Rugby: O'Brien defends his performance

WELLINGTON - New Zealand's top referee, Paddy O'Brien, has defended his handling of the controversial rugby World Cup match between France and Fiji, which had losing captain Greg Smith claiming a penalty try decision robbed Fiji of victory.

France won the tense pool C match in Toulouse 28-19 at the weekend, earning a direct path through to the quarter-finals, while Fiji must overcome England to make the last eight.

The Fijian camp were angry that O'Brien awarded France a penalty try 10 minutes from time when the hosts were trailing 13-19.

O'Brien had warned both Fijian props about pulling out of scrums and he awarded the penalty try after a series of scrums collapsed as the French were on attack.

Smith claimed: "I still don't know why we conceded the penalty try. I have first-hand experience, being in the front row, and I think we were robbed."

However, O'Brien said yesterday that he stood by his decision.

"I wouldn't give any ground on that. Greg's got his views on it but I believe they offended at the scrum," he said on Radio Sport.

The try was awarded after O'Brien warned the Fijian front row that a player would be sent off if infringements continued.

"In my opinion the Fijian props were boring in and forcing the French up," he said.

However, he admitted he did not adhere to the letter of the law as he could also have sent a Fijian player from the field, as he threatened to do, after the penalty try was awarded.

"In law, I should have sent the player off and I'll take that on the chin," he said. "I think that would have been a double penalty. I made that decision at the time and you either cop it from your assessor later on or from the media that you didn't go far enough."

O'Brien said his performance was endorsed by a reviewer.

"My assessor was very, very pleased with the way I managed the penalty try, and said it was an outstanding part of the refereeing performance."

He admitted that the game had been "a hard day at the office" and acknowledged that he was disappointed with some aspects of his officiating. There was confusion after the French were awarded a try from a tap penalty, only to have it over-ruled when O'Brien, after consulting with a touch judge, decided the French had first decided to take a kick at goal.

"I look back and I'm annoyed about that. If that counts against me later in the tournament, that's up to the selectors."

Fiji were also unhappy that they were denied a try after O'Brien ruled a knock-on by a Fijian player although replays suggested a French player simply dropped the ball.

O'Brien said he had not seen video footage of the incident but "if I got it wrong, then I'll have to stand up and be counted."

He said there was no mention of that incident in the assessor's report. - NZPA