All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall has slammed the officiating in the Super Rugby Pacific match between the Chiefs and Crusaders.
The 51-year-old was particularly irked with one decision in particular as Chiefs lock Josh Lord escaped a yellow card for what Marshall deemed to be a ‘clear professional foul’ on James O’Connor.
The incident occurred in the 46th minute when Crusaders captain David Havilli burst through the Chiefs’ defence with the Wallabies international sprinting in support.
Marshall hits out
However, O’Connor was impeded by Lord who grabbed hold of his jersey, preventing him from providing support to Havili who ultimately passed to Sevu Reece with the winger spilling the ball forward after being tackled five metres out from the line.
Referee Angus Gardner did award the Crusaders a penalty for Lord’s actions but Marshall feels that was not punishment enough and the lock should have been sent to the sin bin.
The eagle-eyed ex-All Black spotted the incident immediately while commentating and was quick to suggest a sin-binning
“This will be a yellow card. It has to be,” he said.
“I just can’t condone that not being yellow, it is a professional foul. He was right there, Angus, I’m sorry, I do not agree with you
“Josh Lord was holding back James O’Connor quite clearly, O’Connor was a support player, Lord was behind him.
“So O’Connor was ahead of him, leading the race as a supporter, and that is just a professional foul. You just can’t do it. That is a professional foul, yellow card, every day of the week.”
He added: “I just cannot concur with the officials there. They have got that wrong in my mind.”
Marshall added that had Lord not held O’Connor back, the Crusaders replacement would have received an ‘inside ball’ from Havili and would have scored a try.
Instead, the Australian would line up the kick which he slotted to level the scores at 17 apiece.
Chiefs blow Crusaders off the park
That would be the Crusaders’ final contribution to the scoreboard as the Chiefs unloaded the bench and got massive dividends from doing so.
Leroy Carter, Samipeni Finau, Josh Jacomb and Quinn Tupaea (2) would all cross for tries as the Chiefs hammered the Crusaders 49-24, outscoring the visitors seven tries to three.
The win over the Crusaders came after a 25-14 victory against the Blues less last week and Clayton McMillan’s charges now turn their attentions to the Brumbies in Round Three.
Meanwhile, the ‘Saders will look to bounce back against the Reds.
