Springboks legend Victor Matfield has rued perceived ‘inconsistencies’ from referee Karl Dickson during the All Blacks’ victory at Eden Park.
New Zealand claimed a narrow 24-17 win over Rassie Erasmus’ side in Round Three of the Rugby Championship after battling back into the game after being 14-3 down at half-time.
In the aftermath of the result, many South African fans have pointed the blame at English official Dickson for his performance in Auckland and Matfield has followed suit in airing his grievances.
The former lock believes that both teams weren’t treated equally when it came to infringements inside the opposition’s 22, with Springboks flanker Kwagga Smith yellow carded in the second half for a penalty near his own try-line.
Best referees needed for the biggest games
Meanwhile, the All Blacks weren’t punished in the same manner when they conceded a penalty at a scrum inside their red zone, with the backline then going offside.
The 2007 Rugby World Cup winner also felt that South Africa did not get rewarded as much as they should have for their scrum dominance throughout the match.
“I said on Saturday after the game, the biggest games need the best referee, and unfortunately, we didn’t get it,” he said on The Rivals podcast with All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan.
“I thought New Zealand got away with two or three scrums in the first half, where they just dived over after overextending, where we didn’t get the penalty, and the first time that Thomas du Toit’s knee touches the ground, it’s a penalty for New Zealand.
“I think there were about three penalties that we didn’t get, and then another thing for me, especially on the box kicks, New Zealand were really good when countering rucking South African ball, but on their ball, they were all on their knees and elbows – they were on the ground, so that should be penalties immediately. You can’t counter-ruck that; it’s very long, I think that’s something that Rassie will definitely show whoever is refereeing this weekend.”
After naming his team for the second match between the two sides, this time in Wellington, Erasmus was asked for his thoughts on the officiating at Eden Park. The head coach gave an answer that he hoped was ‘politically correct’, explaining that the Boks were happy with World Rugby’s process to raise concerns and would leave that work to the likes of assistant Felix Jones and ex-referee Jaco Peyper.
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Kirwan disagrees
However, ex-winger Kirwan disagreed with Matfield’s statement that Dickson was not good enough.
“I totally disagree with you, Victor. I thought the referee was really good for a couple of reasons,” he began.
“The South Africans invented sealing off. So both teams are now sealing off, everyone is sealing off, and they don’t control it.”
Matfield, interrupted, “No, but you need to be on your feet. You can’t be on your knees if you seal off or if you make it long.”
Kirwan continued: “Everyone is sealing off, mate. They don’t control it. So I saw as many times South Africans sealing off as we did.
“So what happens for me is if you get away with it, you keep getting away with it. It’s the consistency that we want. I thought the referee was consistent. I do think he referees the attack more than he does the defence.”
Inconsistencies
The former Bok stuck to his guns as he argued his case that New Zealand were deserving of yellow cards in the final quarter of the game, and they were not issued.
“Let’s talk about consistency. South Africa gives a penalty away. Kwagga goes around the corner to pick up the ball, yellow card,” he said.
“New Zealand in the 22 with 10 or 15 minutes to go, give away a penalty at the scrum, the backs go offside, we could go score on the left, but they come offside, second penalty in a row – that should have been a yellow card as well.
“Why wasn’t that a yellow card? Two penalties in a row. Same thing. That’s not consistent.”
Kirwan argued: “The reason why is because in the last 15 minutes of a game, the referee also suffers from pressure and they don’t make the big calls, that is fact.”
To which Matfield responded: “That’s why you need the best referees. They make the big calls.”
Kirwan concluded the debate around the officiating of the game by suggesting that World Rugby should tweak the laws to make it easier for referees to handle the pressure in the latter stages of tight Test matches.
“I think we need to change the law. Three penalties in a row, you get a five-minute yellow card or whatever it is. Because if we leave it up to the refs, they’re also under pressure. So, for me, I thought he was consistent. I don’t think he had a bad game,” he added.
“One of the things I don’t like about South Africa when they play is when they try to slow it down, but I thought the ref kept the pace in the game. It’s tactical. If I could get away with it, I’d get away with it. ”
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