Hansen: Inconsistencies in officiating

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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says that there have been noticeable refereeing inconsistencies in matches involving South African sides during this Vodacom Super Rugby season.

The Highlanders and Crusaders both dropped points against South African teams in South Africa this past weekend, with the Highlanders going down to the Lions in Johannesburg before the Crusaders were held to a draw by the Stormers in Cape Town.

Both New Zealand teams were left asking questions of South African officials after their respective games.

TMO Marius Jonker, according to some,  controversially disallowed Crusaders wing Sevu Reece a match-winning score for a forward pass, while Rasta Rasivhenge penalised the Highlanders 12 times and the Lions only three times.

Reportedly, overseas teams playing against SA sides in South Africa with a local referee in charge have lost the penalty count 96-47 this season. That count is dramatically lowered to 72-66 when those same South African teams are playing international teams with a non-South African official in charge.

‘A lot of the penalties are right, but they’re not consistent on both sides,’ Hansen said. ‘If that’s a penalty today then it’s a penalty for the whole day, not just part of the day.

‘The Lions team in South Africa had been awarded 48 penalties in three games, while the opposition sides had only been awarded six. That would mean there wasn’t a lot of consistency being applied.

‘I don’t know any team that’s only given six penalties away in three games, so I would say there’s not enough consistency in what they’re seeing. I’m not saying the penalties they are giving are not right, I’m saying they’re obviously missing a few.’

Photo: Chris Kotze/BackpagePix

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SA Rugby magazine