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Hansen hits out at ‘influence’ of vid replays

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has launched another attack on the growing influence of big screen replays in Test rugby following their narrow escape at Twickenham.

Hansen was angry Welsh referee Nigel Owens appeared to be swayed by a multitude of replays on at least two occasions during New Zealand’s 24-21 win over England.

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The first was when All Blacks hooker Dane Coles was shown a second-half yellow card for lashing out with his foot, while the most obvious came after prop Charlie Faumuina scored a late try for the tourists.

Owens initially awarded the try but after a host of replays showed the prop had possibly not ground the ball, the 82,000-strong crowd vented its displeasure.

Owens asked for goalkicker Beauden Barrett to stop while he assessed his decision. After another look, the try stood.

Hansen says when replays are shown, it is almost always in favour of the home team.

“My biggest concern is that the TV producers are starting to have an influence on the game,” he told NZ Newswire.

“If something goes wrong, we see a replay 10 times even though the referee hasn’t seen it, the touch judge hasn’t seen it, the TMO hasn’t seen it.”

Hansen says the replays aren’t in the spirit of rugby and shouldn’t hold sway.

He proposed the use of a challenge system, as is used in cricket, allowing the coach or captain to contest a decision they believe is wrong.

Hansen made exactly the same point following the All Blacks’ 27-25 loss to South Africa in Johannesburg five weeks ago.

The Springboks landed a last-minute penalty after English referee Wayne Barnes was alerted to a New Zealand indiscretion – but only after it was replayed a multitude of times.

“Referees will make mistakes and some of those mistakes will cost you the game. You’ve got to live with that,” Hansen said.

“The TV producers, they’re starting to annoy me now somewhat.”

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