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Watch: TMO howler helps Lions to first win over Mako in 12 years
While Tasman and Wellington played out a thrilling contest to the death that boasted a number of exceptional tries, it’s a howler by television match official Corey Eggers that has everyone talking following Wednesday night’s NPC clash in Nelson.
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Ruben Love was at his dangerous best in the fullback jersey for the Lions while the likes of Alex Nankivell and new Crusaders Macca Springer once again proved key figures for the Mako, but it was TMO Eggers who perhaps made the most memorable act of the evening.
Tasman – who entered the game with a somewhat disappointing 2-4 record following back-to-back-to-back grand finals – initially looked to have opened the scoring with a nicely worked try down the right-hand flank but the final pass was ruled forwards by Eggers. Wellington struck back 13 minutes later with a well-worked score of their own to left wing Connor Garden-Bachop – but when the try was referred to Eggers, it looked like there was a clear hand in touch from Garden-Bachop.
After three looks, however, Eggers ruled there was nothing wrong with the try, and Wellington were promptly awarded the five points.
The Sky Sports commentating team were perplexed with the call but former All Black Kane Hames was able to offer some insight.
“The TMO is sitting right next to me and I did have a chat to him,” Hames said. “He didn’t actually look at the left hand, he missed it. He’s just seen the replay again and he’s gutted. So there’s the explanation.”
Tasman might have some reason to feel aggrieved after this try 😬 Final score: Tasman 19 – 25 Wellington#TASvWEL #BunningsNPC pic.twitter.com/R6WpAz2CgY
— Tom Vinicombe (@TomVinicombe) September 7, 2022
The Mako and the Lions traded blows throughout the remainder of the game with Love setting up a beautiful try for the visiting side with his quick stepping, while a brilliant offload from Fijian Drua utility forward Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta saw Tasman’s Noah Hotham touch down for the final score of the game.
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While the Mako had a chance to win it at the death, it required them to run the ball out from the 22 and Wellington were ultimately awarded a penalty to secure the result, 25-19.
Although the NPC has taken somewhat of a backseat in recent weeks thanks to the ongoing Rugby Championship, fans’ interests were ignited by the fixture and they took to social media to express their incredulousness at Garden-Bachop’s try.
Referee. “On field try, we have a grounding, can you just check the touch line”
TMO has 3 looks.
Try. 😂😂 #TASvWEL pic.twitter.com/RnhWNM1bZ4— Mark Stafford (@stafnz) September 7, 2022
It has come to my attention that Wellington beat Tasman thanks to in part to this fucking howler from the TMO ha ha: pic.twitter.com/7bolN13eEj
— Jamie Wall (@JamieWall2) September 7, 2022
Hahaha NPC refereeing is completely amateur. TMO misses a clear hand in touch and the “sees” 20 seconds after the try is awarded. @BunningsNPC #BunningsNPC#TASvWEL pic.twitter.com/MsFVWCmD7G
— The Conductor (@BrendonWessels) September 7, 2022
The clear hand in touch the TMO ‘forgot to look at’ then the forward pass that was let go even though it was very similar to tasmans disallowed try earlier. Tasman getting hard done by tonight #BunningsNPC
— Ryan Gillatt (@Gillattsix) September 7, 2022
Both sides will again take the field this Sunday, with Tasman hosting Taranaki and Wellington hosting Otago.
Comments on RugbyPass
Yes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe 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?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 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!
5 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 …
34 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 comments