Rugby World Cup final ref rejects tide of criticism

Referees' boss says level of enjoyment of tournament means officials got it right After another round of controversy among fans, the Rugby World Cup final referee and the referees' boss have responded in defence.

Craig Joubert, from South Africa, officiated at several matches during the tournament and drew wide praise for his consistent approach.

But after a nail-biting final, from which New Zealand escaped with an 8-7 victory over France, many comments on the internet claimed that Mr Joubert had gifted the final to New Zealand by failing to penalise the All Blacks.

Some said New Zealand should build a statue to him.

But he stuck by his officiating in an email to the Weekend Herald.

"It's not my place/style to justify decisions. The whole tournament we refereed the 'clear and obvious' and that is what I did," Mr Joubert said.

Meanwhile the referees' boss, Paddy O'Brien, praised Mr Joubert's officiating and said fans could not have it both ways - enjoy some good rugby and criticise bad refereeing.

"First of all, through all the 48 games if you saw the standard of rugby and how the crowds embraced it, something must have gone right overall. I'm pretty delighted with the standards of refereeing," Mr O'Brien said.

"We've become very good at looking at refereeing rather than goalkicking or missed tackles or anything like that.

"We can go through any game and find mistakes - and from the players as well. You can't have it both ways, to have a [great] tournament like we had - something went right."

Mr Joubert's officiating - including in the final - had been a standout, he said.

"We were very pleased with the way Craig did. He had an outstanding game and an outstanding tournament."

The criticism that had erupted against the refereeing after every close match was "natural" - and took some pressure off the coaches, Mr O'Brien said. "It's the same as the New Zealand reaction to the quarter-finals in Wales [four years ago]. It goes with the territory.

"It's always been around, but now on Facebook and Twitter, some of the comments are a bit more vitriolic than they used to be, and that's disturbing. I know how much effort the referees have put in and they've time and again delivered."

Another controversy from the final has been an alleged eye gouging of All Black captain Richie McCaw in the final few minutes of the game.

Video footage shows a French player's hand reaching near McCaw's eyes, and the captain getting up clearly in pain.

Earlier in the week, Mr Joubert replied to a Herald query about the incident.

"I know the incident you are referring to and I'm afraid I can't shed much light on it," he said.

"McCaw is injured and as he gets up he says something to me in passing which I don't really hear. I didn't see anything and the matter is dropped."

Despite the scrutiny he had faced afterward, the final was an occasion to remember, he said.

"The RWC final was everything I had imagined it would be, intense, emotional and going right down to the wire. I loved it."