The big-name players were back, along with swollen grandstands, but the referees were in no mood to celebrate as Super Rugby completed its return in stop-start fashion.
A 30-20 victory for the Blues over the Hurricanes at a sold-out Eden Park on Sunday rounded out the inaugural weekend of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
It was a second result to delight home supporters after the Highlanders pipped the Chiefs 28-27 in Dunedin a night earlier – the first match since the country emerged from its COVID-19 lockdown.
While the national sport’s return and presence of crowds was widely heralded, the influence of match officials soured both games and may prompt administrators to re-think their approach.
A total of 61 penalties across 160 minutes of play was the result of a NZ Rugby edict that referees crack down on breakdown and offside indiscretions.
It was hoped compliant players would induce a free-flowing game but instead frustration dominated, particularly with attacking teams regularly penalised.
Former All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan chided referee Mike Fraser as “pedantic” at halftime at Eden Park while Chiefs coach Warren Gatland called for less whistle.
“We just have to be very careful that we still want teams to have the confidence to play,” Gatland said.
“If there are too many turnovers, what we are going to see happen is we are going to end up with with a bit of a kicking-fest where teams will say ‘we won’t play any rugby in our own half’.”
(Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
Both teams scored three tries each in Auckland but a six-from-six goal-kicking return from Blues five-eighth Otere Black proved the difference in front of 43,000 fans, the biggest crowd at a Kiwi Super Rugby game for 15 years.
The performance of Black and rising number eight Hoskins Sotutu overshadowed the long-awaited Blues debut of All Blacks star playmaker Beauden Barrett.
The most prominent moment for somewhat muted fullback Barrett came when he was roughed up in friendly fashion by several of his former Hurricanes teammates after Dane Coles crossed for the visitors.
Ten-time Super Rugby champions, the Crusaders sat out an opening-round bye and will open their campaign against the Hurricanes in Wellington next week while the Chiefs will host the Blues.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Too many penalties, too many infringements. We need to introduce the quick tap.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Yep blame shifting is the reason breakdown is a mess. Also too much talking from the refs. Should keep players in the dark and they would cheat less. It gets worse before it gets better
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
At the last World Cup there was plenty of whining by Australia's coach among others about the referees applying sanctions to head-high tackles. It was blindingly obvious that he hadn't bothered to read the memo from World Rugby or communicate it to his team. The fact remains that World Rugby publicised and promoted an explainer three months before the tournament. The package of information was comprehensive and complete, and set out exactly what was later applied by the refs at the World Cup. How do I know this? Because I read it just after it was released. If a dirt-tracker like me can find it on the interweb, then the brains trust running a national-level side should be a shoo in to do the same. In fact, it's quite likely the Wallabies were on World Rugby's mailing list. Same thing has happened here. The rules and the interpretations that would be applied in Super Rugby Aotearoa were communicated before the tournament started. It is a welcome breath of fresh air to see the offside rules applied and sanctioned. There were no surprises. In this article, as for the Wallabies, the headline should be "Professional rugby players reveal breathtaking ignorance of the rules of their chosen game." Most professionals accept that keeping up with developments in their chosen profession is a necessary part of a career. Can't see why rugby should be any different.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Agree 100%. At half time the comments from the coaches were, ‘the players need to adapt,’ not, ‘refs need to lets us get away with it.’
I found this useful video explaining the new breakdown laws. Good watch https://youtu.be/PPS9Z5hzPPw
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Or you can protect the ball so it isn’t stolen. Gatland is used to the NH off your feet, off side and never being pulled up for it. He needs to adapt big time
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
I agree whole heartedly with you Ben. If the players and coaches know the laws and play to the laws, the referee has no part in the game. I'm trying to write an article about respect for the game and ref, and the influence the slow-motion replay has had on the increasing disrespect from kids through, as I see it. If it gets to air, I don't expect a lot of love.
Ben
Guest
Refs cant win can they. After every game theres claims that the opposition were offside all day. Or i wish they policed the offside line more. Or the breakdown was a free for all and people getting away with m¥rd€r. Or why wasnt this, that or the other penalised. ..and i have seen this author complain post match in much the same way. As soon as the refs do.....this is what we get...."spoiled by the whistle". Players have to take responsibility. As an example in the Chiefs Highlanders game there were 3 penalties for players ridiculously cleaning out by coming in at a 90deg angle...90deg!!! It cant get more blatantly stupid. Then of course the 2 deserved cards...theres 5 penalties right there....
PeterK
Roar Guru
That is not the gist of what I got from what Gatland said. Assume you are playing legally if there is there is too much risk of a trunover at the breakdown then teams will kick more rather than risk losing the ball. Teams will say you have the ball in your half and we have a good chance of stealing it.
pm
Roar Rookie
I agree on the Highlanders-Chiefs game at least - haven't seen the other - loved the pace of it and I thought it was well refereed. Great fitness, speed and aggression with running the ball. What you expect out of SH rugby
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Maybe they should just obey the laws. That’ll stop the penalties. Gatland needs to learn to coach his players to observe the laws rather than blame the referee. He’s actually looking out of his depth a bit to me and maybe talking his way out of the future AB job
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
"typical Aussies bagging Rugby". only one Aussie writing, Paul....he does not speak for us all !
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Good post, Peter. "That said I do agree with Gatland if there is too much risk of a turnover for the attack at the breakdown then teams will avoid the breakdown and kick a lot more." Have been thinking about what teams can do to reduce penalties. You may be correct in that some will avoid breakdowns more, kick more. But I wonder if some of the smarter thinkers might look at staying on their feet for longer, making the initial contact with the tackler a "Kerevi type" block, and then looking for setup of a rolling maul.....this sort of needs a long post/ article to explain/explore more fully.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Think the criticism has a point, though it remains to be seen how it will pan out. While the games were pretty good to watch, there were way too many penalties. There’s a real danger teams will kick a lot more rather than risk being pinged in possession. Maybe it’s something teams can adjust to, but if not a little more leeway needs to be given. Too many penalties also means too many boring kicks at goal.
Ron Hunter
Guest
About time the Laws were enforced! But not pedantically . Just to stop cheating , and ensure a level playing field for both teams. Which is more deliberate cheating : a squint put in to the scrum, or a crooked throw at the line out? As a former referee, my greatest joy was to keep the game flowing as fast as possible, until the teams cried for mercy and a break in play. Feigned injuries and time wasting were ignored ! None of this deliberate time out to set scrums, if a side had three players to form the front row them the ball went in, or the laggard team was penalised.... The game flowed just like sevens, and the best and fittest team won.( except in snow and sleet ! ) Migrant
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Sorry I disagree 100% on the statement that games were ruined by the whistle. I hope the referees keep the standard and players start obeying the laws of the game. That will decrease the penalties
Hoges5
Roar Rookie
Really? “the influence of match officials soured both games and may prompt administrators to re-think their approach.” Were you watching different games to the rest of us! Thought actually policing offside and the ruck made for quick, clean ball and plenty of attacking flair. Neither game was a runaway win nor was marred by a red card. Think the coaches need to adapt as it appeared the most of the players did!
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
Applying the laws will mean more concentration of both packs at the breakdown to secure possession and contest. Teams will cotton onto this and you will see the game more like it was 15 years ago. Despite the stop start nature the ball was in play more with the mucks largely going. The contest at the breakdown before was in threat of disappearing with the ball ponderously stuck while the half waited for his afternoon tea. I found the games exciting.
Colin Fenwick
Guest
"...the jackler not supporting their own weight" Yes, I saw a few instances where this went unpunished in the weekend.
PeterK
Roar Guru
agree Furthermore the refs instead of giving just multiple penalties for the same infringement should be quick to hand out yc's for team infringements. The coaches and players are at fault. They were all told these areas would be clamped down on. So what happens some fans complain, journos focus on that and guess what the che@ters win and the refs stop enforcing the laws again. Instead the laws were successfully enforced and that gets through to the coaches that there will be no backdown instead a better free flowing game will ensue. That said I do agree with Gatland if there is too much risk of a turnover for the attack at the breakdown then teams will avoid the breakdown and kick a lot more. The issue here is that NZ focused on the attacking team at the breakdown and not enough at the defence. They are not allowing the ball carrier to hold on at all (which is fair enough), to not crawl (fair enough) nor roll over which is not fair. A player should be allowed to roll over to place the ball since he is allowed to place the ball in any direction. The defence the focus is not enough on the tackler to get back up and come through the gate, nor the defence staying on their feet, nor the jackler not supporting their own weight. If the refs also focused on these as well then the breakdown would be a fair contest and there would not be the risk of turnover that Gatland sees.