All Blacks: Falling foul of referee costs team dearly

Nigel Owens lays down the law in Durban. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks endured an uncomfortable relationship with Welsh referee Nigel Owens but can only blame themselves for not capitalising on a numerical advantage during yesterday's 31-19 test rugby loss to South Africa.

For the second successive test, the All Blacks paid dearly for indiscipline.

They were caned 13-7 by Owens in the penalty count, which follows the 12-7 tally against them when Ireland's Alain Rolland controlled last week's test in Bloemfontein.

New Zealand No 8 Rodney So'oialo encapsulated his team's frustration by talking back when a final penalty was awarded by Owens, who promptly marched them 10m.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry had no problem with Owens, believing his team had once again transgressed because of the pressure they were under.

However, lock Isaac Ross was not as forgiving when asked whether the Welshman had been hard to interpret.

"Definitely, especially in the scrum, we didn't hear a thing," Ross said. "We were trying to tell him to speak louder. It was just little things - the breakdown and stuff like that.

"I don't really want to pinpoint anything ... it was their night."

Making his first start, prop Owen Franks said Owens was "calling it pretty funny, pretty late" at the scrum engagement.

Ross was more accepting of his sinbinning in the 31st minute, having come around to snaffle the ball when it appeared to have emerged from a Springboks ruck.

Owens had already warned the All Blacks about persistent offending.

"I thought it was out and I asked but I got no reaction so I had a little bit of a brain snap," Ross said.

"I made a call and obviously it was the wrong one. I let the team down."

The Springboks capitalised on Ross' absence by dominating the lineouts and scrums for 10 minutes and piling on 13 points.

In contrast, the All Blacks failed to trouble the scorers when two South Africans were shown yellow cards.

Winger JP Pietersen was marched in the 28th minute and lock Bakkies Botha in the 52nd, both for illegal tackles on Jimmy Cowan and Conrad Smith respectively when New Zealand were close to scoring. Fullback Mils Muliaina said those two incidents were pivotal.

"Those are the killer blows. If we'd scored there, it might have been a different ball game," he said.

"At the moment we're way off the pace in that department [finishing]."

South Africa had their own beef with the officiating, captain John Smit noting his team had not been allowed to launch the driving mauls of a week earlier. He blamed complaints from All Blacks management about technical illegalities committed by the Springboks in Bloemfontein.

- NZPA