Counties Manukau rugby coach and former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga is fuming over several tough calls from referee Glen Jackson, as Auckland scraped past his Steelers 22-20 at Eden Park on Wednesday night.
The hosts needed a late try and sideline conversion to edge their lower-division neighbours - but Umaga's hinting that Jackson favoured Auckland.
Umaga says Counties understand that they're from down South and they're meant to stay there - but he says Jackson was explaining everything to Auckland halfback Piri Weepu, while the referee didn't do the same for his players.
Jackson also controversially sin-binned fullback Sherwin Stowers for a professional foul and Umaga says he'll take up the issue using the appropriate channels.
Counties now have to prepare for their big Ranfurly Shield challenge at Hawke's Bay on Saturday.
