KEY POINTS:
All three Australian match officials have been put on notice to improve their performance in the return All Blacks-Springboks test tomorrow.
Touch judges Paul Marks and James Leckie have been told to lift their game while similar opinions have been relayed to Matt Goddard who will be in charge of his debut Tri-Nations test at Carisbrook.
International Rugby Board officials are concerned about standards but have little room to manoeuvre because Southern Hemisphere referees are the only ones with a working knowledge of the new laws.
Goddard's latest test outing was a fortnight ago in Cordoba where there were some grim reports about his work in Italy's 13-12 win against Argentina. In that test, Goddard awarded more than 30 penalties and set more than 40 scrums.
Former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones delivered a tirade at Goddard during last year's Super 14 suggesting his handling of scrums was "ludicrous and disgraceful" in remarks which cost the coach a $10,000 fine.
The Springboks aim to turn up the heat on Goddard by suggesting the All Blacks, and in particular loosehead prop Tony Woodcock, are scrummaging illegally.
The visitors have persuaded IRB referees boss, Paddy O'Brien, to relent on his earlier edict and allow coaches to speak to Goddard before the test though they will do so together today.
"Matt will run the meeting and I am happy as long as both sides go in together," O'Brien said.
All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith thought that was a positive initiative to try to get some common ground and understanding on both sides.
The All Blacks attitude was to understand what was required and get on with it. After every test they penned their thoughts to the IRB to encourage dialogue and discussion about trends and ideas for the sport.
"It is not like we send through something glib, you know it is well-researched with evidence and they are not always negative, there are positives as well," Smith said.
Those efforts were a bid to assist the game's development and they were appreciated.
The All Blacks were most interested in sorting out their issues, dealing with their difficulties and trying to rectify their deficiencies instead of getting wound up about the opposition tactics.
However Smith suggested talking to the referee was one tactic teams used to try and influence match officials. But with both sides at today's discussion, Goddard would get a much better feel about what to expect.
"Simple as that, it will be applying the law as he sees it," Smith said.
The All Blacks were delighted with the passionate physical approach they delivered in Wellington but balanced that with the inaccuracies they showed in other areas of their game.
"It is a dichotomy really because you can't take a backward step, you have to be hugely physical but you have got to execute your skills well at the same time and those two things are often conflicting," said Smith.
"That is always our big challenge, to achieve the two together and be smart in the way we play."
This Dunedin test was likely to be even more physical than the match last week in Wellington but the All Blacks were not looking to protect any players like five-eighths Daniel Carter.
He liked the physical side of the game, he liked being heavily involved in defence and that was part of the reason for him being such a well-rounded, tough player.
