The Wallabies are still angry from late decisions in their opening Bledisloe Cup defeat and have no issue with French referee Mathieu Raynal officiating their rematch with the All Blacks.
French referee Mathieu Raynal has been appointed as an assistant for Saturday’s Rugby Championship decider with Irishman Andrew Brace in the middle at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Wallabies pair Jed Holloway and Jake Gordon said the side was still smarting from the method of the 39-37 defeat, which hinged on Reynal’s time-wasting call with less than two minutes remaining, which hinged on Reynal’s time-wasting call with less than two minutes remaining.
This week, Rugby Australia wrote to World Rugby to ask for an explanation. Asked whether the best response was to use the pain as preparation for the trip to New Zealand or to move on from the episode, Gordon was emphatic.
Gordon said We need to channel that frustration, and It’s pretty clear that we’re all bitterly disappointed for how the result finished, and we’ve got to channel it in the right way.
Holloway will be ready for his first Test as a Wallaby at New Zealand’s House of Pain, and he is grateful for a first hit-out against the Kiwis last week.
Holloway said, I was full of nerves, so it’s good to get that out of the way, and I can’t wait to go over there and to be a part of it and hopefully have a huge impact on the game as well.
There will be changes from both sides, and Quinn Tupaea is set for a long spell on the sidelines after a nasty challenge from Darcy Swain.
Noah Lolesio, an emerging playmaker had overcome a concussion suffered against South Africa and was back training, Gordon said.
There are concerns too for All Blacks captain Sam Cane and David Havili, who are undergoing world rugby’s head impact assessment (HIA) protocols.
