'Bloody frustrated': Italy boss slams referee and World Rugby
WATCH as Italy head coach Kieran Crowley struggled to contain his frustration following his team’s Six Nations 17-29 defeat to Wales in Rome.
The Azzurri head coach Crowley believed his team was on the wrong end of a few key decisions made by referee Damon Murphy in the loss to Wales.
Speaking to Virgin Media after the match, the New Zealander questioned Murphy’s decision not to award his team with a penalty try when centre Juan Ignacio Brex was halted from scoring by Wales flyhalf Owen Williams.
*Article continues below…
According to Crowley, Williams was clearly offside when he tackled Brex.
However, Murphy checked with the TMO, who was Ireland’s Joy Neville, and they decided no ruck had been formed.
“How can a team give away 17 penalties, not be warned once five or six of those on their own line,” the Italy head coach said in reference to Wales‘ penalty count.
“Then not awarding of a penalty try to us in the first half. It was clear that number 10 [Owen Williams of Wales] was offside when he tackled [Juan Ignacio Brex].
“Then they didn’t even review the two guys that were cleaned out in the backfield when we broke. So there’s a lot of bloody frustration.”
#REPORT: Rhys Webb stars as @WelshRugbyUnion break their duck with a win over @Federugby #rugby #news #sports #ITAvWAL https://t.co/c0UAvh7AXK
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) March 11, 2023
The coach also took a swipe at World Rugby’s channels of communication regarding grievances with officials’ performances.
“You’ve got to go through the right channels,” Crowley said.
“But I’m getting sick of going through the right channels and getting a response that says, oh, we’re sorry we got it wrong because that just wasn’t good enough [on Saturday].”
Crowly admitted Italy were at times the architect of their own downfall as they wasted a host of chances.
“Look, our execution wasn’t good enough at times,” Crowley said.
“We’ve made a lot of line breaks and didn’t finish them so.
“We’re gonna take that on the chin and look at things we can control.”
Italy now look destined to finish bottom of the Six Nations table for the 18th time as Wales climbed off the basement.
Sources: VirginMedia & Rugbypass
