Highlanders await clarity

The Highlanders are yet to receive an email from Sanzaar clarifying when and where team captains can approach referees.

In the aftermath of Highlanders co-captain Ben Smith causing a stir during his team’s 25-17 win over the Crusaders at the weekend, Sanzaar referees boss Lyndon Bray on Monday told Stuff he would be issuing all teams a formal warning, and laying down the law.

Smith’s actions in Dunedin on Saturday night, when he strode out to referee Nick Briant and demanded he refer the try he had already awarded to Jordan Taufua to TMO Glenn Newman, were labelled unacceptable by Bray.

He said he’d already touched base with Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger, who lauded Smith’s actions post match, and all 15 Super Rugby teams could expect emails to land in their inboxes.

However, Highlanders defence coach Glenn Delaney on Tuesday afternoon said they were yet to receive clarification from the governing body.

‘‘We’re waiting for Sanzaar to tell us what they want to say, really, and that’s their prerogative. It’s something they’ve waded into and it’s up to Lyndon Bray and the Sanzaar guys to tell all us clubs what we’re allowed to do and what we’re not allowed to do,’’ Delaney said.

Sanzaar’s beef isn’t with captains having discussions with referees, but rather when and where they do it.

In Smith’s case, the All Blacks vice-captain made a beeline for Briant, who was standing next to Crusaders first-five Mitch Hunt near the 22m line as he was preparing to bang over the conversion.

‘‘I think it’s probably one of the things in rugby that’s the best part of it, you can have captains on both teams [talk to the referee],’’ Delaney said.

‘‘[Crusaders captain Matt Todd] was having conversations with the ref in the same breath that Ben was. The two of them have a relationship and we want relationships between refs and captains, I think it’s a really important part of the game.

‘‘I just guess they’ve got to clarify when they believe it’s right and wrong and they’ve got to let everyone know.

‘‘They’re [Sanzaar] saying what they wish about it. For us, we just move on. I think the one thing in that situation was the right outcome was met and I believe Lyndon said they were already reviewing that moment in any case.’’

Surely Sanzaar will issue their protocol before round six kicks off, meaning Smith, regardless if he feels he and his team have been hard done by, will know when he can or can’t approach referee Mike Fraser on Saturday night.

Fraser will control the much anticipated match between the unbeaten Highlanders and 2-1 Hurricanes in Wellington, the first of up to six games rugged flanker Liam Squire will miss with a broken thumb.

Delaney said there was no chance Squire would replicate Crusaders flanker Matt Todd by playing with a broken thumb, as the severity of their fractures varied.

‘‘It’s incredibly tough luck for Liam, who was going great, but now presents an opportunity for someone else,’’ Delaney said.

‘‘When you look to your squad and see the performance Elliot Dixon put in [on Saturday], it says we’ve got players who are happy to take the opportunity if one presents. I thought he had a really telling impact and influence on the game.’’