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Ref a joke, claims angry Dwyer
By Peter Jenkins
July 10, 2006
FORMER Australia coach Bob Dwyer branded referee Jonathan Kaplan "a joke" as the South African received another scathing report from a chastened Australia side.
Dwyer last night slammed Kaplan's crucial decision in the 26th minute to send flanker Rocky Elsom to the sin bin for a third breakdown infringement.
And the Wallabies camp was also seething over the legality of three of the All Blacks' four tries.
The fallout has further strained Australian relationships with Kaplan - whose late scrum penalty against NSW sent them tumbling out of the Super 14 semi-final against the Hurricanes.
"If he is a good referee, then I have never coached a rugby team in my life," said Dwyer.
"He is a joke.
"Rocky Elsom's sin binning wasn't even an offence."
After conceding two earlier penalties, Elsom was trapped in a ruck with his massive frame blocking any quick release of possession to the All Blacks.
"I would have thought it was pretty hard to be sin binned when he committed no offence," fumed Dwyer. "Look at the replays. He was quickly getting out of the way.
"The thing that stopped him getting out of there was the four (All Black) guys jumping up and down on his legs."
Wallabies coach John Connolly agreed.
"I thought it was pretty unfair," he said.
The marching of Elsom was not the only cause for complaint from a Wallabies camp that suspects Kaplan succumbs to crowd pressure and unconsciously favours home sides.
Analysing the second try by New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu that put the All Blacks in front for the first time, the Australians claim Kiwi captain Richie McCaw ran obstruction to create the hole for Mealamu to leap through.
They also believe, on the opposite side of the ruck, Wallabies flanker George Smith was held back.
In the third All Black try by McCaw, the Wallabies were annoyed they were not given a penalty when five-eighth Stephen Larkham - covering back to retrieve a kick - was lying on the ground when dived on illegally by an All Black tackler.
Adding to the disappointment for Connolly was the last All Blacks try - a runaway by replacement Isaia Toeava - after Larkham had a kick charged down.
Connolly pointed out that Kaplan, moments earlier, had signalled he was playing an advantage to Australia but never went back for the penalty when Larkham's attempted chip for his wide supports was blocked on the New Zealand quarter.
"There was an All Black penalty earlier when we were clearly offside and it went on three or four phases before coming back for the advantage," he said.
"With ours, the arm went out and it only went on one phase before the advantage was deemed over and suddenly there's a try at the other end. I find that confusing. It's a tough job refereeing but consistency is important."
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Originally Posted by The Lone Hydrangea
The word joke doesn`t come close to what he really ranks......Why are South African refs so shiiiiite... 
? Is it like a disease or something. It may sound like sour grapes, but having reffed for a few years in perth rugby, i have a high regard for good refs, and also a respect for them when mistakes are made, as they are only human. But, this @@#$%$##%% takes this respect and puts it in a rather uncomfortable dark place, if you get my meaning. 
