Wallabies coach Dave Rennie and All Blacks boss Ian Foster shared different views on the controversial referee decision that defined the first Test in the Bledisloe Cup on Thursday.
Australia had a three-point lead heading into the final minute of play and did exceptionally well to win a penalty on defence five metres out from their line before referee Mathieu Raynal blew Bernard Foley for time-wasting on his kick to touch.
Left a sour taste
The All Blacks would score from the resulting scrum and retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 20th consecutive year with a 39-37 win. However, the unusual call tarnished what was a vintage Bledisloe Test.
Rennie was understandably disappointed with the decision but still commended his side for their character to come back and even take the lead late on after the All Blacks had seemed to run away with the game at a point.
“I haven’t seen a decision like that at any level,” he said. “The rule book’s complex, isn’t it? There’s surely something in there somewhere (but) that is never reffed upon.
“It’s incredibly disappointing way to finish because down 31-13, down to 13 players, showed a huge amount of character to come back into that game and then get our nose in front. So to lose it, in that fashion, massively disappointing.”
On the other hand, Foster thought the call was fair despite being “contentious” but said the referee had grounds to make the decision.
“I thought it was very clear cut,” Foster said.
“They were delaying the kick. He said time off. He warned him then he said time off and then he said to speed up then he said time on. Then he asked him twice to kick it.
“I understand there is a contentious nature about it but it was very clear cut from the opposition.
“The other one that wasn’t clear cut was when Kellaway scored and the TMO wanted to look at what was a very suspicious forward pass and yet the conversion was allowed to be taken.”
Never seen before
All Blacks veteran Sam Whitelock admits it is a decision he has never seen in his 100-plus Test career but suggested it was something the Wallabies could have avoided.
“I haven’t had that happen to me in a game whether for or against the side I’m playing for,” Whitelock said.
“You’ve got to make sure you’ve got a good plan to close out the game whether you’re up by one point or by more.
“Slips [Wallabies captain James Slipper] and I have known each other for a long time and he said ‘Look, we’ve just got to be better than that’, and he’s spot on.
“It’s something that I know that they will review and look at it and they’ll make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”
The win put the All Blacks in a great position to claim the title. However, the Springboks and Los Pumas are yet to play their Round Five clash, and a bonus-point win for either side could take the competition down to the wire in the last round.
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