Murray Kinsella reports from the Oatlands Park Hotel
NEW ZEALAND COACH Steve Hansen is the latest high-profile figure to offer support to referee Craig Joubert after he received extensive criticism for a late penalty decision that allowed Australia to beat Scotland in last weekend’s World Cup quarter-final.
World Rugby released a statement on Monday clarifying that Joubert had made the wrong decision in awarding Australia a penalty rather than a scrum, while the South African was also castigated by several pundits.
Joubert was unable to refer the incident to the television match official at the time. The TMO may only be called upon to check acts of foul play, potential infringement in the build-up to a try, the grounding of the ball for tries, and kicks at goal.
That’s where Hansen sees the real issue.
“I don’t think it’s Craig’s problem,” said Hansen at New Zealand’s team hotel this afternoon. “I think it is the system’s problem. You’ve got technology that sits there and everyone says ‘why didn’t he use it?’ But he couldn’t use it.
That’s the problem. World Rugby has to fix that problem. If he could have used it we would have got a different decision. End of story.”
It was always likely to be the case that refereeing decisions would cause controversy at this World Cup – such is sport.
As his New Zealand side get set to face South Africa in Saturday’s semi-final at Twickenham, Hansen is resigned to the fact that referee Jérôme Garcès will produce errors.
“Referees make mistakes,” said Hansen. “As long as they take breath, they will make them because players do and coaches do. So, if you can accept that the best way to avoid that mistake being the game-winning mistake, for the want of a better term, is to make sure you are in front by enough.
“When the mistake is made at the end of the game and it is obvious for everyone to see, we get carried away with it. But sometimes they make mistakes at the beginning of the game that have a massive effect on the result.
“No one sees those because they are not caught in the emotion of that last second penalty goal or whatever it might have been.
It’s a really tough game to referee at the moment and we’ve got to find a way to make it simpler for them to get it right.
“Referees have made mistakes from the first time the game was refereed and they will make them again on Saturday and Sunday and probably in the final.
“You’ve just got to accept that.”
Scousers don’t care about this game. More interested in Utd losing to Spurs.
@Olllie B: No not really you don’t have to be from Liverpool to be scouser. Northern Europe sailors brought a stew recipe to ports in England but mostly Liverpool. The dish was called Lobscouse. Those people in Liverpool who ate it were called Scousers.
Huddersfield fans out in force I see… who knew?
Come on Huddersfield
Well its Huddersfield for me…
If Klopp loses this…he’ll have to walk alone !!
@dannyboy: never!!
@Joe Kennedy: tbf Klopp is a joke at this stage.
But but but No Coutinho??? Ahhhh sure the January transfer window is nearly upon us so his back is probably playing up again
@powerfix: numbskull
If that defence is correct, I give up.
Im not even sure Lovren shagging Klopps missus would put him out of the team, Might be his downfall.
So Lovern’s punishment for being absolutely useless last week and costing his team 2 goals is to be rewarded with another start? The mind boggles
@Brian O’Loughlin: its common knowledge amongst real pool fans that lovern’s Mrs ran off another guy. So idiots here should really give him a break.
$hit happens to everyone from every walk of life. If things happen in your personal life that effect your performance or prevent you from doing your job properly you shouldn’t be there. Would you want a depressed pilot flying your plane? How is putting him in the firing line supposed to help him anyway? If anything it will make him worse
@Mr Nimziki: oh lord. You drop him till his heads right ffs.
@Nial D: so kick a man when he’s down is the answer
Klopp took off Lovren after 30 mins last week but now he’s starting again wttttfff
Sacked by your best man…,you’re getting sacked by your best man … sacked by your besssst mannnnnnnn ..you’re getting sacked by your besssst mannnnnnnnn….
@powerfix: nitwit
@powerfix: Jeez. My 12yr old has more imagination, and he’s far less childish than that. I’d say your parents are very proud.
If we don’t win kiss top 4 goodbye YNWA
@Ollie Watson: that ship sailed ages ago dude. Ye will be lucky to nick Thursday night ball next season.
Well wagner said he best friends with klippty that goal proved it
Is Coutinho dropped?
@Nollaig Elliot: “injured”
Time to get a run going after some recent blips
Glad for Sturidge to score his first goal in two months great player