Controversy in historic match: 'They told us that we had to live with the decision'
Ireland may have scored a historic victory over New Zealand in Dunedin but it was not a match without controversy.
Four players were sent from the field throughout the match. NZ’s Leicester Fainga’anuku and Ofa Tuungafasi, and Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony were all handed yellow cards by referee Jaco Peyper while Angus Ta’vao – who had entered the fray to cover Tuunfagasi’s absence at scrum time – was shown a red after just three minutes of action for a dangerous tackle on Ireland centre Garry Ringrose.
It was what happened at the scrum following Ta’avao’s ejection that has attracted significant controversy post-match, however.
Although Ta’avao had only come onto the field due to Tuungafasi’s absence, the All Blacks had to take an additional player off the field to ensure they were still playing with a man down. Blindside flanker Dalton Papalii was the unlucky man in this case.
At the first scrum following Ta’avao’s dismissal, the All Blacks were required to bring an additional prop onto the field as, under Law 3.18, a team must operate with three front-rowers at scrum time, if possible.
As such, test debutant Aidan Ross entered the game but as he wasn’t capable off playing at tighthead prop, uncontested scrums were required.
Under Law 3.17, if ‘golden oldies’ scrums are forced due to players being sent from the field, the team that’s caused the issue is effectively required to send an additional player from the field as punishment. When Ross joined the game, Ardie Savea left the park as a direct swap – but that still left the All Blacks with 13 men when they should have been operating with 12.
With uncontested scrums in play, both sides are also required to put eight men into the contest – which would have seen the All Blacks defending with just four players in the backline.
The scrum that forced all the changes was an Irish put-in inside the All Blacks’ 22 and while NZ were able to shut the attack down, it’s questionable whether they would have been able to do the same with one less defender on the pitch.
While New Zealand got the run of the green on that occasion, the opposite was true when Ofa Tuungafasi’s time in the sin bin came to an end and the prop returned to the field.
Under the laws of the game, Papalii – the man who initially temporarily departed the game for Ta’avao, should not have been allowed back on the pitch.
Law 3.30 stipulates that “if a temporary replacement is sent off, the originally replaced player is not permitted to return to the playing area” – with front-rowers being the exception. Papalii was the ‘originally replaced player’.
The officials, however, ruled that it was Savea who was not allowed to return – despite law 3.20 ruling that “if a front-row player is sent off, and the team cannot continue with contested scrums with players already on the field, then the team nominates another player to leave the playing area to enable an available front-row player to come on. The nominated player may act as a replacement.”
All Blacks coach Ian Foster indicated after the match that while they had challenged the officials’ ruling, the were unrelenting.
“My understanding was the opposite of the officials’ understanding,” Foster said.
“They told us that we had to live with the decision.”
Savea, one of the All Blacks’ most experienced players – and one of the top performers throughout 2021 – would have undoubtedly preferred to remain on the field and the selectors would have certainly opted to keep the 28-year-old half-centurion in the game instead of his younger counterpart.
At the end of the day, however, the two sides were both positively and negatively impacted by the officiating on Saturday night, and it was Ireland who held strong to claim their first-ever victory in New Zealand.
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments