At least Ardie Savea didn’t have to pay to watch the television match official kill precious minutes in Sydney last weekend.
Unlike the 26,000 fans at ANZ Stadium, and those watching on pay TV at home, he wasn’t required to shell out for the privilege of seeing the All Blacks humiliate the Wallabies 43-5 and retain the Bledisloe Cup.
Instead Savea, who surrendered his No 8 jersey to Hoskins Sotutu following the birth of his second child, was granted free access as part of the All Blacks party; and Savea must have been grateful for that as he watched TMO Gardner, at the request of referee Ben O’Keeffe, go to town when he reviewed incidents in the first half of the test.
Gardner was called into action in the opening minutes when he repeatedly rewound footage to view Wallaby wing Filipo Daugunu taking Caleb Clarke out in the air before he and O’Keeffe agreed he had to be yellow carded.
When All Blacks wing Jordie Barrett was called out for raising his forearm in a tackle, Gardner was again asked to flick through the pictures before the player was sent to the sin bin.
There was more to come: Gardner also took several minutes to review an on-field “try’’ to Dane Coles, which was overturned. Later a missed opportunity by Caleb Clarke had to be scrutinised before being ruled out.
Savea, who’s expected to return for the dead rubber against the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday night, wants the time-wasting to stop.
“I think we need to have a look at it, as an overall game – in terms of how much we use the TMO and views behind the screen,’’ Savea said.
Talk to a room full of fans on this issue and conflicting views are guaranteed.
While everyone wants the correct calls to be made, the question is whether it has to be done at the risk of alienating the paying customers.
Coles had originally been awarded his “try’’ by O’Keeffe, but when the crowd watched the replay it forced a re-think and Gardner was asked to spin his decks.
The final decision went against Coles, who was to later score a legitimate five-pointer following a lineout drive.
Savea believes things could be done better.
“On the whole game in general, I think we want spectators to enjoy it and having a lot of stop-starts, and long breaks in the game, is not good for the game,’’ Savea reiterated.
“I don’t have the answer. I don’t know what it is, but if we can keep the game free-flowing … Use the TMO when it is needed, for real, but apart from that just keep the game flowing so it becomes a spectacle and so the fans enjoy it.’’
Meanwhile, Savea said he enjoyed being able to interact with the crowd at ANZ Stadium.
History proves that remarks from spectators during trans-Tasman battles might make the meek blush, but he gave no indication he took offence to any comments.
“I don’t want to sound arrogant or anything, but I just like watching the boys. It was like a refreshing kind of feeling watching the guys do their work and enjoy it.
“And just hearing the fans throw a bit of banter on the sideline. And all of them just … asking for photos during the game which is something you’re not used to.’’
The All Blacks’ record win destroyed any hope the Wallabies’ fans had of coach Dave Rennie waving a wand over the team and transforming it into a world-class outfit.
That, clearly, is going to take time.
But the All Blacks’ recent poor record at Suncorp Stadium may offer some hope. They have only won one of their last four games at the venue.
