Hendrik Cronjé

Bloemfontein – Springbok coach Peter de Villiers appears to have good reason to be dissatisfied with the treatment his side has had from referees in this year’s Tri-Nations.

Revealing statistics published in a New Zealand daily newspaper on Wednesday point to referees being strict on the Boks and Wallabies, but soft on the All Blacks.

The New Zealand Herald states that New Zealand were at an advantage in the first five Tri-Nations Tests with regards the number of penalties per yellow card.

The Boks get a yellow card for every six penalties, while the Wallabies concede seven penalties per yellow card.

By contrast, the All Blacks first have to concede an incredible 43 penalties before one of their players are carded.

All Black captain Richie McCaw conceded five penalties in the Test against the Boks in Wellington without being sin-binned.

Officials can therefore rightfully ask whether there are separate laws for the All Blacks, particularly when it comes to McCaw’s play at the breakdown.

Former Wallaby coach Bob Dwyer told the New Zealand Herald that it’s difficult to argue with the facts. He says that the All Blacks realise the importance of opponents like the Boks not getting quick possession from the breakdowns.

“I think the All Blacks’ defence is very vulnerable from quick possession at the breakdowns. The Boks showed that with easy tries in the Test in Wellington. The All Blacks will therefore try to prevent quick possession,” said Dwyer.

“Nothing is wrong with that as long as it happens within the laws. This is where myself and many other people question their tactics. Defenders in black jerseys end up on the wrong side of rucks so much that I can’t believe that it’s not deliberate.”

Dwyer believes this gives the All Blacks the opportunity to attack opponents’ ball at the breakdowns and makes it difficult for scrumhalves to get close to the ball.

Welsh referee Nigel Owens may be the exception to the rule in terms of making life difficult for the Boks this year.

Owens was the referee in two Tri-Nations Tests last year when the Boks beat the All Blacks 31-19 in Durban and 32-29 in Hamilton.

The 39-year-old referee will not hesitate to produce cards and dished out three in Durban last year, one of which was to JP Pietersen.