‘I’ll be the ref, you’ll be the nine’ – Nic White told off by English official during All Blacks clash

Jared Wright
Nic White and referee Karl Dickson during the Wallabies v All Blacks test match

Karl Dickson was having none of that from Nic White.

English referee Karl Dickson put Nic White back in his place during the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup clash between the Wallabies and All Blacks.

Australia’s veteran scrum-half like many halfbacks is renowned for his relentless chatter on the pitch but it came back to bite him Saturday in Syndey.

With the Wallabies looking to complete a remarkable comeback in the latter stages of the match, White believed that his side were hard done by after an All Blacks lineout.

Nic White told off

With Australia trailing 14-31, New Zealand had a lineout inside the Wallabies 22 and hooker Codie Taylor found his jumper Ardie Savea at the front of the set-piece.

However, White felt that the throw was not straight with Australia contesting – crucially so as skew throws are only officiated in the Rugby Championship in the event of no contest from the opposition.

White was quick to express his dismay repeatedly shouting ‘not straight, not straight’ at referee Dickson and his assistants as the All Blacks went on the attack. The Wallabies managed to turn the ball over and clear out of their half.

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It was during the next passage of play that Dickson had enough of White’s officiating input as he pleaded for a penalty as Sam Cane entered the ruck illegally.

Dickson disagreed and came back for Australia’s scrum after an All Blacks knock on at the lineout. After awarding the scrum, Dickson had a stern word with White.

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“I know you are getting frustrated, there’s no need to explain to me what is going on,” the English official and former Harlequins fly-half said.

“I’ll be the ref, you’ll be the nine if you scream at me again, I’ll penalise you. It’s your scrum, thank you, enough.”

White was brought into the Wallabies starting XV after missing the Test matches against Argentina but was unable to inspire his side to victory as they fell to a narrow 28-31 defeat after a stunning fightback.

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It’s not the first run-in with the officials that White has had as he was also told off by referee Paul Williams during the Wallabies’ clash with the Springboks earlier in the tournament.

The Kiwi official simply stated “Not today” to the scrum-half after he caused a bit of handbags with the Boks.

READ MORE: Wallabies v All Blacks: Five takeaways as Australia avoid an ‘annihilation’ after Scott Robertson’s ‘fall off the pace’ in Bledisloe ‘blockbuster’