Last weekend’s Rugby Championship clash between the Springboks and All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium has stirred quite a debate, thanks to former New Zealand forward Murray Mexted.
The match, which saw South Africa come from behind to secure an 18-12 victory after trailing 9-3 at halftime, has been the subject of intense scrutiny.
Mexted’s Call for Action
Murray Mexted, now 71, who played for the All Blacks between 1979 and 1985 and also had a stint with the Sharks, has taken a strong stance on the officiating of the match.
He has called on World Rugby to review the performance of English referee Matthew Carley, suggesting that the referee’s decisions significantly impacted the game’s flow.
According to Mexted, the referee’s actions were a major factor in diminishing the quality of Test matches.
Concerns Over Referee’s Influence
Speaking on The Platform NZ, Mexted voiced his concerns that referees, especially in South Africa, might be under undue pressure to scrutinize the visiting teams more closely.
He believes that this pressure leads referees to subconsciously focus on finding faults with the All Blacks, which, in turn, affects the fairness of the game.
Mexted described Carley as a ‘show pony’ whose presence overshadowed the match itself, diminishing the overall spectacle.
All Blacks’ Frustrations
The dissatisfaction with Carley’s officiating wasn’t limited to Mexted.
Many All Blacks players, including captain Scott Barrett, expressed their frustrations with Carley’s decisions throughout the match.
Scrumhalf TJ Perenara even engaged in a lengthy discussion with Carley after the final whistle.
Mexted criticized the referee for what he perceived as overzealous control, which, according to him, restricted the natural flow of play and negatively affected the All Blacks’ performance.
Mexted’s Assessment of the Game
Reflecting on the game, Mexted was baffled by the fact that the All Blacks failed to score a try, noting that it had been several years since they had gone without a try in a match.
He questioned how the Springboks managed to score both tries, despite numerous errors on their part, such as drop balls and knock-ons.
Mexted felt that there was only one significant passage of play in favor of the All Blacks, which he attributed to the referee’s undue influence on the game.
Looking Ahead
Mexted concluded that the strong control exercised by Carley had a detrimental effect on the All Blacks’ performance and urged World Rugby to address these issues.
He lamented that in a high-stakes match between two of the world’s best teams, the referee’s dominance was unfortunate.
Mexted called for a review of how games are managed, advocating for a freer flow of play that allows the teams to showcase their skills without excessive interference.
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