When it comes to referees, former All Blacks star Murray Mexted is not one to mince words. In a fiery chat on DSPN with Martin Devlin, the ex-No 8 didn't hold back after New Zealand's recent 24-17 squeaker over the Springboks at Eden Park. Mexted, known for his straight shooting, unleashed on the choice of northern hemisphere refs for southern hemisphere games, specifically targeting the "officious" style of British referee Karl Dickson.
It seems Mexted, who once donned the All Black jersey for 34 consecutive Tests, is baffled by the logic—or lack thereof—behind referee selection. "I don't know why we use British referees, quite frankly. I was battling to understand some of the rulings," he remarked, clearly frustrated by what he perceives as a mismatch between the fast-paced southern game and the nitpicky northern officiating.
The match itself was no snoozer, billed as the most anticipated clash since the 2023 World Cup final. With the All Blacks putting three tries past the Springboks' two, the game at Eden Park was a showcase of southern hemisphere rugby prowess. Despite the win, the game's flow suffered from what Mexted described as excessive refereeing, with Dickson's frequent stoppages and contentious calls drawing the ire of fans and pundits alike.
"We want to see a real 15-man game. Kicking for touch and having scrums and lineouts isn’t what we actually want. What we actually want is an entertaining match, a really good game of rugby,"
Mexted explained, pushing for a style of play that keeps the ball alive and spectators on the edge of their seats.
While the legendary No 8 conceded that Dickson "did a reasonable job," he couldn't shake the feeling that the match was "over-reffed," suggesting that a shift in appointment policy might be in order. Despite these hitches, Mexted admitted the game was "a hell of a game," though he lamented that the combination of the weather and officiating prevented it from reaching the expected zenith of a clash between the world's top two rugby powerhouses.
Looking ahead, the Springboks face a must-win situation in Wellington if they hope to keep their Rugby Championship title hopes alive, following their tough outing in Auckland. With the stakes so high, every decision on the field will be under intense scrutiny, particularly those of the man with the whistle.
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When it comes to referees, former All Blacks star Murray Mexted is not one to mince words. In a fiery chat on DSPN with Martin Devlin, the ex-No 8 didn't hold back after New Zealand's recent 24-17 squeaker over the Springboks at Eden Park. Mexted, known for his straight shooting, unleashed on the choice of northern hemisphere refs for southern hemisphere games, specifically targeting the "officious" style of British referee Karl Dickson.
It seems Mexted, who once donned the All Black jersey for 34 consecutive Tests, is baffled by the logic—or lack thereof—behind referee selection. "I don't know why we use British referees, quite frankly. I was battling to understand some of the rulings," he remarked, clearly frustrated by what he perceives as a mismatch between the fast-paced southern game and the nitpicky northern officiating.
The match itself was no snoozer, billed as the most anticipated clash since the 2023 World Cup final. With the All Blacks putting three tries past the Springboks' two, the game at Eden Park was a showcase of southern hemisphere rugby prowess. Despite the win, the game's flow suffered from what Mexted described as excessive refereeing, with Dickson's frequent stoppages and contentious calls drawing the ire of fans and pundits alike.
"We want to see a real 15-man game. Kicking for touch and having scrums and lineouts isn’t what we actually want. What we actually want is an entertaining match, a really good game of rugby,"
Mexted explained, pushing for a style of play that keeps the ball alive and spectators on the edge of their seats.While the legendary No 8 conceded that Dickson "did a reasonable job," he couldn't shake the feeling that the match was "over-reffed," suggesting that a shift in appointment policy might be in order. Despite these hitches, Mexted admitted the game was "a hell of a game," though he lamented that the combination of the weather and officiating prevented it from reaching the expected zenith of a clash between the world's top two rugby powerhouses.
Looking ahead, the Springboks face a must-win situation in Wellington if they hope to keep their Rugby Championship title hopes alive, following their tough outing in Auckland. With the stakes so high, every decision on the field will be under intense scrutiny, particularly those of the man with the whistle.