Former England captain Brian Moore has urged World Rugby to come down hard on Argentina after some disturbing post-match scenes in Santiago del Estero on Sunday (AEST).
England beat the Pumas 31-24 in the Nations Championship to gain some revenge for the football team’s 2-1 loss in the World Cup semi-finals last week.
Angus Gardner and Tomas Albornoz. Stan
Argentina did not take their subsequent 1-0 loss in Monday’s (AEST) World Cup final against Spain well, with Leandro Paredes red carded for attacking rival players after the final whistle in New Jersey.
World Rugby is also investigating the actions of Argentina playmaker Tomas Albornoz, who made physical contact with Australian referee Angus Gardner after he had blown fulltime.
“Hey, hey, hey, don’t, don’t,” a shocked Gardner told Albornoz, who then spiked the ball in disgust.
Fans then called Gardner a “thief” as he walked off the pitch.
“I did not like the sight of Tomas Albonoz, the Argentina fly-half, making light contact with the Australian official after he ruled out their potentially match-tying try. Barge opponents all you want, but players should never be allowed to lay a hand on officials,” Moore wrote in The Telegraph.
“What is more disturbing are the reports that the referee, Angus Gardner, was subject to abuse after the game and that something was thrown at him from the crowd… World Rugby has a duty to fully investigate these reports and, if there is any truth to them, sanction Argentina in a meaningful way.
“Rugby cannot afford to have its officials made vulnerable when they are doing their best to referee difficult games that sometimes have a bewildering level of complexity over its established laws…
“I have a feeling that World Rugby will want to make light of these claims but if it does so, it will further discourage people from wanting to participate in officiating, and it will be abrogating its responsibilities. Attracting officials is getting harder and World Rugby needs to do all it can to stop this trend.”
Gardner is one of the world’s leading referees.
Under World Rugby regulation 9.28, players are forbidden from making contact with match officials, or using verbal abuse.
Punishments range from 6-52 week bans.
World Rugby has been cracking down on coaches criticising or abusing officials, with Eddie Jones (Japan) and Gonzalo Quesada (Italy) both recently banned for poor behaviour.
With Quesada absent, the Wallabies thrashed Italy 57-10 in Perth on Saturday night.
Non-playing Italy prop Marco Riccioni was red carded for his sideline scrap at HBF Park, and he is facing further punishment after being cited for unsportsmanlike conduct by the foul play review committee.