The Wallabies were leading 37-34 with 90 seconds to go in the first Bledisloe Cup game between New Zealand and Australia at Marvel Stadium when referee Mathieu Raynal penalised the Wallabies flyhalf, Bernard Foley, for timewasting underneath his own posts.
The All Blacks capitalised on the call, with Jordie Barrett crossing over after the siren to win the game by 37-39. In the post-game coverage, Australia coach Dave Rennie “reserved comment” when asked if it was the “one of the worst calls he’s ever seen.” As rugby’s popularity in Australia wanes, I cannot help but feel that the sport has been let down by yet another controversial call on its biggest stage.
I will caveat what I am about to write by saying I am predominantly a football fan, but I have been watching rugby union since I was young, and thoroughly enjoy it. Rugby is more accessible than the football I watch, however I can’t help but feel far more persuaded to wake up at 3am and watch the English Premier League than watch Super Rugby games.
If these refereeing decisions are turning rugby fans since childhood off the game, imagine what it is doing to the casual viewers who tuned in to watch.
In almost every other sport, this sort of gamesmanship is accepted as just part of competitiveness shown by elite athletes striving to win.
In cricket, batsmen are not punished taking time to tie their shoelaces or calling for a fresh pair of gloves between overs when trying to rescue a draw in the last session of a Test match. By the laws of the game, they have to be ready when the bowling team is ready, but the sport recognises that it is a part of the drama and let’s play go on.
Referee Mathieu Raynal speaks to Nic White and Bernard Foley of the Wallabies during The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at Marvel Stadium on September 15, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Similarly in football, teams will regularly use timewasting techniques in the closing stages of a match such as last-minute substitutions and feigning injuries to hold onto a potential result. In my opinion these examples of gamesmanship are no different, or even perhaps more significant, than Bernard Foley taking a few extra seconds to punt his penalty into touch. In any case, if these timewasting exploits are deemed to be too long the offender is cautioned rather than being outrightly punished in a way that could cost their team the game.
In a code in closer competition to rugby, how often do we see in AFL players taking their time over marks as the final seconds wind down whilst in a winning position? I can’t claim to be a fan of AFL, but I can’t imagine a player standing over a mark, waiting for the siren to sound before attempting his kick would ever be called up for time-wasting. If an AFL fan tuned into watch this game, they would be dismayed by the final decision. Bernard Foley was penalised for something that happens in nearly every other sport across the globe.
This was the almost perfect Test Match. A high-octane game with a nail-biting conclusion – the Wallabies came from 31-13 down with 20 minutes to go, to lead by three in the final minute before a refereeing inconsistency handed victory to the All Blacks from the jaws of defeat.
In the final minutes, Australia had a penalty beneath their own posts that Foley was lining up to kick into touch, however the All Blacks were awarded a scrum after referee Raynal deemed that the Australian fly-half was taking too long to do so.
In all my years watching rugby, I have never seen a team penalised for timewasting. Was it really any different to forwards who intentionally pack scrums sluggishly when their side have a man in the sinbin?
That is an accepted tactic of rugby, and a tactic we saw used frequently in the first half by Australia and New Zealand, who both packed scrums more slowly when the opposition had the numerical advantage. If Foley’s alleged misdemeanour was so harshly scrutinised, then surely that part of the game should be more heavily policed.
After the game, Raynal was booed from the field by some the 55,000 strong crowd, who felt that the Wallabies had been robbed of a monumental victory against their archrivals. A crowd that should have remembered this game for what it was – an enthralling encounter between to evenly matched teams – left wondering what could have been if it wasn’t for that decision.
It is of direct consequence of rules and refereeing displayed last night as to why rugby in Australia is struggling when generally world-wide it is taking a massive forward step.
This was a golden opportunity to breathe life back into Australian rugby. With a win, the Wallabies would have had one hand on the Bledisloe Trophy after a 20-year hiatus and put them in a commanding position to win the Rugby Championship just 12 months out from the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Nevertheless, we will be hung up on what could have been if not for yet another costly refereeing decision.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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