All Blacks branded cheats after France card row

Wellington - France No 8 Kevin Gourdon called the All Blacks cheats on Thursday and said they were treated leniently by referees after they escaped punishment over a contentious incident in last week's first Test. 

READ: Kiwi scribe details how referee favoured All Blacks at Eden Park

Gourdon's outburst, two days before the second Test in Wellington, follows condemnation of World Rugby's decision not to hand out further punishment over a tackle in which French wing Remy Grosso suffered two facial fractures. 

All Blacks flank Sam Cane was penalised on the field for a high shot on Grosso, while prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi escaped punishment for his role in the head-high collision with World Rugby saying his role fell "just short" of the red card threshold. 

Immediately after the Test, won by New Zealand 52-11, French coach Jacque Brunel described the double hit as "dangerous" and "illegal" but later softened his stance, saying the collision was probably accidental. 

But World Rugby vice-chairperson Agustin Pichot attached the words "should be cited (in) my view" to a tweet showing video of the tackle, which has ended Grosso's tour. 

A former top referee, England's Rob Debney, wrote in The Times that officials' leniency towards the All Blacks "exists on a subconscious level. The accountability for taking a decision against them, the scrutiny it comes under compared with other teams, is incredible." 

Gourdon said the All Blacks tended to get the rub of the green from referees "because they win all their games". 

The All Blacks "cheat, of course, but it's certainly related to the fact they play good rugby... which has a positive effect on the referees", added the flank. 

All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster dismissed the cheating allegations, and denied the world champions and number one Test team received any favouritism from officials. 

"I think if you look at the penalty counts (and) yellow cards last year, we were one of the top yellow-carded teams in the world so I'm not sure how this 'soft on us' comes to fruition," he said. 

Foster also reiterated that the All Blacks did not agree with the yellow card handed out to France lock Paul Gabrillagues last week for a tackle on Ryan Crotty. 

"I think we've been pretty open and honest about how we interpreted last week," said Foster. 

"We thought they were a little bit unlucky with their yellow card; it was one of those marginal ones. Was it up there? Yes it was. Was it significant? Probably not." 

Cane's tackle on Grosso was high, for which he was penalised at the time. 

"The question is: was it worthy of a yellow card? And, I guess, between a referee and an independent citing commissioner, they've said no. So we've just got to take the emotion out of it," Foster said. 

Brunel has made five changes for the second Test with Gourdon the only loose forward to survive from the first Test hiding, although he has been moved from the flank to No 8.

More smoke from the non-existent fire

Yes it makes one wonder...

You 2 beandick and Mikey should make up a drum circle.

And look up what actually occurs instead of this butt-hurt shit ,where were all the people carrying on about supposed bias for the ABs during the last 2 games of the Lions tour ?

Wardad

I stick to facts - not the normal outcry situation.  I did say that there was a history of benefitting the AB's in 2015 and since then the situation changed somewhat.   However, I do stand by my statement to the effect that the AB's try to prevent scoring of tries and commit professional fouls in the red zone  to achieve that.   I quoted Franks "heroics" in a previous AB test against SA  as an example.   

The latter in the main is where referees should watch out for professional fouls and act constructively and correctly.    

\Well Mikey the stats from other years dont support your nonsense,its just more "Tall poppy syndrome ".Why would ALL the refs supposedly try to help the ABS win ? To what end ? Like all conspiracy theories when it comes to motive they fall flat.

Yeah right eh ALL the worlds refs for over a century have been playing the long con to help the All Blacks as opposed to their own teams.

I used to think you Saffas were supposed to be hard ,taciturn chaps looking out over veldt and keeping it to yourselves till you get to even things up on the paddock.

Turns out you were a bunch of sooks looking to support anything that does what your team cant ,take down the ABs.Amazing how many come out in support of whoever the ABs play not because they support France or whoever but because they just desperately want the ABs to lose .

Shameful.

Well, well, well, how right Beeno has been all these years even decades having pointed out what big cheats the wee abs were. Usvng stats, articles and examples etc. Heck the wee abs captain was know world wvde as Mc CHEAT. Hhahahahahahahahaha

These days there is no great need for me to comment on this as everyone is commentating on what big cheats the wee abs and kbbs are! Bwahahhaahhahahahahahaha

Poor bent warped DUD does what the kbbs do - deny, deny, deny, you know like pedo Bllly Goat Clinton and the very Crooked Hillary. no wonder they have this affinity with the corrupt Cllntons and Obummer!!!!!

Nothing is funnier than seeing these crooked Kiwis protesting their innocence to the amazement of the rest of the rugby world. Hahahahahhaahahahhaha

A former top referee, England's Rob Debney, wrote in The Times that officials' leniency towards the All Blacks "exists on a subconscious level. The accountability for taking a decision against them, the scrutiny it comes under compared with other teams, is incredible."   Meaning of course these dishonest kiwis will do all they can to drown out any objections to their cheating!

Hlllarious stuff from the kbbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Wardad, it is natural to support the underdog, but I for one does not dislike the Allblacks. I actually like most of the players and obviously there are a few who I dislike...like there are players in my own team that I dislike.

I try to be objective, but like discussed before, real objectivity is a pipe dream. I do think that the Allblacks get the rub of the green sometimes, due to their DESERVED status as the , WAY in front, best team in the world. Tall trees catch more wind too, so there are some criticism too and they are under a microscope. 

As for reffs, I think that lots can be done to make the interpretation of the laws less subjective. The processes more transparent and ways can be found to get the consistency of refs more on par with one another. Get their theoretical knowledge and interpretation up to a better standard. It's a professional sport run mostly by armatures. Lots can be done to get things better.

Lastly, lots can be done to educate the fans better in understanding controversial decisions and the laws of the game in general.

Draad given the level of ref assistance it would be amazing if the wee abs were not ranked number one!

Rep Paul Gosar (R-AZ) issued a statement on the Congressional Record for the imprisonment of Tommy Robinson:

Some thing awful has been happening to Britain for some time. The Globalists and the islamic allies are out to destroy the country. BUT the fightback i now happening and getting stronger day by day.

Its telling innit how you saffas conveniently overlook the words of the one Frenchman or indeed any man that matters in the last game .The French coach has said he doesnt think the ABs cheated .

And how are the ABs sudddenly to blame for the refs error ?

Suck it up saffa sooks suck it up.

NZ is on the path to challenge SA for the title of the nation that gets away with obvious ruthless play.

SA is way ahead but at this pace, everything can happen.

WD 

I watched Saturday's game.

The French were never gonna win.

The All Blacks are miles better.

You're lumping everything into the same category again.

So how would things go if opponents of the wee abs were allowed to cheat and the abs got nailed for their errors. Would change the picture completely.

The kiwis have always lacked confidence that they can win without the refs assistance. Need a sports psychologist  to help build their fragile egos. Pretty sure they try and use the hahahahahaka to help make them feel fierce, competitive etc. 

Just around the bend Clouds!

Well Mr Draad nice to see at least one objective Saffa view,cheers !

Hey Cloudy ,JW ,y'all enjoy the froggy flogging ?

Hi Wardad, looking forward to a good game but may have to watch the recorded version of it as I'm travelling.

Wardad

Grouping me with the lunatic Jihad Beeno is an insult and I don't suffer that lightly. I have not accused the All Blacks of cheating and if by some error I have then please copy and paste my actual narrative. Also, please don't confuse my copy and paste of an article as my opinion, it is not, I simply put up the article for debate. I understand Kiwi's are generally hypersensitive to any sort of criticism but plea se understand that as good people we are here, or rather I am here for good honest debate.

Banter is healthy, insults among friends are not.

Clouds, like someone noted, it's like a "Free Beer Here Tomorrow " sign in an Irish pub. The pub stays full, but tomorrow never comes.

Denny it is a bit harsh to include anyone in with beanshit  so by all means exclude yourself from that less than august company .Maybe we need to put up the French refs retraction to even things out then the jobs a good 'un.

French coach sorry.