Ireland coach Andy Farrell has fired back at Fiji Water Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne that Ireland were the beneficiaries of a controversial officiating call.
Ireland Fly-half Sam Prendergast was yellow carded when his shoulder connected with the head of Fiji flanker Kitione Salawa.
The incident was then reviewed by the bunker who, to the surprise of many, decided that it should not be upgraded to a red.
Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne when asked in his post-match press conference said he was wearing a green jersey so it stayed yellow, implying that the only thing that saved him was the fact he was playing for Ireland.
Farrell disagreed with Byrne, insisting that the sin-binning was harsh enough, although at that point he had yet to see it back.
He says he gets why it is a yellow, but Prendergast turned his back and it’s harsh enough, that.
Despite the frustration of that early incident, Byrne had few complaints about the performance of referee Hollie Davidson after Fiji conceded 17 penalties.
Byrne says at the end of the day, they need to get better and it is not on the referee.
He says their job is to present ourselves over the next two years so they earn the respect of World Rugby and they have to play a little bit better than they did against Ireland to get there.
Captain Waisea Nayacalevu says they go out there and give their best as they train all week to be disciplined, to play the game the way they want to play and at the end of the day, the match officials make the calls.
He says sometimes it does not go their way, which is frustrating.
Ireland thrashed Fiji 52-17 yesterday morning at Aviva Stadium.
Source: planetrugby.com
