Round 15 of Super Rugby Pacific 2022 kicked off in Christchurch where the home team Crusaders secured a scrappy win over the Queensland Reds.
Scott Robertson’s side played some great rugby in the first half to race into a 21 – 3 lead at half-time.
The second forty transpired to be a more trudged affair with plenty of ill-discipline that will Robertson and his coaching staff with plenty to work on ahead of the quarterfinals.
In yet another questionable referring moment for this year’s competition, former Argentinean captain Pablo Matera was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle attempt.
Matera appears to run in for the clear-out before clearly picking up Jordan Petaia and dumping him unceremoniously on his head and neck area.
Referee Ben O’Keeffe deliberated for a while before brandishing a yellow card. O’Keeffe’s lack of a more serious penalisation left many fans scratching their heads whilst several others were left furious.
Matera’s recklessness will once again call into question refereeing consistency as well as the validity of the twenty-minute red card option which many fans believe is not severe enough to deter foul play.
For the Crusaders the 28 – 15 final score line sees them locked into second spot on the table with a home quarterfinal against the Reds.
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