Cheika haven't mentioned that incident.
Mike
Guest
What when he punched that guy in Durban? Or when him and larkham had a bit of biff? I don't really recall too many so I'd be interested.?☺️
exTen
Guest
Consult a dictionary, Jacko. You need to learn the meaning of prevent.
Mike
Guest
The USA think that they started the national anthem thing at sports venues.. but they forget the star spangled banner didn't officially become their national anthem till 1931. Used by the armed forces before this though The Welsh started it in 1905 in response to the haka.
Mike
Guest
How about.. you keep Russel Crowe and we will give you John keys. We will let you clean the silver ware that oughta keep ya busy for a bit?
Mike
Guest
Gotta love the welsh! First time the national anthem was sung at a sports event was them in response to the haka!
Dan
Guest
Just like when Messam got pinged for that tackle on Burger as he was on his way down. I think that happened 3 or 4 plays before. The broadcasters kept playing that over and over again and certainly got the crowds attention and then of course the refs attention.
Dan
Guest
Rt, give me your address and i'll send ya a container of tissue boxes.
rebel
Guest
Don't put words in my mouth, I said it was harsh, therefore would be happy if it was a try. The ABs were on the wrong end of calls and have been when chasing many times. It wasn't a howler as the laws were applied. The ball never coming within 1m of a try is a howler. Sorry, but I can't thank you for your input.
rebel
Guest
Wow, you have it bad, real bad.
zhenry
Guest
A piece from another article: The deceit of the corporate media, in this case the AU corporate media, Murdoch & Fairfax virtually own the NZ media - the fact they do shows how silly & naive NZers are (politically), won't go into that here - Murdoch contrived the clown to motivate the WBs, Hansen & Cheika should know that, I am sure they do. NZ journalists work for AU media and like all journalists they must conform to the editorial agenda. A passing comment about the 18 record, it's all Cheika and the WBs, the record is virtually ignored, which is what the Cheika outburst was contrived to achieve. Radio Sport (Murdoch) was all WBs and how if they had scored that Speight try the WBs would have won, ABs barely mentioned, and so the big deceit of AU being hard done by thru their OWN media is perpetuated, at least when they play the ABs. Re the Speight non try: Watch the side on video, Savea is clearly pushed just as puts on the after burners and only about a metre behind Speight. Savea has serious speed highly likely he would have caught (although irrelevant) Spieght. Instead a steady flow of AU owned media comment drowning it. The ex AB halfback works for Murdoch, he has an eye more on the money he is making, rather than accurate comment. Check out the game for WB transgressions missed, there are plenty, yet AU media come with Reason who constantly refuses to consider most AU misdemeanours.
rebel
Guest
Hahaha, write a bunch of sanctimonious rubbish, then put, 'cue the mob' at the end to somehow legitimise it. Too funny.
rebel
Guest
They don't have to. They can do what ever they want. If you have an issue with the directives, take it up with World Rugby, because despite what the tin foil brigade think, they are not run by NZ.
rebel
Guest
Goodness me some people misinterpret World Rugby procedures with AB demands. I've never seen someone go on so much about perceived injustices and making up broad generalisations about a whole nation. I couldn't give a rats what people do when the haka is on, knock yourself out, but just follow World Rugby instructions that World Rugby introduced. If you don't want it at all, then fine by me also. But what every you do, please spare us the sanctimony. What a load of made up cr@p.
Jacko
Guest
Have you convinced yourself yet? interpreting rules wrong to suit your cause doesnt change the ruling
rebel
Guest
Yes a lot of over-sensitivity everywhere.
Jacko
Guest
This article is an insult to so many people of so many different nationalities is redicules. Do the Aus refs who control ABs games also favor the ABs? Does the characture and integrity of every man and woman involved in the sport, have to be questioned so you can feel better about losing to the All Blacks?
Wardad
Guest
So wheres the article about how until recently the Wallabies had 10 from 10 with Barnes reffing ? He wouldnt be biased towards the Wallabies now would he ? Or is it just how things worked out . I'm betting the latter .