Schalk Burger and Victor Matfield criticised two key decisions that went against the Vodacom Bulls in their 36-7 URC final defeat to Leinster at Croke Park.
The controversy centred on second-half tries by centre Harold Vorster and lock Ruan Nortjé that were both ruled out as the Bulls tried to fight their way back into the contest.
Instead of possibly trailing 29-21 with 12 minutes to go, the Bulls remained 29-7 behind.
Vorster thought he had scored after a powerful surge towards the line, but referee Andrea Piardi’s on-field decision of no try remained unchanged after a TMO review.
“This is the 54th minute, and it’s the first time that the Bulls had been able to put Leinster under pressure pretty much the whole game,” Burger said on SuperSport.
“Harold Vorster says he scored it. I think we saw a ball down there. It doesn’t get awarded.
“Unfortunately, when you play in Ireland, you don’t get a lot going for yourself.”
Matfield agreed that the evidence appeared to show the try had been scored.
“Yeah, there I think that ball is over the line. I mean, you can see it, and TMO, that’s the only job we need [you] to do,” he said.
The Bulls were then denied again when Nortjé crossed, only for TMO Matteo Liperini to rule that centre Canan Moodie’s pass in the build-up had travelled forward.
“The TMO shouldn’t have got involved there,” Matfield said, arguing the footage did not provide a clear and obvious reason to overturn the on-field decision.
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Burger was even more outspoken.
“It goes to our point, but so much fiction has been written between TMOs and referees,” he said.
“’Definitely gone forward.’ It’s not definitely gone forward.
“On-field decision was a try, and we’ve got to find something over and above.
“That’s not a knock-on. It’s gone back at the back of the hand.”
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However, Burger admitted: “I don’t think it would have made any difference to the game,” as Leinster secured a 36-7 victory to defend their URC title.
Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Gallo Images
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Schalk Burger and Victor Matfield criticised two key decisions that went against the Vodacom Bulls in their 36-7 URC final defeat to Leinster at Croke Park.
The post Bok greats blast URC final officials’ ‘fiction’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
