The no-try call against the Chiefs that's left everyone baffled except for the TMO
There were tense scenes in the closing stages of the Chiefs’ 19-13 victory over the Reds at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Friday as the hosts repelled wave after wave of Queensland attack on their own tryline in hope of preserving the scoreline for a much-needed win.
Although they managed to hold out the visitors, their job could have been made a lot easier had a try early in the first half been awarded to young Chiefs wing Etene Nanai-Seturo.
The 19-year-old looked to have scored in the left-hand corner inside the opening six minutes despite the best defensive efforts of Reds fullback Matt McGahan and openside flanker Liam Wright.
Many, including television commentators Rikki Swannell, Willie Lose and Richard Turner, were convinced that the teenage prodigy had dotted down to open the scoring for the match, but after referee Angus Gardner consulted with television match official Glenn Newman, the play was ruled as a ‘no-try’ due to a knock on.
Gardner’s on-field decision was ‘try’, meaning Newman had to find a ‘clear and obvious’ reason to overturn the original decision.
Replays at normal speed appeared to show that Nanai-Seturo had grounded the ball, but as Newman slowed replays down to a frame-by-frame motion, a slight gap between the ball and Nanai-Seturo’s grasp was evident.
Consequently, Newman told Gardner to overturn his decision, leaving the Chiefs, commentators and the majority of the Waikato Stadium crowd stunned at the decision.
It is believed that Newman watched replays of the play from a different angle from what was broadcasted both on TV and on the big screen at Waikato Stadium, but a failure to show that angle to spectators, commentators and players alike left many in disbelief at the decision.
“I didn’t see it [the separation], did you?” Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper said post-match, with skipper Sam Cane expressing similar sentiments.
“I literally just took one glance and thought ‘try time’,” he said.
“We jogged back, we talked about we were going to do from the next kickoff. I haven’t seen it again, to be honest, so hard to comment.”
Cooper, who had expressed concerns for inconsistencies shown by TMOs earlier in the week, and Cane weren’t the only ones perplexed by the controversial call, with many taking to Twitter to vent their confusion.
Apparently Etene Nanai-Seturo dropped the ball… ummm ok? #CHIvRED
— Michael Pulman ????? (@realmikepulman) May 24, 2019
No Chiefs try ???? Kidding me #CHIvRED
— Darryl Anderson ?? (@DAprNZ) May 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/shaunnzht/status/1131828160910188545
https://twitter.com/bastardsheep/status/1131828209568239616
https://twitter.com/jordii_dana/status/1131828289226432512
That is the worst TMO call I’ve EVER seen #CHIvRED
— Ryan Bradley (@ryanhowaya) May 24, 2019
This TMO ?. You tripping bruh! #CHIvRED
— J-Hass (@jndegz) May 24, 2019
Chiefs just got dudded ?#SuperRugby #CHIvRED
— Qwine (@Qwine) May 24, 2019
That’s a shocking TMO decision. It was a try every day of the week. #CHIvRED
— Tony Stuart (@TonyStuart55) May 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/Maroelab00m/status/1131828478310060032
How the hell is that deemed a knock on. Ffs, we had a whole week where shit like shit have been spoken about. The game is not played in slow motion you f-ing idiot!!!! These useless officials are killing the game, just killing it. What a joke. #CHIvRED
— ItDoesntMATAwhatyouthink (@RooiKoosUTD) May 24, 2019
Reds head coach Brad Thorn held a different view to most, however, as he commended the refereeing of the under-fire officials.
“We had two disallowed in the first half, one where Sam [Cane] basically dragged our guy over the tryline. But I’m happy, those guys do a tough job every week. I think they’re doing a good job there,” he said.
“Like I keep saying, it’s a tough old gig, the crowd doesn’t usually cheer for the referees. A lot of people critique it, how about having a go at it first and then see how it goes.”
Nevertheless, the Chiefs had the last laugh, with their victory moving them up to 10th spot, just two points shy of a play-offs spot, while the Reds remain in 14th place, five points off the pace of the top eight.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments