Referee Craig Joubert shows Australia's Drew Mitchell a red card in this year's Tri-Nations
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Statistics from the first five games of this year's Tri-Nations competition show a difference in the ratio of penalties per yellow card. The New Zealand Herald reports.
"It's official.
"The All Blacks are treated differently by referees from either of their Tri-Nations opponents.
"The statistics from the first five games of this year's competition show a staggering difference in the ratio of penalties per yellow card. Suspicions are rife in South African rugby that the All Blacks get a special deal, are favoured whether subconsciously or consciously by referees.
"Now, the figures seem to prove the point. South Africa are the most regularly penalised, conceding six penalties per yellow card. The Australians' figure is remarkably similar - just seven a card.
"But by the same calculations, the New Zealand tally is incredible. Official figures show they incur 43 penalties a yellow card, more than seven times the figure of the Springboks."
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