Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

'I think it should have been a penalty try'

By PA
Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli reacts during the European Rugby Champions Cup rugby union match between Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle) and Ulster Rugby. (Photo by XAVIER LEOTY / AFP) (Photo by XAVIER LEOTY/AFP via Getty Images)

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland was proud of his side’s efforts in their “heartbreaking” defeat to La Rochelle but felt they were denied what could have been a decisive penalty try in the low-scoring clash.

ADVERTISEMENT

Reigning champions La Rochelle snatched a dramatic 7-3 Heineken Champions Cup victory after replacement prop Joel Sclavi crashed over for a last-minute converted try at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

That consigned Ulster to a sixth defeat in their last seven games, including all three of their matches in the Heineken Champions Cup, but their battling performance in atrocious conditions in France has kept them in the hunt for a place in the last 16.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

To reach the knock-out stages they will have to beat Sale Sharks at the Kingspan Stadium in the final round of pool games.

McFarland said following the defeat: “It’s heartbreaking, but the bottom line is I was really proud of what they produced.

“We’ve lost a game right at the end, but the bottom line is they’re European champions for a reason – they won that game, I don’t think we lost it.”

“They won because when they needed to, they produced the goods. It was tough going and I thought we were excellent.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Ulster took the lead through Nathan Doak’s 63rd-minute penalty but McFarland feels they should already have been in front at that point.

He said: “I believe we should have had a penalty try when we were completely dominating them five metres from their line around 35 minutes. They got a yellow card.

“We had our moment when we were dominant and they offended so many times on those mauls that I think it should have been a penalty try.

“When they had theirs five metres out, they dominated enough to get the score and that was the difference.”

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

FEATURE
FEATURE Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby? Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?
Search