Paul Williams

Action during the Rugby Championship Test match between the Australian Wallabies and the South African Springboks at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, August 27, 2022. EPA/MATT TURNER AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Diabolical Kiwi referee Paul Williams should never officiate a Test again

New Zealand’s Paul Williams has no business being anywhere near Test rugby after a Rugby Championship shocker.

Paul Williams

Action during the Rugby Championship Test match between the Australian Wallabies and the South African Springboks at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, August 27, 2022. EPA/MATT TURNER AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Paul Williams of New Zealand has brought shame onto the game of rugby with one of the worst officiating displays in modern rugby.

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Williams’ efforts were either criminally incompetent or evidence of bias.

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On several occassions Australia got a massive lift from a dodgy call from the Kiwi whistle-blower.

Paul Williams should never officiate a Test again

Starting with a pedantic call for a supposedly skew throw in, followed closely by a strange high-tackle penalty when Faf de Klerk cleared out when Lood de Jager burst towards the Australian line.

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Australia were allowed to continuously engage in spoiling tactics in the last 15 minutes of the first half when the Springboks dominated but were stopped by the Wallabies, mostly by illegal means.

The Wallabies might twice have conceded a penalty try but instead first saw a scrum penalty go their way when their skipper James Slipper was clearly scrumming inwards bringing the packs down.

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Australia’s captain should have been in the bin, and the scores should have been level at this point.

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Instead, play continued and Australia, with the ear of the referee stalled for time again and again and took control of the contest as a direct result.

Marike Koroibete should have been carded for the flying shoulder charge that denied Makazole Mapimpi a try.

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Perhaps the worst incident in the first half was one that brings shame onto the game of rugby.

Williams bought into play-acting from Australia scrumhalf Nic White whose actions have no place in the sport at all.

Wallabies Springboks Paul Williams
The Springboks’ barren run in Australia continued when they were beaten by the Wallabies in their Rugby Championship clash in Adelaide. Photo: Getty Images

Nic White brings shame on rugby with pathetic play-acting

Paul Williams and Nic White bring the game into disrepute.

De Klerk provided a basis for the call with his attempt to disrupt but the subsequent reaction from White to try and draw a response from the official and Williams bizarrely believing that the incident warranted a yellow card let alone the relieving penalty they also received.

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Meanwhile, Australia had received a yellow of their own earlier but continued to spoil with little to no consequences.

The second half saw more of the same, as Australia sought to consistently slow down Springbok ball by lying in the way and using their acting skills to good effect.

Williams’ diabolical decision-making robbed the Springboks of momentum and points and changed the nature of the game.

This referee has no place taking charge of big games and should be banished to the bush leagues for the rest of his days.

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