Robinson's seven minutes of anguish

By WYNNE GRAY

Referee Jonathan Kaplan never considered Mark Robinson had conceded a penalty try and the Bledisloe Cup, but the All Black centre spent seven minutes of agony in the sinbin.

Robinson took Jeremy Paul in an early tackle as he threatened the line. But despite pleas for a penalty try from the Wallabies, Kaplan decided a penalty and sinbinning was the appropriate punishment.

"In my opinion it was deliberately early," he told the Herald.

"It was well inside the 22 and that meant a sinbin, but in my opinion it was only a possible try.

"It was not a probable score, which is the criterion for a penalty try. There were two New Zealand players either side in defence if they had let him catch the ball."

It was one of the rare moments of All Black concern in their 12-6 win at Christchurch, which keeps alive their hopes of regaining the Bledisloe Cup.

Aaron Mauger had his kick out of the 22 charged down when it rebounded near the All Black line.

Matthew Burke retrieved and slung a pass to Paul, who was gunned down by Robinson.

"I thought I just had one option," Robinson said. "I was obscured from the ball, but I took my chance. It was instinctive, it was my only option."

As the Wallabies clamoured for the penalty try - which would have allowed them to retain the transtasman silverware - Robinson tried to make what he later called a "feeble" defence for his choice.

"Really it was not worth much, but I tried. It was clear I was going. Initially I had the worst thoughts. I did not know what to think."

There was no time left for Robinson to return from the sinbin as he urged his team-mates to hold on against a late Wallaby onslaught.

"It was real tough. They were camped on our line. I was just praying they would hang on."

Kaplan, who borrowed Paddy O'Brien's thermal vest to protect him against the cold, applauded the approach of both sides in conditions he said were the worst he had encountered for a rugby match.

"I told myself when I started refereeing that if ever I got to this level, I would like to be involved in one huge armwrestle. It was fascinating.

"I have rarely been involved in a game in which there have been no tries.

"I knew it would be very difficult for the players to move the ball wide and I heard their voices a lot and saw their signals about being patient.

"They tried to do things, their defence was very good and it was obvious they had done a lot of study on each other. I am used to these players and there were only about three or four 50-50 calls."

Both coaches, John Mitchell and Eddie Jones, had quizzed him beforehand about lineouts and obstruction decisions, Kaplan said. Otherwise their questions were standard.