The All Blacks think that they can “intimidate referees” into getting away with illegalities due to their “reputation” in the game.
That is according to renowned New Zealand-based journalist Gregor Paul, who slammed Scott Robertson’s team following their 29-23 defeat to Argentina on Saturday.
Paul was very critical of their discipline as they received three yellow cards in the loss, all for cynical offences.
Will Jordan was sin-binned for impeding Mateo Carreras while Tupou Vaa’i and Sevu Reece were sent from the field for deliberate knock-ons.
‘The game’s least disciplined team’
“They have established unequivocally that they are the game’s least disciplined team,” Paul wrote in his New Zealand Herald column.
“There was also a significant component of self-sabotage, with the All Blacks finding endless ways to undermine themselves, and none more influential nor damaging than the three yellow cards they were shown for three avoidable acts.
“The All Blacks have become rugby’s equivalent of an organised crime syndicate – certain to try their hand at any illegal racket in their quest to dominate their competition, and seemingly convinced that their reputation is such that they can intimidate referees into letting them get away with slapping down a few passes, pushing the offside line and flopping over a few rucks.
“Why the All Blacks have deluded themselves into thinking they are above the law is a mystery that needs to be solved with some urgency, as their legacy is being eroded spectacularly quickly by suffering a mounting pile of defeats where ill-discipline and multiple yellow cards have been the determining cause.”
Paul praised Los Pumas, who put themselves back in the Rugby Championship hunt with a fourth victory over the All Blacks, but felt the visitors gave them a big helping hand.
The journalist had previously made a wild claim that Scott Robertson’s men were on a referee “watchlist” and had become “victims of hardline policy”, but he seemed to backtrack somewhat in his latest column.
“The Pumas won because their strategy was brilliantly considered, their accuracy of execution was mostly outstanding and their passion for the fight relentless,” he wrote.
“But what gave them an enormous tailwind was the indelible streak of cynicism and stupidity with which the All Blacks were afflicted.”
All Blacks discipline under Robertson
Discipline has been an issue at times under Robertson and Paul believes a consistent theme has emerged over the past year.
“There is no doubt that having picked up two yellow cards last week, and seven in last year’s Rugby Championship, the All Blacks have a simultaneous claim to be considered both the dumbest and dirtiest team in world rugby,” he added.
“Once renowned for being able to tread a supremely astute fine line in the grey areas of rugby’s complex lawbook, the All Blacks now simply seem to play with a Reptilian brain where they can’t resist their basic impulses.
“They seem unable to control the urge to stray offside, impede kick-chasers and – most maddeningly of all – lunge for ill-advised intercept attempts.”
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