Reds fans frothing at hometown refereeing as the Queenslanders fall on the wrong side of a 13-2 penalty count

The absurdity of not using neutral referees has once again been called into question after the final match of Super Rugby’s third round.

The Reds, who raced out to a 14-nil lead after 20 minutes then went into the break with a 24-12 advantage, were thoroughly outclassed in an open second half and ultimately fell 27-43 to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.

Regardless of how well the Jaguares played in the second half, however, Reds fans are incensed at the lopsided penalty count, which saw Argentinian referee Federico Anselmi penalise the visiting team 13 times.

The home side, in contrast, were hit with just two penalties.

It was a 63rd minute yellow card dished out to Liam Wright that really turned the game, however, with the visitors entering the third quarter with a 27-24 lead before capitulating in their captain’s absence.

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The Jaguares scored three converted tries with Wright off the park, ending the contest and consigning the Reds to a third straight defeat, 27-43.

Reds fans took to Twitter to vent their anger with the referee sharing the brunt of the blame for the eventual loss.

Thoroughly impossible to watch this competition any longer. Damn shame having to watch it destroy itself #fixedmatch #JAGvRED #RIPSuperRugby

— Andrew Wills? (@andrewwills0704) February 16, 2020

Top shelf home cooking in Argentina. Hard to beat 16 blokes.#JAGvRED

— Sam Phillips (@samphillips06) February 16, 2020

If you landed from mars to watch your first game of rugby you’d definitely wonder why the team in black also has a player in hideous green and blue. #JAGvRED

— JW (@rugbyaus1) February 16, 2020

I’m sure @SuperRugby will address the lopsided penalty count with typically impeccable accountability.#JAGvRED pic.twitter.com/wPyBAzoOgZ

— Sam Phillips (@samphillips06) February 16, 2020

https://twitter.com/76_rnw/status/1228842677325549568

Watching the #jagvred game from UK. How do they let a Argentinian ref the Jaguares? Never seen a game with such one sided decisions #cheat #corrupt

— Ben Hardy (@ben_t_hardy) February 16, 2020

The officiating in this game has been nothing short of disgraceful, hopefully Brad Thorn and Liam Wright tee off at the presser, screw the fine #JAGvRED

— Bryce Parker (@bryce_parker26) February 16, 2020

Jags scrum got munted there. Should have been a penalty.#JAGvRED

— Pfitzy (@NickPfitzner) February 16, 2020

Reds should have had a penalty on the Jaguares 5m line at the scrum.

Five minutes later, multiple penalties later, Reds lose lead and down to 14 men.

Huge turnaround #JAGvRED

— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) February 16, 2020

Rugby is way to determined by officiating. It’s a plague on the sport. Get two reds out there like rugby league. One for each half of the field. #JAGvRED

— Rugby Report Card (@rugby_podcast) February 16, 2020

What's the current maul law? Can players join in front of the last man? I thought they had to join at back and ball be moved back. #JAGvRED

— Dave Jefferson (@cyclopath967) February 16, 2020

The Reds sit bottom of the Super Rugby log alongside fellow Australian side the Waratahs and South Africa’s Bulls, who have both also yet to record wins.

While the Reds have chalked up two bonus points, however, the Waratahs and Bulls have nothing to their names as yet.

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