All Blacks boss Steve Hansen believes referee Romain Poite overthought his controversial late call to revoke a kickable penalty in their third-Test draw with the British and Irish Lions.
With Owen Farrell’s 78th-minute three-pointer levelling the scores at 15-15, the resulting All Blacks’ kick-off was knocked forward – where Welsh hooker Ken Owens, in an offside position, touched the ball.
A penalty was immediately awarded by Frenchman Poite, before being walked back after consultation with his assistants and TMO George Ayoub.
Owens’ touch was ruled unintentional – despite clearly making a grab at the ball – and an All Blacks’ attacking scrum was set, which they duly wasted as the match and series ended all square at Eden Park.
Hansen held his tongue after the match, saying the referees had a tough job and that laws around offside needed simplifying.
He was smore forthright on Sunday.
“The more time you have to think about something, we overthink it, and in this case that’s what happened. If you look at Romain’s instincts, it was a penalty – and straight away, you see (Owens), he knew,” Hansen said.
“They’ve just overthought it – if he’d trusted his instincts and gone with them, he would’ve made the right decision.
“I bet you he’s not feeling good about that – he’s a good man, Romain, and he hasn’t done it deliberately. You’ve just got to accept it.”
Despite Poite’s late call, Hansen admitted his troops were still kicking themselves on Sunday after wasting a host of try-scoring chances.
In a silver lining for Hansen, meanwhile, none of his troops will return to their Super Rugby franchises carrying injuries.
WQ
Guest
I certainly did and I certainly accept there were dodgy decisions made by both of the French Referees. My point is this happens all the time to the All Blacks but it normally doesn't matter because they have scored enough points to take poor decisions out of the equation. The Lions were good enough to not allow the All Blacks the breathing space.
Uncle Eric
Guest
Drongo, how is Hansen responsible for the dropped balls leading to clear scoring opportunities being missed? It could be reasonable to assume that his coaching put the ABs in a position to score, but players' skills killed the opportunities.
Uncle Eric
Guest
'Owens’ touch was ruled unintentional – despite clearly making a grab at the ball', really, how can it be unintentional if the player plays at the ball? Nub of the issue really. It was a poor decision under any circumstances and calls into question Poite's ability to referee big games.
dontcallmeshirley
Guest
What loss?
dontcallmeshirley
Guest
The real question should be about the process that was followed. The ref gives a straight forward offside penalty. Why does he go to the TMO for an offside? When the TMO agrees it is a penalty why does the ref then go back and call it a scrum? It all smells more than a little fishy.
double agent
Guest
Did you watch the game WQ?
double agent
Guest
This is why I restricted my gambling activities to Game 1. I never bet on matches with French referees.
double agent
Guest
Was Owens not standing in front of Williams? He certainly thought so that's why he dropped the ball so quickly.
double agent
Guest
To be fair to SOB that was an accidental contact. Aussies reviewed it. And it wasn't a secret.
double agent
Guest
Hard to argue with any of that JMB.
double agent
Guest
Last Straw it's not up to the ref to decide what type of infringement should decide a match. A referee with that attitude is in the wrong job.
double agent
Guest
So they predicted the French refs would be crap and they were crap. Seems to me they were right.
soapit
Guest
why pops? if he was misquoted couldnt you just tell me?
Drongo
Roar Rookie
My comment is about Hansen's performance as coach. It is you that is just seeing what you wants to see. Hansen said the referees overthought it. That is all I referred to.
Drongo
Roar Rookie
The personal insult, what else?
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Correction, the New Zealand media made the French refs the centre of attention with their preemptive campaign of excuses, because they weren't so sure that this Lions side was the pushover it was made out to be. Singling out refs based on their nationality represented very bad manners and who knows, perhaps it annoyed them to the point where it did influence a decision or two? If so, the egg is on Kiwi faces isn't it. I would note that there wasn't a similar degree of huffing and puffing from NZ when Poite wouldn't even talk to the Aussie captain during Bledisloe Two last year. Seems a bit dumb of the Kiwis to dump on their best mate, hey.
Drongo
Roar Rookie
That is just deflection. Why can't any of you assess Hansen's performance?
Hannes
Guest
Interesting 12 seconds that decided the Lions vs All Black series (look at first 12 seconds in clip below). It illustrates that as players and coaches bend the laws of the game, it leaves the poor referees with an impossible task. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7QPqLnbP80 1. Was Black #8 before the ball at kick-off? (My view “Yes” as Reid is not Bolt – Poite said “No”) 2. Was Black #8 in a realistic position to catch the ball, if not then he tackled Red #15 in the air? (If you say “No” you are in good company as this is Jonathan Kaplan’s and my view – Poite and TMO said “Yes”) 3. Did the ball go forward from Red #15 to Red #16. Tip: look at the “Standard” sign on the field, the ball hit Red #15 on the “d” and was caught at the “a”. Note that Red #15 is facing his own try line making it impossible for the ball to move forwards from his hands. However, the speed that Red #15 is pushed backwards creates the impression that the ball went forward. (I say “No” - Point and TMO said “Yes”) 4. Did Red #16 play the ball? (My view “Yes” as he caught the ball. Point’s and TMO initially also said “Yes” and then changed his mind to “No”) So there you have it, four decisions in 12 seconds that I disagree with. While referees are told only to officiate the clear and obvious players will continue to bend the rules (laws) leading to controversy. Being a rugby referee is an impossible task.
Nroko
Guest
Maybe you should watch the full press conferences. Here you go son: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTp1BBOFnl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzpXhF-YAK8
stu
Guest
The actual series score was 66:54 - do you remember the abs lost in wellington 24:21. Lions won the last 160 minutes of the series 39:36 Other interesting stats Abs didn't score a try in the wellington match.and struggled with goal kicking across the last two matches.