Warren Gatland has challenged referees to stop New Zealand’s off-the-ball “blocking” in the British and Irish Lions Test series.
Coach Gatland revealed the Lions have already raised the issue with officials ahead of the first Test against the All Blacks at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday.
Gatland will meet first Test referee Jaco Peyper on Friday to discuss the Lions’ concerns further, in a bid for a clean opening clash.
“The frustrating thing for us is the amount of blocking that’s going on,” Gatland said.
“It makes it difficult to complete attacking opportunities and situations.
“There is so much happening off the ball in terms of holding players or subtly holding players. We’ve raised it with the referees already.
“If you listen to the ref mic, they were talking about it constantly through the game. They gave a couple of penalties (in Saturday’s 32-10 win over the Maori All Blacks) for blocking.”
Gatland believes the Lions have been denied a number of try-scoring opportunities because of subtle blocking lines, especially against the Maori.
Asked if the Lions had been stymied, the 53-year-old said: “Absolutely, yeah. When you go back and look at the tapes and look at all the stuff off the ball, where someone’s run a line or stopped someone getting through, some of it is very subtle.”
The All Blacks have tried to call the Lions’ bluff by suggesting Gatland’s teams are one-dimensional – but the tourists’ boss insisted he would not lose his nerve ahead of the Test series.
Cuw
Guest
that is not ideal :P
ClarkeG
Guest
Sillyyyyyy....silly.
ClarkeG
Guest
In an ideal world every player would have a smooth passage to wherever he chooses to go on the field. Problem is there is a game of rugby going on.
ClarkeG
Guest
Because they like to be 'obvious' perhaps?
ClarkeG
Guest
Not what Hansen said last year.
ClarkeG
Guest
I recall Hansen saying last year that they have not met the referees before matches for a long time. He may change his tune this time around.
ClarkeG
Guest
Did I mention Peter it is great to have you back. Yeah I think I did.
allblackfan
Guest
I think I'm going to buy Gatland a handbag And a game of Tiddlywinks!! ☺️ ☺️
richard
Guest
Ben,it is Aussie fans living vicariously through a team that might roll the AB's.Because,based on form Aus certainly won't.They can't even beat Scotland ffs.
Playerfromwayback
Guest
As long a the ref officiates the game consistently and impartially the game will be a spectacle. Teams need to play so well in order to take the ref out of the game, there is nothing more infuriating than watching a tightly contested match get ruined by a poorly interpreted last minute penalty.
Ben
Guest
Just because your boys lost to Scotland Cynical..no need to take it out on the ABs...
Problem with thatreasoning is that they are pnly considering the final result. Whereas impediment of players don't always have a direct result that can bemeasured. It is about how you space defenders in a line, if they are impeded you dictate their running lines, that in my view is illegal play
Jacko
Guest
haha and Black 7 was away... and scoring in the corner lol
Jacko
Guest
As the Ref is there to enforce the rules...and the ABs havnt been penalised out of every game...One can only presume that no rules are being broken.......Even Gatland said they were close to the line a lot...Where are you supposed to be? I would want my players to be on the EFFing line if I was the coach...I guess the best are up there right on the line and the rest are a long way behind
Cuw
Guest
yessss , i can think of one try that was of such. forget the opponent , but try scored by Goodhue with Moody running infront of a tackler and try awarded after review. if i recall correct the argument was the defender would not have got to Goodhue even if not impeded ... duh
Jacko
Guest
Trying to charge down the conversion
I agree to a certain extent, but mostly about those forward "pods" spreading out in front ofthe attacking back line, it impedes access to the back line for defensive backs. It was mostly a Crusader ploy byt it is becoming more evident these days.
Cuw
Guest
TBH im not sure with this lot , but given the prevalence of Waraths in the line up , i think they will be more inclined to slow the ball down a lot . u need to pay bit more attention to the game to pick up certain little things that keep repeating .... sorry to say the aussy are not that interesting to watch. anyways had they been good at it , the results would get better me thinks :)
Bakkies
Guest
Richard that would be like calling the pot kettle, black
Whakaata
Guest
I'm bored with the Lions media circus already. So I have started preparing myself for Cirque de Aussi 1. We have worked the All Blacks Out 2. We know their Weak points 3. They boo us... 4. If the moon stars and uluru align we will win 5. The gap isn't that big 6. The Kiwis are arrogant 7. My nan makes better scones than yours 8. David Campeseinvented the Pavlova... 9. Richie is a cheat (even though he isn't playing) 10/. We (Aus) have world class playersin fact we have the best players on their day You know the same old articles and headlines come out ad nauseum every year and the Roar is not exempt from this.