A bewildered Dave Rennie will demand a “please explain” from SANZAAR over a late penalty that cost Australia a chance at regaining the Bledisloe Cup as former Wallabies Tim Horan and Matt Giteau slammed referee Mathieu Raynal for a “disgraceful” call.
It comes as All Blacks coach Ian Foster said he thought the right decision was made and pinned the blame squarely on Foley for time-wasting at the death of a thrilling match at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
With just over a minute to go in regular time and Australia ahead 37-34, the Wallabies won a penalty and gave the ball to Foley.
The No.10 believed time was off, but referee Raynal had called it back on.
After a delay, instead of letting Foley kick the ball into touch, which it looked like he was just about to do, Raynal awarded the All Blacks a scrum near Australia’s tryline.
An All Blacks try after the siren to Jordie Barrett was salt on an open Wallabies wound. It was the most brutal ending to a Test seen on these shores for many years.
With it, New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup for the 20th year in a row.
Rennie said in his decades of playing or watching rugby, he’d ever seen a call like it.
“I haven’t seen a decision like that at any level,” Rennie said.
“I think you’ve got to have a feel, a feel for the game and the situation. So if you feel a team’s wasting time, then stop the clock, then they kick it out, and then you play the game and the teams decide it. [It was] just a real lack of feel for the situation.
“I spoke to Bernard after the game. He was under the impression time was off. The referee had told him to play and at no stage was he told or did he believe he was going to call a scrum from that. Most situations the clock is off and the clock stays off, so it sounds like the clock went off and then he started it again.
“As we know, a team scores a try late and you take your time getting back to halfway and they stop the clock and wait until you kick off. The disappointing thing from our point of view is it was a fantastic game of footy and we should be celebrating the game as opposed to talking about a ref decision in the last minute.
“We were leading prior to that, weren’t we? We had possession, kick to touch, our lineout throw. We’re in a strong position to hold on from there.”
Asked if he’d seek a “please explain”, Rennie said: “Yeah … that’s standard.”
It wouldn’t be the first time in recent years.
World Cup-winning Wallaby Tim Horan couldn’t hide his disbelief after the match.
Referee Mathieu Raynal speaks to Nic White and Bernard Foley.Credit:Getty
“I’ve been commentating for over 20 years and I thought it was a disgraceful decision by the referee. He cracked under pressure,” Horan said on Stan.
“I reckon you could have another 15 referees, big referees for World Rugby, that would have taken that calmly and wouldn’t have got overhauled by the experience.
“Ninety seconds left in the game and he cracked under pressure in one of the biggest moments, one the biggest games here in Australia.
Dave Rennie chats to Nic White after the match.Credit:Getty
“It was a disgraceful decision and World Rugby need to look at it. It was terrible.”
Wallabies great Matt Giteau tweeted: “That’s the worst I’ve seen. A super contest arguably ruined by that last call. I can’t believe that … such a cruel ending.”
However, All Blacks coach Ian Foster didn’t see it that way.
“I thought it was very clear cut,” Foster said.
“They were delaying the kick. [The referee] said time off. He warned him then he said ‘time off’ and then he said ‘speed up’ then he said ‘time on’. Then he asked him twice to kick it.
“I understand there is a contentious nature about it, but it was very clear cut from the opposition.
“Part of your game management is to listen to the referee. So when the referee says time on, you have to play it. I just saw it out there. I heard very clearly what the ref said. So I think we’ve just got to be careful.
“If people think that decided the Test match, then you’re going to go through and analyse all the other decisions in the game too. So whether people agree or disagree, he certainly had a very clear mind about it.”
Ian Foster and Dane Coles after the two-point victory.Credit:AP
Rennie said Foley was “gutted” but praised him for a terrific game, which included an excellent conversion from the sideline to level scores at 34-34 in the 74th minute.
“He’s a bit bewildered, to be honest and shocked by the decision,” Rennie said. “Obviously, he’s had a great performance and he feels like he’s let people down.
“I thought he was sensational. Controlled the game really well, his goal-kicking was exceptional. He’s just very confident, he gives a lot of confidence to people around him. Good energy and voice, a real positive mindset.
“Down 31-13 it’s easy to start thinking it’s going to be a tough finish to the game, but he kept encouraging us to play and play at the right part of the field. I thought he had a big game.”
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