'Did you guys see that?': Brumbies coach McKellar unhappy with semi-final officiating
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has expressed his displeasure with the officiating in his side’s Super Rugby Pacific semi-final loss to the Blues and questioned the game’s overall approach to foul play.
The Brumbies came within an inch of tipping up the Blues at Eden Park with prop Ofa Tuungafasi managing to charge down a last-minute Noah Lolesio drop goal that would have given the visitors the win. With the Blues ahead 20-19, had Lolesio’s kick sailed true the Brumbies would have become the first Australian side in the competition’s history to get the better of a New Zealand side at home in a play-off fixture.
Just moment’s before Lolesio’s 40-metre effort, however, it looked as if Brumbies super-sub Luke Reimer had done enough to win his side a penalty, with replacement Blues lock Luke Romano failing to release the ball at the breakdown after a prolonged effort from the replacement flanker.
Eventually, the ball came loose and after a mad scramble on the deck (during which at least two players looked to have knocked the ball on), the Brumbies managed to get possession of the ball and referee Ben O’Keefe waved play on.
Had the breakdown indiscretion come at any other point of the game, O’Keefe would have likely awarded a penalty in the Brumbies’ favour but with time almost up on the clock, it appeared that O’Keefe didn’t want to decide the game with a penalty in the final moments.
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Speaking to media after the match, Brumbies coach McKellar strongly implied he believed a penalty should have been given.
“There were a couple of decisions there that will be interesting to review,” he said. “Luke Reimer appeared to be well and truly on the ball directly in front of the posts. Did you guys see that?
“I saw Luke Reimer on the ball, surviving clean out directly in front of the posts.
“When you’re playing at Eden Park and an Australian team hasn’t won here forever and a day, you need a bit of luck, don’t you? And we just didn’t get that tonight.”
Ironically, in the Brumbies’ previous fixture against the Blues in Canberra they were penalised in the final seconds of the game for an indiscretion at the ruck while the Blues were camped out in front of their posts, despite appearing to have been perfectly placed for a legitimate turnover. Beauden Barrett kicked a simple drop goal to steal a victory from the home side but had he missed, the Blues would have had a penalty kick in front to secure the win.
McKellar – who will now depart the Brumbies to link up with the Wallabies as an assistant coach – also expressed his frustrations at how yellow and red cards are dished out.
Centre Len Ikitau was sent off in last weekend’s win over the Hurricanes for a high tackle and has subsequently been handed a three-week ban for the shot. In Saturday night’s game, Blues hooker Kurt Eklund and flanker Adrian Choat were both yellow-carded for dangerous play but McKellar evidently felt the punishments could have been more severe, given Ikitau’s ban.
“I’ve got 23 players and 15 staff in there [asking] what is the game doing around cards,” McKellar said. “I’ve got Len Ikitau sitting in the grandstand for an accident last week – hasn’t been able to play, possibly won’t play against England in the first test match. We had a guy tipped on his head, we’ve got head-on-head contact. One’s a yellow, one’s a red.
“And I’m not complaining just about tonight but as a game… Last night [it was the same] as well with the Crusaders and the Chiefs. What direction are we going here because players don’t know what’s yellow, what’s red. I don’t know what it is. How’s Joe Public going to have any idea?
“I sat in on Len Ikitau’s hearing during the week and to me there are just so many accidents that happen in a collision sport. I’m not sitting here saying Blues boys should have been red-carded or whatever but as a game, it’s really hard to follow at the moment in terms of which way it may go.
“Common sense, isn’t it? If someone throws a stiff arm or punches someone or eye gouges someone or stands on someone, throw the book at them. No one wants players getting concussed and that sort of thing but there’s accidents.
With the Blues claiming victory, they’ll host the Crusaders at Eden Park next Saturday in what McKellar suggests will be a mouth-watering clash between two top sides.
“All the best to the Blues next week against the Crusaders, they’ve been an outstanding team all year and are worthy grand final hosts,” he said. “It’ll be a great game. It’ll be a really good contest. It’ll be a tough one that’ll come down to the toss of a coin really.
“I just hope it’s not decided off the back of a card. Let the 46 footballers sort it. There’s no grubs or dirty players amongst those boys. They’ll go out there and they’ll play hard and they’ll contest hard. I just hope that it’s a really good spectacle and that the players decide the outcome.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments