New Zealand referees will have to massively improve if they’re to be recognised or even taken seriously by the international rugby community. So says Chiefs coach Warren Gatland following a flurry of controversial refereeing decisions made against his team.
The Chiefs’ seventh consecutive loss against the Blues last week saw Chiefs and All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown speaking out against what had in his opinion been a refereeing call that made a difference to the eventual outcome of the game. Convinced that Pita Sowakula did in fact score a try under a heap of piled-on bodies, Brown criticized referee Brendon Pickerill for not having as much as even bothered to consult the TMO for clarity. Had the try been granted, Sowakula would have secured a match-winning try.
The midfielder’s comments obviously immediately unleashed a fiery debate over the current quality of Kiwi refereeing – a debate that even went so far as to prompt New Zealand Rugby refs-boss Bryce Lawrence to order players to keep themselves in check and show more respect after a group of clearly-upset and highly frustrated Chiefs players surrounded Pickerill following the seemingly unnecessary loss.
That Gatland has good reason to feel frustrated about the situation is no secret. The Chiefs coach has received several recent apologies from refs resulting from incorrect calls made against his team this season. The fact that Gatland didn’t exactly blame the referees for the recent poor performance of his guys does show character – but it’s at the same time easy to see why he considers local referees far from up to international scratch.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ladbrokes |  | 5/5 | 100% Match up to $250 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.9/5 | 100% Match | Bet now |
More About Trent Wilson
Trent Wilson is OnlineBetting.nz’s resident sports news expert. He draws on his extensive sporting knowledge, his qualification in sports management and his passion for betting to provide the latest, most up to date information on sporting events in New Zealand and across the globe. Trent is a veritable treasure trove of sports information and has been betting online for several years. He prides himself in keeping his readers informed, and in always offering an unbiased standpoint that reflects exactly what’s going on in the sports world.
View Posts - Visit WebsiteYou May Also Like:
Black Ferns Two Years Without Test Rugby
By the time New Zealand’s Black Ferns get to play test rugby again, they’ll have gone two years without playing as much as a single test match. Such has been the impact of the ongoing global crisis on the sporting calendar. An overseas tour is possibly in the offing for ….
Sevens Star Says She’s Dreaming Of Whistle
So eager has Sevens star Rubi Tui become to get back to playing sport that she’s started to hear a whistle in her dreams. New Zealand’s Black Ferns Sevens have been severely impacted by the global sports hiatus – and perhaps more so than most other national NZ sporting teams. ….
No Use Sulking Says Hurricanes Hooker
Dane Coles says there’s no cause to be made for crying over spilt milk and that what the Hurricanes really need right now is an honest approach – from players as well as coaches. The Hurricanes hooker recently commented on a disappointing Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign that saw the franchise ….
Rob Penney Blamed For Waratahs Decline – And Sacked
After 18 months of coaching the Waratahs, Rob Penney has been shown the door. This comes after the team experienced five consecutive loses in the beginning of the year. This dire record has been a shocker for fans and bettors alike, and now the team has taken action. However, Penney ….
Mose Masoe Opens Up About Injury Struggles
Kiwi-born former rugby league powerhouse Mose Masoe has for the first time really opened up about the severity of the career-ending spinal injury he sustained nearly 14 months ago. The 31-year-old suffered the injury while competing in a preseason friendly, damaging two vertebrae in a seemingly harmless tackle. Even though ….