'Can't condone that': Legend rips ref for James O'Connor flashpoint
Updated . First published at
Crusaders legend Justin Marshall blew up at Angus Gardner after the Australian referee allowed Chiefs lock Josh Lord to stay on the field despite a cynical jersey tug on James O'Connor.
O'Connor, the Wallabies great now playing for the famed Christchurch-based club, was racing up in support of David Havili with the try-line in sight during Friday's Super Rugby Pacific derby.
But O'Connor's progress was slowed by Lord's professional foul and the Crusaders attack was eventually halted.
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James O'Connor is held back by Josh Lord. Stan
Gardner picked up on the sneaky act but deemed it only worthy of a penalty in Hamilton.
"This will be a yellow card. It has to be," former All Blacks halfback Marshall said on Stan Sport's coverage - before it wasn't.
"Like I just can't condone that not being yellow, it is a professional foul. He was right there, Angus, I'm sorry, I do not agree with you.
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"Josh Lord was holding back James O'Connor quite clearly, O'Connor was a support player, Lord was behind him.
"So O'Connor was ahead of him, leading the race as a supporter, and that is just a professional foul. You just can't do it. That is a professional foul, yellow card, every day of the week.
"I just cannot concur with the officials there. They have got that wrong in my mind."
O'Connor kicked the penalty to make it 17-17 after 48 minutes.
But with 15 men still on the park, it was one-way traffic in favour of the Chiefs from that moment on.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan again got tremendous impact from his stacked bench - featuring All Blacks Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima and Quinn Tupaea - as the hosts ran out 49-24 winners.
Tupaea scored two tries and Finau one in a dominant finish.
The Chiefs are now 2-0 and the Crusaders are 1-1.
At FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton: Chiefs 49 (Emoni Narawa try 5min, Xavier Roe 31min try, Leroy Carter try 51min, Samipeni Finau try 53min, Josh Jacomb try 66min, Quinn Tupaea tries 72min, 74min; Damian McKenzie 4 con, 2 pen) Crusaders 24 (Kyle Preston try 20min, Ethan Blackadder try 34min, Antonio Shalfoon try 76min; Chay Fihaki con, Taha Kemara con, James O'Connor pen, con). HT: 17-14
