Mathieu Raynal has no regrets about making the controversial refereeing decision that divided the rugby world in the opening Bledisloe Cup Test in Melbourne.
With the match in the balance, the Frenchman pinged Wallabies playmaker Bernard Foley for time wasting and the All Blacks scored the winning try from the subsequent scrum to ensure the silverware remained in New Zealand.
A raft of experienced players, coaches, referees and journalists described the decision as unprecedented in international rugby.
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Unseen footage of Wallaby spraying ref
Raynal broke his silence by speaking with reporters after being named France’s referee of the season.
“I take total responsibility for what I did, 100 per cent,” the 41-year-old said.
“I had a necessary reason for making the decision even if it was a strong one which caused people to talk. I try to do what is the most fair. That’s at the heart of my job.
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“Sometimes it creates tensions, frustrations, arguments but I take responsibility over what I do.”
Raynal and Foley had a running battle throughout the Test and the five-eighth ignored the whistleblower’s request to wait before kicking a conversion at Marvel Stadium.
Foley told Stan Sport that he was not deliberately time wasting and he was simply trying to organise his teammates before what would have been a crucial lineout.
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Raynal wasn’t buying that argument.
“I told a player five times to kick the ball to touch,” Raynal claimed.
“I couldn’t do otherwise. It’s not me who decided to make the decision, it was the player who forced me to make it.”
Bledisloe Cup Test ends in farce
Raynal, who was an assistant referee for the second Bledisloe Test in Auckland, revealed his interactions with Wallabies coach Dave Rennie after the Melbourne maelstrom.
“I had a discussion with him which was very sincere and honest,” Raynal said.
“He was satisfied by the refereeing during the entirety of the match. Obviously we didn’t agree on the final decision. I can guarantee we had a calm conversation.”
Raynal said he had gone out of his away to avoid the vicious response to his decision.
“To be honest I deleted newspaper and social media applications. I had just Candy Crush and the clock on my phone. I didn’t follow what happened.
“To keep my head, it was the best thing to do to keep focused on the second match. My job finishes once I leave the field.”
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