The All Blacks have deservedly won the last two Rugby World Cups. They are generally acknowledged as being the best team in modern sport.
There is, however, one blot on their record: an ever-increasing number of very marginal – if not totally incorrect – refereeing decisions that go their way.
Of course, poor refereeing is not New Zealand’s fault. I am sure that, at times, the All Blacks are left scratching their heads too.
It is also fair to say bad mistakes by officials sometimes hurt the world champions too. For example, the final moments of the third Lions test when the Kiwis were wrongly denied a penalty cost New Zealand a series win.
But increasingly there is a feeling worldwide that bad decisions are not balancing out, that referees are often overwhelmed by occasions involving the men in black and prone to making howlers at key junctures in contests.
Major figures in the game, from England, France, Scotland and South Africa, have highlighted the issue. Are they motivated by simple jealousy or a genuine grievance?
Clive Woodward went so far as to argue that France would have won if the Rugby World Cup final in 2011 at Eden Park had been “refereed properly”. He went on to say, “If I had been the coach of France in that game, I would still be apoplectic to this day”.
In a slightly more balanced summation, France scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili commented after his side’s loss that, “The referee was under a lot of pressure, he did not want us to win. That said, I think New Zealand deserved their win because they are the best team in the world.”
(Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
An Englishman defending a French national side is certainly something of an anomaly, but many of us watching that final in 2011 must have been feeling at least similar emotions. One Richie McCaw turnover in the final five minutes of the game was blatantly from an offside position and quite possibly cost the French the most famous of victories.
Bismarck du Plessis’ sending off at Eden Park in 2013 was another atrocious decision. Firstly, Du Plessis was yellow-carded for a legitimate tackle on Dan Carter in the 13th minute just as the game was exploding into a classic.
Then, he was sent from the field for a second yellow card in the 42nd minute, ensuring that South Africa played with 14 men for 48 minutes of a test match that had remained finely balanced until then.
The Scots too have been enraged by supposed favouritism directed towards the All Blacks by referees.
During the end-of-year tests in 2017, Jonny Gray and most of Murrayfield were left gobsmacked when Kieran Read desperately knocked a ball free from Gray’s hands as a try loomed in the 72nd minute of an epic test.
The referee decided Gray had knocked the ball on and reverted to a penalty. Instead, advantage should have been paid and Read sent from the field. New Zealand would have been left to play the last seven minutes with 14 men, ahead by only five points.
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The latest refereeing howler to effect a game came just last Saturday in the first test between France and New Zealand. French lock Paul Gabrillagues was wrongly yellow-carded for a high tackle at a point when France were even with the All Blacks on the scoreboard.
New Zealand went on to score 41 points in the remaining 28 minutes.
To add insult to injury the French winger Remy Grosso was hospitalised by an illegal, albeit accidental, tackle. There was no on-field sanction.
New Zealand have undoubtedly been the best side over the past ten years. They have earned the right to be respected. Referees do seem to give them the benefit of the doubt in instances where decisions are line-ball. That is a product of them being so good.
More worrying is the trend of crowds dictating refereeing decisions and reacting to big screen replays. The incorrect sending-offs of Du Plessis and Gabrillagues were heavily influenced by reactions from the crowd.
Is any of that New Zealand’s fault? No. But the World Rugby must take stock.
Jacko
Guest
S Jones moans
jacko
Guest
They were slim tho Piru...No guts hanging out there
jacko
Guest
Peter arnt you a ref???? You are so anti ABs its not funny so clear proof that some refs just hate the ABs because they win
P2R2
Roar Rookie
...here is, however, one blot on their record:... SO it's the ABs fault that this occurs....now I have heard it all....jeez
beardie
Guest
I'm not surprised at that response. Despite the fact you haven't seen the footage i mentioned you have your version that depends on your loyalties and bias. That rather supports some other comments here. But carry on, Tony. I'm not very interested in going back there in depth and I'll leave it at that.
Tony
Guest
How does a closeup of a foot tell you what is going on in a player's head??? I can tell you what I'd say if a Wallaby held on to an AB's leg while on the ground offside, and copped an accidental glancing blow to the forehead as the AB pulled his foot free and put it back down on the ground. I'd say the same thing I said about McCaw - no one to blame but himself.
beardie
Guest
Well, no, a big close up of the footwork there made it clear that Pocock knew what he was doing. Most people haven't seen that perhaps. I was surprised as it didn't fit my impression of Pocock but there you go. If McCaw had done that the closeup clip would have been all over the place and a bunch of Australian fans and "neutrals" would have gone ballistic.
Tony
Guest
"Or Pococks stamp on McCaws head 2015 WC final" Give it a break. McCaw was lying on the ground, miles past the ruck, blatantly holding on to Pocock's leg. Pocock, who was looking forward the whole time, tried to free his leg and in the process McCaw copped a glancing blow from his boot. It was accidental and McCaw had only himself to blame.
Ex force fan
Guest
Those that argue that there is no bias in refs decision making do not understand how important bias and heuristics are in human decision making and what role it plays to get decisions right. Maybe we can use AI (Artificial Intelligence) to get decisions right and remove the human tendency to make mistakes. I think that is the future just not sure how it will play out.
Piru
Guest
Chas, glad to hear you guys were all happy after, I had high-tailed it! My main memory of that match (other than the end) was of a large Tongan fellow hissing (Yes hissing) at me after every call against Midland. He actually attacked a ref the following week and was banned for life (I heard he's back now though somehow!)
Piru
Guest
They landed in the daytime
taylorman
Roar Guru
Last one I saw was when World rugby apologised to Scotland for Joubert putting Oz through to the semis. Are there others?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Wales got one for a dis-allowed try against England this year? I guess Refs must feel the same pressure when they have to control a Wales game too...
Ralph
Roar Guru
I am sorry that you feel hard done by when World Rugby apologise to someone else (I do realise I am assuming here you don't get upset if they apologise to your own team). I am sorry you think this means nobody can question the AB's, you must be new to this site or you would see quite clearly see people here question everything here, the AB are no exception. I am sorry on behalf of humanity, that we are, all of us (ref's included) unfortunately human and make mistakes from time to time. I can assure this weakness is not directed against you personally, it's just the way we are. However, I still feel non specific accusations against refs are seriously uncool, even if you hold them to be monumental.
Jerry
Guest
Ireland have. So have Australia. Plus when you actually look at Paddy O'Brien's public statements on refs in relation to NZ he actually didn't support them, more often than not. There was the Italy match and his stating that Dickenson got the scrum calls wrong. That's one for NZ. But he didn't say anything about Barnes making mistakes and supported him publicly. That's not for NZ. He said Tony Woodcock should have been carded for an off the ball tackle on Fai'inga. One against NZ. He said the card on Drew Mitchell in 2010 vs NZ was wrong. Another against NZ. Wow, he really put loads of pressure on refs to favour NZ......
Bing
Guest
Well the ref boss certainly did not say sorry to the French when the ref made some monumental blunders.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes but that doesnt fit the narrative, clearly the Ref didnt give them enough penalties so that eventually they would kick one. ?
Garth
Guest
Not to mention the French could have won in 2011 IF they kicked just one of their second half penalty attempts.
soapit
Roar Guru
ah right, yep hopefully its changed (not guaranteed with the way rugby is run mind you)
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yep, the documentary Capricorn One captured it all, complete with the ‘Shes on the roof’ joke prior to the demise of one of the astronauts. Its the lack of any stars in the background of the moon landing photos that has always got me. With no atmosphere, clouds etc on the moon, how can you possibly see no stars?