The All Blacks have asked the global governing body, World Rugby, to explain some of the officiating during their 12-11 defeat by South Africa in Sunday’s World Cup final at the Stade de France. English referee Wayne Barnes was the main target of All Black’s ire, with several decisions appearing to favor the Springboks on the sport’s biggest stage. Cane was sent off for a high tackle on Jesse Kriel, while inspirational Springboks captain Siya Kolisi escaped a red card for a similar hit on Ardie Savea.
New Zealand’s outgoing coach, Ian Foster, said the incidents highlighted “a couple of things that I think we should take a closer look at.” He would not specifically address the question of whether Barnes made the right calls but instead suggested there were other issues to be considered in the future.
The decision to upgrade Cane’s yellow-carded challenge on Kriel to a red was taken after he did not move his head, and there appeared to be a direct impact on the head. The incident left Foster’s All Blacks with 14 men for more than half the game, a disadvantage they could not overcome.
Foster also criticized the decision not to punish a tackle by South African lock Eben Etzebeth on All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot, even though it appeared to have contact with the head. He also questioned how a knock-on call at the lineout was ruled a penalty when the ball did not go over the touchline.
The All Blacks are also concerned about the amount of time a team is reduced to 14 players when a player receives a red card, which was a feature of their loss to Ireland in the quarter-finals last week. Foster has called for implementing Super Rugby’s initiative to allow a team to return to 15 through another player returning to the field.
In a press conference after the game, Cane said he was “so much hurt” at being sent off and that he could not find the words to describe his feelings. He also admitted that he had not felt invincible at the start of this tournament, with his team having a slow start to their campaign.
New Zealand coach Ian Foster (pictured) says he has asked World Rugby to take a closer look at some of the officiating in the World Cup final defeat by South Africa.
Foster said the game had a lot to sort out, including limiting contact with the head, and that was not just sour grapes from his side’s failure to win the trophy.
Foster, who has not yet decided on his coaching future, has previously been critical of the way World Rugby crackdowns on foul play, mainly about using the TMO in the build-up to the final. He has also called for an end to the controversial ‘no-try-no-penalty’ rule. Foster said the All Blacks were “still a long way from where we want to be.” He was also adamant that he did not believe in motivating his squad with false hope, a policy that could have cost them the ultimate prize.