‘I’m going to be in court soon’ – Another New Zealand Six Nations ref under fire after Ronan O’Gara claims La Rochelle treated ‘like a small team’
La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara and Test referee Paul Williams.
Ronan O’Gara has followed Michael Cheika in criticising a New Zealand referee after La Rochelle’s Top 14 defeat to Toulon on Sunday.
The Irishman is not averse to taking aim at the officiating having received several bans over recent years and he once again had issues at the weekend.
O’Gara’s side had raced into a 17-0 lead in the opening quarter at the Stade Mayol but the hosts hit back to secure a 45-26 domestic triumph.
It left him frustrated and in his post-match press conference the 47-year-old went on to criticise the man in the middle, Paul Williams.
Six Nations preparation
The New Zealander was handed the game in preparation for the Six Nations where he will take charge of the opening match of the tournament between France and Wales.
O’Gara stated that “I don’t want us to be refereed like a small team” before being asked to elaborate on his comment.
“We have to respect the rules. An away team has the right to win the match. It wasn’t a Frenchman tonight, but I’m going to be in court soon regarding the refereeing,” he told reporters.
“I need to talk about it and protect my team. He has to learn, there were croc rolls and neck holds. It’s not allowed in the rules so I’m very disappointed.
“In the end, we led 17-0 and we lost the match. There’s class in Toulon, but… I have to grit my teeth.
“I want to say things as they are. I sent a private message some time ago and I’ve already taken 12 weeks. That’s how it is.”
Williams joined Ben O’Keeffe in taking charge of a domestic match in Europe with the latter officiating Gloucester’s English Premiership match with Leicester Tigers.
The Cherry and White secured a 38-31 triumph over the Tigers but Leicester boss Cheika, like O’Gara, was not happy with how it was refereed.
Different interpretations
“I am not going to have a go at anyone, but I am not sure why they are bringing in the international referees this weekend,” Cheika told TNT Sports.
“I didn’t like it from the start, when they said it was happening. It is clear there is a difference in interpretation in how the ball is played on the ground.
“We got affected by the penalty flow, and we have got to be better to resist those moments when they come, even if they are numerous.”
The first and the last matches of the opening Six Nations weekend will be refereed by Williams and O’Keeffe with the former doing France v Wales and the latter taking charge of Ireland’s clash with England.
That leaves Scotland’s encounter with Italy in Edinburgh, which will be officiated by Englishman Karl Dickson.
