Former All Blacks and New Zealand’s media lamented the influence of playing cards in Test rugby following the “heart-wrenching” 12-11 loss to South Africa within the World Cup remaining on Sunday.
While the Springboks had been praised for clinching the Webb Ellis Cup for a fourth time by successful a tense decider in Paris, former Test stars Israel Dagg and John Kirwan had been vital of officiating they imagine price the All Blacks dearly.
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Dagg claimed Test rugby was being eroded as a spectacle by the rising use of pink and yellow playing cards for foul play {and professional} fouls.
The All Blacks spent the final 53 minutes decreased to 14 males after Sam Cane was proven pink for a excessive sort out on Jesse Kriel.
Dagg mentioned whereas the offence was critical, rugby’s lawmakers wanted to make post-game punishment a precedence, as an on-field ruling had on this case tilted the sport too far in South Africa’s favour.
Dagg additionally mentioned an early yellow card proven to Shannon Frizell for dropping on the legs of Bongi Mbonambi – forcing the Springboks hooker out of the sport with an damage – was not justified.
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He aimed his criticism at referee Wayne Barnes and tv match official Tom Foley — each Englishmen.
“This is our showpiece event, which has been overshadowed by a couple of people that are just taking the glory and the gloss away from the players,” Dagg advised Sky Sport.
“I’m honestly just fed up … it is putting apprehension in the mind of our players.
“You can see why people switch off the game, because it’s as boring as hell, because you don’t have the best players out there.
“There were some contentious moments but deal with it after the game. There was no malice in (Cane’s tackle) and Jesse Kriel is fine.”
Media shops additionally highlighted Cane’s punishment as the ultimate’s key second, with a New Zealand Herald headline calling the defeat “heart wrenching”.
“It was a sad moment for the game and the World Cup because no one, presumably, wanted a red card to be the differentiator in the final,” its web site report mentioned.
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Kirwan hailed the riveting nature of the ultimate, delivering reward to the Springboks and noting that they had two gamers proven yellow playing cards within the second half – captain Siya Kolisi and winger Cheslin Kolbe.
However, he believed Kolisi’s head excessive contact offence warranted pink. “I feel like crying, because Sam Cane, that’s so tough on the man,” Kirwan mentioned, including: “I don’t know why (Kolisi’s yellow) wasn’t elevated to a red.”
– Not ‘great’ staff –
Kirwan mentioned defeat could be arduous to take for the 9 members of the All Blacks squad who haven’t renewed their contracts so in all probability gained’t play one other Test.
Veteran hooker Dane Coles is the one participant to retire however eight have signed offshore membership contracts, making them ineligible for the All Blacks — amongst them Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett.
It was additionally the final Test of coach Ian Foster’s typically troublesome four-year tenure, with Scott Robertson to take cost subsequent yr.
“New Zealand should be incredibly proud of the courage 14 men showed,” mentioned Kirwan, who stopped in need of labelling the New Zealand staff an important one.
“Great teams have got to win. The Springboks will be a great team because they won the World Cup.
“What this team will be remembered for and we all should be proud of is coming through the adversity. Getting the tough decisions and continuing to perform.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
