Stormers coach John Dobson rued missed opportunities and a controversial late decision after his side’s agonising 28-27 Investec Champions Cup last-16 defeat at the Stade Mayol.
Despite trailing late, the Stormers fought their way back into contention, only to be denied at the death – a moment that left Dobson visibly frustrated.
“I was very impressed with the fight. We needed to score twice with eight minutes to go, and we should never have been in that position,” he said.
REPORT: Toulon break Stormers’ hearts
A yellow card and a penalty from a cynical infringement at the maul awarded to the Stormers by referee Christophe Ridley, rather than a penalty try, left many stunned and confused.
The decisive flashpoint, however, came in the closing stages, when the visitors were held up over the line following a TMO review – a call Dobson believes should have gone the other way.
“We had to adapt to some EPCR interpretations. In the URC – which is obviously our day job – when you run into the maul like that and it gets brought down, it’s clearly a penalty try. But not in the EPCR.
“Obviously a bit frustrated at the end there. Once it goes to the TMO then maybe you can’t see the grounding and the on-field decision for some reason is ‘no try’.
“What’s frustrating for us is that [Toulon flank Charles] Ollivan is clearly inside the field of play on the ground. I believe Adré [Smith] got it down but I don’t understand why it wasn’t awarded. A very frustrating way for the game to end.”
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While the Stormers were left gutted, Dobson took encouragement from the character his side showed at one of Europe’s toughest venues.
“We would’ve loved to have won this game at one of the cathedrals of rugby, but we were maybe not quite good enough in some areas,” he said.
“We didn’t get our usual scrum dominance and it just seemed to be a bit more of a mess. But our players mustn’t lose heart – it was still a very good performance. Now we have to focus on the URC.”
PLAY: Investec Champions Cup game centre
The second-placed Stormers face Connacht, Glasgow (both home), Ulster and Cardiff (both away) in their last four league matches of the URC.
Photo: Federico Pestellini/INPHO
The post Dobbo fumes over ‘frustrating’ ref calls appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Stormers coach John Dobson rued missed opportunities and a controversial late decision after his side’s agonising 28-27 Investec Champions Cup last-16 defeat at the Stade Mayol.
The post Dobbo fumes over ‘frustrating’ ref calls appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
