The All Blacks think that they can \u201cintimidate referees\u201d into getting away with illegalities due to their \u201creputation\u201d in the game.<\/b><\/p>\n
That is according to renowned New Zealand-based journalist Gregor Paul, who slammed Scott Robertson\u2019s team following their 29-23 defeat to Argentina on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Paul was very critical of their discipline as they received three yellow cards in the loss, all for cynical offences.<\/p>\n
Will Jordan was sin-binned for impeding Mateo Carreras while Tupou Vaa\u2019i and Sevu Reece were sent from the field for deliberate knock-ons.<\/p>\n
\u2018The game\u2019s least disciplined team\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have established unequivocally that they are the game\u2019s least disciplined team,\u201d Paul wrote in his New Zealand Herald<\/a> column.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was also a significant component of self-sabotage, with the All Blacks<\/a> finding endless ways to undermine themselves, and none more influential nor damaging than the three yellow cards they were shown for three avoidable acts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe All Blacks have become rugby\u2019s equivalent of an organised crime syndicate \u2013 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul praised Los Pumas, who put themselves back in the Rugby Championship<\/a> hunt with a fourth victory over the All Blacks, but felt the visitors gave them a big helping hand.<\/p>\n The journalist had previously made a wild claim that Scott Robertson\u2019s men were on a referee \u201cwatchlist\u201d and had become \u201cvictims of hardline policy\u201d, but he seemed to backtrack somewhat in his latest column.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Pumas won because their strategy was brilliantly considered, their accuracy of execution was mostly outstanding and their passion for the fight relentless,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what gave them an enormous tailwind was the indelible streak of cynicism and stupidity with which the All Blacks were afflicted.\u201d<\/p>\n