Sir Steve Hansen defends Michael Hooper amid backlash over referee bias accusations: ‘What he said made a lot of sense’
Ex-All Blacks head coach Sir Steven Hansen has defended Michael Hooper after his comments on Andrea Piardi.
Former All Blacks head coach Sir Steven Hansen has defended Michael Hooper amid backlash over his comments about Italian referee Andrea Piardi.
The Wallabies legend and former captain said that Piardi should not be “allowed” to officiate Australia again because of the history he has with the team.
The Italian official oversaw a Wallabies match for the fourth time as Les Kiss’ side claimed a 42-38 victory over the Springboks in Perth, their first win with Piardi in the middle after losses to the British and Irish Lions, Ireland and New Zealand.
Whilst Australia did emerge victorious, it wasn’t without controversy, with the referee issuing four yellow cards to Wallabies players while there was also a communications breakdown with the referee and TMO.
Michael Hooper’s plea
Speaking on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts, Hooper said that it would be in the best interests of the referee if he didn’t officiate a Wallabies game going forward.
āThe only comment I want to make, and this might be a bit out of school, and I donāt want it to sound like a bit of a sooky note [a whinge], but I donāt think Andrea Piardi should be allowed to referee Australia again,ā he said.
āThe reason I say that is not because of what I think about his reffing or him as a referee because I havenāt watched enough of his games as referee in my time, but it should be a World Rugby thing to look after their referees.
āWorld Rugby needs to think, āWell, thereās been some history now with this referee and this nationā. So last year in the Lions, some other Test matches in the lead-up, including the All Blacks.
āAnd then this one last night. And unfortunately you do carry scars from previous games and previous fixtures as players going into next match-ups, and I think the referees probably do too. Theyāre human, and it becomes hard.
“So I think in a duty of care sense he shouldnāt be put in a Wallabies game, again not because of what I think about his refereeing, just because thereās plenty of great referees out in the world and Piardi is certainly a referee that can do it at the top level, but it shouldnāt be with Australia, and I think that should be a World Rugby directive.”
Sir Steve Hansen’s take
Hooper’s comments have been widely criticised on social media and by this publication as the former flanker certainly comes off sour and is seemingly hiding his ref-bashing and bias accusations behind the betterment of the official’s mental health.
However, Hansen doesn’t see it that way as he came out to bat for the player who he signed at Toyota Verblitz.
“He wasn’t having a crack at the ref,” the ex-All Blacks boss said on The Rugby Unity podcast.
“No, he actually felt it was more in protection of the referee; have a listen to it because I wouldn’t do it justice what he said. I thought what he said actually made a lot of sense and he was quite protective of the refs, actually.”
Show host David Pembroke replied: “I will go back and have a listen to the whole thing because I saw as it was reported but there were others in the Stan Sport team whose suggestion wasn’t about the protection of the ref. It was about we’ve been duped by this guy.”
“Well, there’s a bit of that but there’s also to protect,” Hansen replied.
“The human element of it and basically he was saying, ‘Here’s a guy that has made numerous mistakes and done some things right, and we as supporters haven’t liked it. How’s he going to be treated going forward by the Australian public and fans?’
“And are we going to have question marks around him, which they will, no doubt about that. If we were in the same situation, you’d have the same questions, Pembs, you definitely would.”
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Pembroke disagreed: “No. No. I don’t question the integrity of the referees ever.”
“He’s not questioning the integrity,” Hansen argued.
“He’s questioning the subconsciousness of the referee. And that’s a totally different thing. Human beings have a subconscious that takes you somewhere that you don’t really know you’re going, but you’re going there because of previous experiences.
“That’s a known fact where how you were treated as a young person still has an effect on you now, even at your age.”
