AUCKLAND: After a heated match between Samoa and South Africa, the International Rugby Board has been under social media attacks. Wale's Nigel Owens has been heavily criticized by Samoan Eliota Fauimaono-Sapolu for his refereeing decisions during the match at the Rugby World Cup. Using the micro-blogging site Twitter, Fauimaono expressed his anger and disappointment over the 13-5 defeat. The tweets increased in number and controversy as Fauimaono accused Owens of bias and deliberate refereeing to ensure a Welsh path to the quarter finals. “Get s.a into the next round. The plan was obvious,” Fauimaono said on Twitter. Owens has said that it was the hardest game he has ever refereed and “… did my best and no regrets.” Owens has become highly unpopular, his Facebook page has been flooded with angry posts from Samoa's fans. Fauimaono used Twitter last week, resulting in international shock, when he described Samoa's difficult schedule in comparison to other countries was comparable to “slavery, like the Holocaust, like Apartheid.” He later apologized for his comments. However, Fauimaono was again angered when the IRB fined Samoa $10,000 because Alesana Tuilagi was wearing a mouthguard against tournament sponsorship rules. He tweeted, ‘So England swap the ball for conversions and the IRB does nothing. Samoa wear the wrong brand of mouthguard and get fined 10k. Incredible.” The IRB have confirmed that they will be investigating accusations by Fauimaono against Owens on bias refereeing. BM
