After the Waratahs' controversial victory over the Sharks in round 14 of Super Rugby this year, Sanzar released the following statement on its website beside a picture of referee Rohan Hoffmann.

"While we acknowledge that the match officials cannot get it right all of the time, there are some basic standards that have simply not been upheld over this past weekend, resulting in some disappointing decisions and selection consequences," said Sanzar game manager Lyndon Bray in the statement.



"...Public confidence in match officials is essential to the ongoing success of our product and we will continue striving to enhance the quality and accountability of refereeing across all Sanzar competitions."

Hoffman was little seen for the remainder of the tournament.

Public criticism of referees' performances by the body that governs them has been happening for at least the past two seasons of Super Rugby, either through official releases or Bray's communication with the media. In 2014, in comments to a New Zealand broadcaster, he picked out two particular mistakes made by referee Stuart Berry in relation to games involving the Blues in South Africa. In the same year, Bray publicly rebuked Chiefs coach Dave Rennie while defending a specific forward pass ruling made by Australian TMO Steve Leszczynski in a game between the Rebels and Chiefs in Melbourne.