I don't think the Fijians were accurate over the ball in the ruck, nor do I think the ref "was right about the calls". Which is different to being consistent and that is primarily what we are after. Many of the pinged (for Fiji) turnovers had hands in front of the ball on the ground, no clear release and no allowing the tackled player to place the ball. Contact time on the ball could not be measured in seconds, weirdly different to the usual rugby game at this RWC. There were times where the ruck had formed which was ignored and once even where a formed ruck was thereby determined to be sealing off, in dubious reffing. It was officiating completely at odds with what we have been seeing over recent years. And it definitely had an impact.
The scrum officiating was pants, but while I think on the whole it would have favoured Aus, especially in the first half, over all we would also have lost a few.
That said - the officiating was completely consistent to both teams, the Wallabies failed to adapt and yes that playing the ball on the ground (Arnold) was clearly wrong and lead directly to a try. So the officiating had an impact, but an impact that the Wallabies could have, and should have, negated by being more switched on, more professional (in terms of what you can get away with and what you can't).
We're also not being real by complaining about cards - if we are relying on the opposition going men down, it's not much of a game plan.
Fiji were easily the better team, outfoxed the Wallabies, and were accurate in interpreting what the ref would allow. The win was deserved - more, the better team won.
Well done Fiji. Wallabies with work to do now.
