This was published 8 years ago
Sydney Sevens: Australian coach Andy Friend unhappy about New Zealand extra player controversy
By Tom Decent
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Australian sevens coach Andy Friend has taken a swipe at World Rugby and match officials for a blunder which let New Zealand field an extra player during a match-defining moment in a pool game against his team.
Friend's comments came as World Rugby confirmed it would conduct an investigation into how New Zealand came to have an eighth player on the field during their match in Sydney on Saturday.
World Rugby decided the result – a hard-fought 17-all draw – would stand even though it had a bearing on who Australia and New Zealand played in the quarter-finals.
"Not much of an investigation, if that was what it was. The question is, 'how could that happen'?" Friend said. "In an Olympic year, if that comes down to a gold medal game, [there will be] a lot of disappointed people. What we have got to make sure is that those simple mistakes don't happen in a big tournament.
Rieko Ioane of New Zealand races away for a try during New Zealand's pool match against Australia.Credit: Getty Images
"Our situation was probably magnified because it was a final try that got to the [17-17] draw. I don't think anyone intentionally does that, so whose error is it? Is it a sideline official error, or is it a team's error? That needs to be a discussion but what I do know is that we've got to tidy that area up."
Footage emerged hours after the match showing eight New Zealanders on the field as they attacked Australia's line moments before Ardie Savea broke the hearts of the Australians with a try after the full-time siren.
Had referee Craig Joubert or one of his assistants noticed the All Blacks Sevens had an extra man in the attack, a penalty would have been awarded to Australia which would have all but secured a much-needed victory.
Instead, World Rugby said there would be no change to the result, but a formal investigation has been launched to see whether any punishment needs to be dished out to New Zealand.
New Zealand could face a fine or a deduction of World Series points should they be found guilty by the governing body.
The incident, however, raises questions as to what would have happened if the game was sudden-death and whether World Rugby would have come down harder on the Kiwis.
"World Rugby can confirm that it is investigating an apparent breach of Law 3 [number of players on the field of play] by the New Zealand sevens team," read a statement. "In accordance with Law 3.2 the result of the match will stand, but World Rugby is currently reviewing the matter to determine if any disciplinary action is warranted. No further comment will be made until the outcome of the investigation."
A number of Australian fans have since vented their frustration on social media at the decision with some feeling they were harshly done by.
With Jotham Lian