Bok coach Nienaber steers clear of ref bashing: 'We trust the officiating'

In Durban

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber steered clear of having a go at match officials ahead of Saturday's Rugby Championship decider against Argentina at Kings Park.

The Boks' 36-20 win against Argentina in Buenos Aires masked a woefully inept showing from New Zealand match official James Doleman.

He awarded 34 penalties in a game that was scrappy, while French match official Mathieu Raynal has earned opprobrium in Australia for the manner in which he ended the Bledisloe Cup game between the Wallabies and the All Blacks in Melbourne.

Raynal didn’t run away from his decision, offered an apology (which he didn’t need to do). Fair play. pic.twitter.com/jqF6D0lQfo

Australia, who trailed 31-13 at some point, came back to lead the game 37-34, but flyhalf Bernard Foley inexplicably wasted time that saw a penalty overturned into a scrum from which the All Blacks scored to win 39-37.

The Boks were in hot water last year through their SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, who dissected Nic Berry's officiating in the first British & Irish Lions Test through a video that went viral.

That video saw Erasmus being punished by World Rugby, which explained why Nienaber erred on the side of safety.

READ | Bok coach happy with pressure, but done with 'irritating' off-field noises: We've got nothing to hide

"We trust the officiating and just like we are sifting in terms of being able to get answers, I'm sure World Rugby is doing the same with the officials," Nienaber said.

"They're giving them high-pressure games to see if they can handle that pressure. We must just trust that process."

In amongst the changes Nienaber made to his match-day 23 for Saturday's crucial Test, two of hem included the return of Bongi Mbonambi and Kurt-Lee Arendse.