NZ Rugby has instructed Super Rugby players not to criticise match officials, after controversial incidents over the past two weeks.
Earlier this month, Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea didn't hold back in his post-match appraisal, after his side was on the receiving end of a controversial call that resulted in defeat against the Crusaders.
Last weekend, Highlanders captain Aaron Smith also vented his frustration over officiating, after a decision to not take action against Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua after a high tackle on Gareth Evans.
And after they were reduced to 14 men thanks to a red card to Josh Dickson, the Highlanders fell to a one-point defeat, as a contentious call this time went in the Hurricanes' favour.
Neither Savea nor Smith have been reprimanded for their comments towards the officials, but NZ Rugby head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum asserts his organisation is taking steps to see criticism of referees go through the correct channels.
"We've had some dialogue with our teams over the last couple of weeks about trends that we're seeing and left it at that really," Lendrum said. "We've raised particular matters around post-match comments with teams this week, obviously, over the last couple of weeks.
"But generally… there's been discussion around cards and so forth. We're in constant dialogue with the teams over that from our high-performance team."
Lendrum has also urged patience and understanding from players towards match officials, since the fast-paced nature of the modern game will inevitably lead to mistakes, even at the highest level.
"Generally, openness and passion for the game that we see from our players is positive," Lendrum said. "We like to see that across all spheres of the game.
"In this case, it's slightly different. Clearly, those comments haven't met the threshold for SANZAAR to pursue conduct charges against them, but respect for referees is a critical value in our game.
"I know what we want to see is feedback around referees and from referees to teams, vice versa, being made through the appropriate channels, and the focus being on outstanding rugby that's being played, rather than anybody's particular views of incidents that might happen in the course of a game, that then lead to comments being made in the heat of the moment.
"We all know it's a very fast-paced and complex game to referee. There will be errors from time to time, that just shouldn't be our focus."
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