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'It was a bit harsh': Chiefs coach Warren Gatland questions calls from referee as Hurricanes secure dramatic victory

(Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

Chiefs boss Warren Gatland has called into question two calls made by referee Jaco Peyper which impacted his side’s 27-24 injury time defeat to the Hurricanes in Hamilton on Friday.

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A Jordie Barrett penalty four minutes after the full-time hooter sounded handed the Hurricanes a last-gasp win over the New Zealand conference leaders, but Gatland was dismayed by the way in which the penalty was awarded to the visitors.
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After toiling away near the halfway line for 35 phases, the Chiefs were eventually pinged for a dangerous tackle by reserve prop Reuben O’Neill on Hurricanes reserve loose forward Vaea Fifita.

While Barrett used the infringement to slot a long range penalty to secure victory for his side, Gatland believes the call was unwarranted, despite Peyper working in tandem with the TMO to help make his decision.

“I thought it was a bit harsh,” Gatland said.

“It looked to me like Reuben’s got his left arm up and trying to attempt a tackle, it doesn’t look like it’s no arms.

“And you’ve got to question whether the Hurricanes player’s lifted his leg and led with his knee as well.

“But that’s rugby, you’ve got to take the decisions of the referee and accept that.”

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Additionally, Gatland thought that Hurricanes co-captain TJ Perenara should have been sent off for a dangerous tackle on Chiefs wing Solomon Alaimalo in the second half.

As Alaimalo broke away from inside his own half, a solid covering tackle by Perenara appeared to show his shoulder connect with Alaimalo’s head, which many referees would deem to be a red card-worthy offence.

However, Perenara was only shown a yellow card, and returned to the field 10 minutes later to help steer his side to victory.

“You can make your own judgement on that,” Gatland said of the indiscretion. “He [Perenara] seemed pretty happy with the yellow card to me when he’s seen the replay.”

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The result leaves the Chiefs at the top of the New Zealand conference and second overall, but they could well be overtaken by the likes of the Crusaders, Brumbies and Stormers this weekend.

As for the Hurricanes, the victory pushes them into the top eight of Super Rugby, which is where they will stay for the remainder of the round.

In other news:

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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