'Both players going a million miles an hour': Why Rieko Ioane's no try was an 'utter farce' of a decision
Fans have taken to Twitter to take aim at what has been described as an “utter farce” of a decision to not award Blues centre Rieko Ioane a try due to a dubious forward pass call made by his brother Akira during their side’s win over the Highlanders on Sunday.
The movement started from a turnover near their own goal line, where the Blues decided to counter-attack from in front of their goal posts. Second-five Harry Plummer found Akira on the edge and the older brother put the foot down.
Jostling with Highlanders’ first-five Josh Ioane, Akira broke through the high tackle to burst away down the sideline. Around the halfway mark, with Highlanders defenders surrounding him on all sides, the No 6 fired a wild long pass in field where Rieko was there to haul it in.
In open field, the midfielder veered left and used his speed to burn away from the cover tackle of wing Ngane Punivai to ignite the Eden Park crowd.
If you didn’t know Rieko Ioane will always be my favourite player in the world underrated. pic.twitter.com/Z061CqwLrR
— Charles Rylands (@Charlesrylands7) March 14, 2021
The try was a breathtaking play that would have put the Blues up 22-7 after having already scored two well-worked tries, of which Rieko had set up.
A deflating TMO decision to disallow the try left many pundits unhappy, though, as it was ruled that Akira’s pass at the halfway mark had travelled forward.
The ball had been released from Akira’s grasp at the halfway line and looked to go backwards out of his hands, but Rieko ended up catching the ball at the Highlanders’ 10 metre mark.
Many were aggrieved by the decision, including Irish journalist Andy McGeady, who highlighted that the momentum of players moving can take a pass forward even if the ball has been released backwards out of the hands.
In instances like Ioane’s, he believed the try should have stood and the decision to disallow it was “depressing” for the game.
Catching up with Blues game. That try ruled out for a forward pass from Akira to Rieko Ioane is an utter farce.
Both players are going a million miles an hour. It's a 20 yard pass at full tilt.
Akira is looking back.
The ball was pointing back.
Momentum FFS!!!!!
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) March 14, 2021
I mean look at it. THIS IS EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO SEE. Smart, heads up play to notice the overlap. Smart ball to get it to Akira, quickly. Power and pace. Then *fantastic* skill to pass like that, and a tremendous finish.
What did the TMO *think* he saw?
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) March 14, 2021
New Zealand journalist Liam Napier also doubted the merits of the not try decision, highlighting that the same TMO Paul Williams made the error in awarding Leicester Fainga’anuku’s try the night before in Christchurch despite a foot that grazed the grass outside the field of play.
Back out of the hands, no? #BLUvHIG
— Liam Napier (@liamnapiernz) March 14, 2021
Just like players, it’s important referees are accountable for their performance. Paul Williams made three wrong decisions in two games this weekend (Fainga’anuku try, Weber yellow card + penalty try, Akira Ioane pass). Teams and fans are right to expect much better.
— Liam Napier (@liamnapiernz) March 14, 2021
One of the worst tmo decisions I’ve ever seen. That wasn’t even close. So clearly backwards out the hands. TMO doesn’t understand the law, that’s the only explanation.
— Egg (@ScorchShredz) March 14, 2021
World Rugby’s Laws have a simplistic outlook on what determines a forward pass, as Law 11.6 states: “A throw forward may occur anywhere in the playing area”.
Law 11.7, the only other law regarding forward passes, states: “A player must not intentionally throw or pass the ball forward.”
A lack of definitive clarification on what determines a forward pass could be attributed to why Ioane’s forward pass was called and why many onlookers disagree with Williams’ call.
While there is no law that suggests that the ball being released backwards from the hands should override a forward pass call, World Rugby – formerly the IRB – themselves debunked the debate in 2011 in a video posted to their YouTube channel.
The video shows how passes that would normally look fine to the naked eye technically travel forward in relation to the ground, but shouldn’t be called a forward pass as the the ball forward because of the momentum of an attacking player.
In the video, the narrator outlines that “the referee must judge a forward pass purely on the passing action of the passer and not be influenced by the movement of the ball relative to the ground.”
Many have argued that reasoning should have been applied to Akira’s pass. Although the decision to rule out the try didn’t cost the Blues in the end, who ran away 39-17 winners, it did rob fans and spectators of the moment for Rieko.
However, the slew of questionable TMO calls over the weekend suggest fans could lose confidence in the standard of refereeing as the competition enters a round of pivotal match-ups which could be close games.
The Hurricanes host the Chiefs in a battle of the winless teams while the Blues host the Crusaders in a blockbuster at Eden Park.
Comments on RugbyPass
Crusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
1 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
2 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
11 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
11 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
11 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
11 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to comments