21 Aug 2014

'Ref cost us' say All Blacks

2:41 pm on 21 August 2014

The All Blacks are blaming South African referee Jaco Peyper for their failure to win an 18 straight Test match, when they drew the first Bledisloe Cup against the Wallabies in Sydney at the weekend.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says Peyper's poor peformance cost them the match.

Peyper issued yellow cards to Wyatt Crockett and Beauden Barrett and the All Blacks struggled with his interpretations at scrum time.

Hansen says the All Blacks played poorly but Peyper has admitted he made several mistakes and apologised for a string of free kicks against the All Black pack, as well as the first-half sinbinning of prop Wyatt Crockett.

Jaco Peyper sinbins Beauden Barrett during the 1st Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney.

Jaco Peyper sinbins Beauden Barrett during the 1st Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

He says he'll be speaking to the Frenchman Romain Poite, who will control this weekend's rematch in Auckland, and hopes for some clarity on the scrum rulings.

Hansen says New Zealand needs to improve "just about everything" to continue their 32-Test Eden Park winning streak on Saturday night.

He sahys their skills and game structures were basically non-existent to where they want them to be, so those are the two key areas.

Steve Hansen, All Blacks coach.

Steve Hansen, All Blacks coach. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Although the Wallabies won the battle up front, they failed to capitalise on enjoying 65 percent of possession, and Hansen doubts Australia will be able to improve on that performance.

Hansen says he doesn't know how much they've got left to lift, while he says he knows the All Blacks can.

He says there was plenty of criticism that was warranted last week as they just didn't play well enough, and they have to be honest about that. If they want to retain the Bledisloe Cup they have to go up 10 or 12 notches and get on with it.

Hansen says he's not suprised Australia coach Ewen McKenzie has stuck with the same team for the first time in his 17-Test coaching reign.