English rugby referee Wayne Barnes may still be the Wallabies’ favourite whistle-blower after that breathtaking win against Wales in Cardiff, but how different it would have been had his late sin-binning of playmaker Quade Cooper brought Australia undone.
Barnes, who has now officiated in 10 Tests involving Australia – all of them won by the Wallabies, including five against Wales – deserves great credit for the way in which he allowed the Millennium Stadium spectacular to flow.
And a first half with not a single scrum surely has to be some sort of rugby world record.
But his questionable reaction to Cooper’s marginally early tackle on Welsh centre Scott Williams – surely worth no more than a penalty – could have had dire consequences for an Australian outfit reduced to 14 men for the final six minutes.
Had Wales somehow conjured a get-out-of-jail victory, Australian fans would have been left condemning Barnes.
It wouldn’t be the first controversial finish for Barnes, who All Blacks fans have never forgiven for the then rookie Test ref’s role in their disastrous World Cup quarter-final loss to France in 2007.
I suspect our New Zealand friends barely need reminding of the details: a controversial yellow card (the first French try scored while Luke McAlister was in the bin), a missed forward pass in the lead-up to France’s second try), and a lopsided penalty count against the All Blacks that, on the run of play, defied belief.
That the Wallabies were able to tough it out – and indeed, have the better of those final exchanges – is testament to their new-found composure.
Roll on 2014.
Article link: Cooper yellow card could have left Aussie fans seeing red. Written by Peter Thomson, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion
