'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
Must be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
3 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
3 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
3 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to comments