Inga Tuigamala believes the Super 14 decision to dispense with neutral referees has come at a cost and should be reversed, in his New Zealand Herald column.
"Rugby should turn the clock back to ensure a more legitimate future. I'm talking about referees, and the use of the neutral system. The Super 14 has abandoned the use of neutral referees, presumably to save costs. But the competition should do a u-turn, and use neutral referees and touch judges.
I have a fair deal of sympathy for Blues coach Pat Lam, who claimed that the inexperienced Garratt Williamson from New Zealand was unduly influenced by his two Australian touch judges in the Waratahs' favour in Sydney last week.
"Referees and touch judges are having an enormous influence on the outcome of games - overly so unfortunately. It would be far better if the players were the only ones who settled the outcomes, but the way things are going, it is doubly important to ensure that referees have the best chance of doing an even-handed job."
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