This is why the All Blacks are untouchable

We as (supposed) grown-ups have often been advised about the vast contrasts between saying what you think or rather think before you say.

In this particular case I would, however, like to say (or write) what I think.

The topic is the central figure in last weekend’s thriller at Loftus between the Springboks and the All Blacks, namely Australian referee Angus Gardner.

We as Bok supporters have often been guilty of blaming the referee for a defeat, but this is not my aim on this forum. I’m merely pointing out specific incidents which he preferred to overlook.

It is, after all, no use crying over spilled milk.

But it’s a very topical subject because Gardner will also be the man in the middle in the Boks’ opening Test of their tour against England at Twickenham on November 3.

The Boks were leading 23-6 at Loftus Versfeld when Gardner ignored an obvious forward pass from hooker Codie Taylor to scrumhalf Aaron Smith, which not only led to the All Blacks’ first try but also brought them right back into the contest.

Even worse was to follow later when All Black replacement prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi struck Bok skipper Siya Kolisi blatantly with the elbow in the face at a ruck right in front of Gardner. Did he do anything? No sir. But I will bet my bottom dollar if it was a Bok player, like Eben Etzebeth for instance, he would have immediately been sanctioned with a red card and a disciplinary hearing afterwards.

Are officials hesitant to act against New Zealand? It certainly appears to be the case.

And we are not talking about the result, but the double standards exercised by some officials.

The same Gardner was in charge of the Super Rugby final and the Boks’ 32-19 loss against Argentina in Mendoza this season.

The Boks have lost three of their five Tests in which Gardner was in charge, and talking about that Super Rugby final, I chatted to a respected junior coach at the Lions this week. He pointed out that when Lions wing Ruan Combrinck broke clear early in the game, No 8 Warren Whiteley came up in support, but he was subtly obstructed by Crusaders No 8 Kieran Read who changed his line and took Whiteley out of the picture.

And like the two incidents at Loftus – and believe me there were many more – Gardner again didn’t bother to send the decision upstairs, but rather chose to give the Kiwis the benefit.