The days of the All Blacks getting perceived favourable treatment from the match officials are over, with the referee fraternity turning against New Zealand.<\/b><\/p>\n
Over the years, opposition fans were of the belief that the black jersey came with some form of invisibility cloak for referees, particularly when it came to legendary captain Richie McCaw, but that\u2019s certainly no longer the case.<\/p>\n
At least, that\u2019s the verdict from renowned Kiwi journalist Gregor Paul, who states it\u2019s not a conspiracy theory anymore that the All Blacks are being harshly treated by the official, just plain fact.<\/p>\n
Wild claim<\/p>\n
Somewhat vexed by the handling of the first Test match between the All Blacks<\/a> and France<\/a>, where three referrals occurred, Paul ripped into the officials and accused the referee bigwigs of over-scrutinising New Zealand.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s also hard \u2013 given the now extensive number of occasions in which the All Blacks have been the victims of contentious decisions by match officials that have come after prolonged and heavy-duty investigative work \u2013 not to wonder whether they are on some kind of World Rugby watchlist,\u201d he remarked in his New Zealand Herald <\/a>coloumn.<\/p>\n The scribe listed off a plethora of considered All Blacks\u2019 misgivings, including Bongi Mbonambi\u2019s controversial try at Ellis Park last year as well as Sam Cane\u2019s red card in comparison to Siya Kolisi\u2019s yellow during the Rugby World Cup final two years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has reached the point now where you don\u2019t need to be a tinfoil-hat wearer living off-grid to wonder if the All Blacks are the victims of some kind of hardline policy within the refereeing fraternity to ensure that every try they score is to be forensically reviewed,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, too, is it entirely reasonable to ask whether match officials have been told or at least encouraged to take more time or even a different approach to determining the outcomes of potential acts of foul play committed by the All Blacks.\u201d<\/p>\n He claimed that the officials are ignoring protocol in order to search for All Black indiscretions beyond their reach.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIf this is all a giant, baseless conspiracy theory, then how can it be that Mbonambi got away with bouncing the ball over the tryline and none of the officials felt there was any need to check.\u201d<\/p>\n Law discussion: Springboks\u2019 controversial Bongi Mbonambi try was the correct decision, here\u2019s why<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n