The All Blacks believe they were on the wrong side of several key refereeing decisions during their recent series against the Springboks, with assistant coach Neil Barnes suggesting South Africa received the “rub of the green”.
The Springboks secured a convincing 3-1 series victory over their long-time rivals after beating New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore on Saturday.
The result further strengthened South Africa’s position at the top of the World Rugby rankings and extended their remarkable recent record against the All Blacks to eight wins in their last 10 meetings.
However, while Barnes acknowledged the progress made by New Zealand, he believes officiating and crucial moments played a role in the outcome of the series.
All Blacks unhappy with refereeing decisions
Speaking to Newstalk ZB, Barnes pointed to two early scrum penalties awarded against New Zealand for what he described as “brake foot” infringements.
He argued that similar actions were occurring from both teams but that the All Blacks were punished while the Springboks were not.
According to Barnes, those decisions contributed to a perception that South Africa were receiving the benefit of close calls.
“At the moment they’re getting the rub of the green,” Barnes said.
The All Blacks assistant coach believes the issue is particularly frustrating because New Zealand feels it is closing the gap on the world champions.
Barnes argued that repeated penalties allowed South Africa to slow the tempo of matches and regain control during periods when New Zealand was building momentum.
Springboks still deserved series victory
Despite Barnes’ frustration, the Springboks’ 3-1 triumph was built on more than favourable refereeing decisions.
After losing the opening Test 33-16, South Africa responded with three consecutive victories, including a thrilling 33-26 win in Cape Town, a 29-24 victory at FNB Stadium and the emphatic 43-28 triumph in Baltimore.
The results demonstrated the Springboks’ ability to adapt, manage pressure and produce decisive performances when the series was on the line.
For New Zealand, however, Barnes believes the margins between the two teams are becoming increasingly narrow.
“We’re seriously close to them,” he said, while acknowledging that the All Blacks need to improve their ability to control matches for longer periods.
All Blacks looking for the next step
The comments add another chapter to one of international rugby’s fiercest rivalries.
New Zealand may have lost the series, but the All Blacks will take confidence from periods of strong performance against the reigning world champions.
For the Springboks, the challenge now is to maintain their dominance at the top of the international game.
For the All Blacks, the message from Barnes is clear: they believe they are close — but they need to eliminate the small margins that continue to separate the two sides.
The big question is whether New Zealand’s complaints about officiating are justified, or whether the All Blacks simply need to find another level to consistently overcome the Springboks.
