N.Z. manager has talks on S.A. refs

Press, 28 July 1976, Page 6

N.Z. manager has talks on S.A. refs

I NZPA Potchefstroo The All Black manager (Mr Noel Stanley) has had private discussions with the president of the South African Rugby Board (Dr Daniel Craven) about South African referees. This was revealed by Mr Stanley yesterday afternoon, when he" said that no talks were planned at this stage with referees about their interpretations. Mr Stanley and the New Zealand coach (Mr John Stewart) said before the first match of the tour they would wait for a few matches and see what the situation was before deciding if it was necessary to have talks with referees over interpretations. “We will w'ait for a few more matches yet,” Mr Stanley said yesterday. “I have had private discussions with Dr Craven and it may be that later we will seek talks with someone.” Meanwhile, the All Blacks are expected to be provided

I this week-end with the panel) of referees for the second! test. j They will have to chose) lone of the four men submitted, but if they do not want any of them they can ask the rugby union to appoint one from outside the . panel. If they do that, however, the All Blacks are obliged to accept the man se-i lected by the South African board. The All Blacks have been far from happy with most of the referees encountered in South Africa to date, including Mr lan Gouriay, who l controlled Saturday’s test. They were particularly upset at i decision by Mr < Gouriay in the closing! stages of the match, when! Andy Leslie (the captain)] was penalised for off-side | play as the All Black pack) drove towards the Springbok j; line. I Their feelings are appar-! ently shared by Dr Craven,) who was quoted in yester-j I day’s Johannesburg “Star”)' las saying he con’d not seek

[why the All Blacks were peInalised. | “It worried me at the I time,” Dr Craven is quoted [as saying, “and 1 watched it particularly closely in the television replay and could stil! find no fault with the All Blacks’ play. “There was, in my opinion, no infringement,’’ Dr Craven said. The Afrikaans newspaper, “Beeld”, in a front-page story, said that the referee was shocked at the language used by Leslie just before Gerald Bosch was led from the field in Saturday's game. “Take the . . . man off the field. Make sure that the doctor sees the . . . man.” [the paper quoted Leslie as I saying. ] Mr Stanley reacted | sharply to the story this (afternoon, terming it “com[pletely farcical.” I “Knowing Andy, he would [not have said anything of it he kind and I am absolutely j certain he wouldn't have [used that language,” Mr •Stanley said.