Woolf gives refs blast

TONGAN coach Kristian Woolf claims World Cup officials left themselves “open for criticism” by appointing an English video referee in Saturday’s controversial semi-final loss to the Poms.

While World Cup referees boss Tony Archer yesterday defended on-field referee Matt Cecchin’s decision not to award Andrew Fifita what would have been a matchwinning try, Woolf was still seething as he prepared to head home from New Zealand.

Woolf not only questioned why Cecchin didn’t go upstairs to seek a second opinion, but why an Englishman was sitting in the box in the first place.

He said replays indicated the touch judge closest to the incident believed Fifita was stripped of possession.

“It was the most crucial decision of the game with the game on the line,” Woolf said.

“Surely in that situation you have to have a look at it.”