Jones berates Walsh over professional fouls

By DAVID LEGGAT

BRISBANE - New Zealand referee Steve Walsh was on the receiving end of a serve from Eddie Jones as the Wallaby coach sought to turn up the heat on the officials ahead of this weekend's semifinal against the All Blacks.

Perhaps he is feeling the weight of the nation, but rather than bite his tongue after the win over Scotland in which at least one critical call went his team's way, Jones went on the offensive.

Without specifically naming Walsh, Jones made a series of pointed comments which made it clear he was unhappy with aspects of the North Harbour official's performance at Suncorp Stadium.

Chief among them was allowing Scotland to get away with slowing the ball down at the rucks, thus depriving the Wallaby backline of quick second and third-phase possession.

The sinbin should have been used, he said.

"Scotland put in by far their best performance of the tournament.

"They got stuck in at the tackle and made us work very hard to get quick ball.

"[But] if people are intentionally giving penalties away at the tackle when you're on attack, it doesn't matter whether it's the first minute or the 80th, they should be sent to the sinbin.

"We want a game that can be played at a quick pace. The referees are there to rule on the laws of the game, not the spectacle.

"If they don't we're going to see really sluggy semifinals."

Jones said the referees were supposed to be handling games the same throughout the tournament.

But "that doesn't seem to be the case when it gets down to the big time" when it related to professional fouls.

As for whether Wallaby winger Wendell Sailor should have been sinbinned for throwing a punch at Scotland lock Nathan Hines midway through the first half, Jones put it down to his player feeling "definitely aggrieved."

It was a crucial moment as Walsh whistled a penalty for the punch and did not play advantage as Scots wing Kenny Logan zoomed in on a ball kicked into the clear with an open run to the Australian line

Sailor escaped with a warning. Other players have been given a 10-minute spell for less in this tournament.

"The referee made some decisions where we felt they were lucky to have 15 players on the paddock at various stages," Jones added, turning the spotlight back on perceived Scottish indiscretions.

Jones, whose prickly mien on Saturday night may have stemmed from the intense scrutiny his team have been under leading up to, and during, the tournament, bristled as a gentle suggestion that the lines his backline were running bordered on illegal, with players crossing or obstructing the potential tackler.

"Did Clive [Woodward] ask you to ask that?" he asked his English questioner.

"He [Walsh] refereed to International Rugby Board interpretations, so I don't think we'll have a problem," he said, before adding, "The last try [scored by Scotland] was a good example of that.

"When you get people in front [of the ball carrier] that's obstruction and I'd say that was the worst obstruction of the game."

Even his boss, Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill, received an oblique flick over the ear.

Asked if he thought Saturday's effort would please O'Neill, after his time-to-deliver comments directed at the Wallabies last week, Jones said: "I don't know to be honest.

"It's important people realise we're doing absolutely everything we can to play well for our country, but you can't seem to satisfy people.

"It's going to be a fun week ahead. We're looking forward to it."

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