Steve Hanson, The Referees and the Stats

Statistics are showing a 67% increase in yellow cards issued to the All Blacks than there was four years ago.

This whole debate around the referee’s started after the the draw to the Wallabies where Steve Hanson claims Peyper admitted he got it wrong. In the match against the Wallabies last Saturday, that was the All Blacks sixth and seventh yellow card in their last 10 tests.

According to Hanson, Peyper said he got it wrong at the scrum, and got it wrong when it came to the first yellow card in their test last week. These claims have been echoed by the New Zealand media in recent days claiming there’s a conspiracy against the All Blacks.

The Australian media has responded by claiming the referee’s finally have the courage to call the All Blacks on their “negative” and “slow-down” play. Jonathan Kaplan has thrown fuel on the fire, backing-up the claims from some of those in the Australian media.

“NZ were again guilty of marginal tactics under pressure … Are the referees finally beginning to understand what needs to be done to eliminate this constant in their game when they come under pressure in their 22m area?” Kaplan wrote on his blog.

“Jaco Peyper made mistakes in this game no doubt, but needs credit for dishing out the cards when they were deserved. It engenders a whole lot of trust when the referee is prepared well, and is prepared to act.”

If we look at the stats, it does kind of back the theory up.

Seven years ago, the All Blacks averaged just one yellow card every four games (25%), and in 2011, they received just one solitary yellow in their 12 tests that year (8%). That climes to five cards from 14 matches in 2012 (35%), and three cards from four tests this year (75%).

“I know why we didn’t perform at the weekend,” Hansen said. “There were certain areas of our game we were very poor at, and there was another reason which we won’t go into here, but that’s been dealt with as well.”

“We’ve spoken to the referee about the scrummaging. He put his hand up, said he got the free-kicks wrong. But we can’t control [the referee], we’ve had the discussion we needed to have and moved on.

Hansen elaborated, however, when asked what Peyper had done wrong.

“Where do you want me to start?” he said.

“The free-kick he felt was wrong and he was not sure why he called pre-engage. The first yellow card was wrong — the ball was out. “It was a good conversation, I respect the man for his honesty.”

Hansen’s willingness to discuss the rights and wrongs of Peyper’s game contrast sharply to last year, when the All Blacks coach got into a war of words with Ewen McKenzie over the South African’s performance in Bledisloe II in Wellington.

On that occasion, Peyper refused to sin-bin any Kiwis despite claims from the Wallabies coach the All Blacks would attempt to kill their ball when on attack, conceding seven penalties in their own 22. When McKenzie and Will Genia questioned why Peyper hadn’t done more, Hansen said: “Usually you’re better off to play the game and get on with it, you can’t blame the ref.”