Player witch-hunt not on, cautions Joe Schmidt

Joe Schmidt believes the intervention of World Rugby referees’ chief Alain Rolland will help prevent a repeat of the controversies that marred Ireland’s rematch with New Zealand last weekend.

As frustrated as Ireland were with match referee Jaco Peyper for failing, in their view, to properly sanction Sam Cane and Malakai Fekitoa for high and dangerous tackles in their 21-9 defeat to the All Blacks, the Irish head coach said yesterday he did not want a “witch-hunt” of players during games.

Schmidt was reacting to the news that Ireland’s former Test referee Rolland had declared Peyper’s decision to yellow card All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith for a ruck infringement “incorrect”.