While Ireland can have no complaints about the result in their 27-20 loss to South Africa this evening, the outcome of the game could have been a different one had a couple of key decisions gone their way over the course of the match.
The Springboks were full value for their victory, being the more dominant side for large stretches of the contest. Barring the late tries from the visitors when the game was petering out, they put in a remarkable defensive display.
Of course, Ireland may well point out that a couple of very close refereeing decisions had a big say on the result.
James Lowe had a try controversially disallowed after a supposed infringement from Ronan Kelleher in the ruck, while there was also a lengthy TMO check after Cheslin Kolbe's game-sealing try late on.
Can't believe they took this one off James Lowe, sickener! #RSAvIRE pic.twitter.com/qMmLTO71TI
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 6, 2024
In the end, they proved to be decisive calls.
READ HERE: Rory Best Not Impressed With Officials' Handling Of Disallowed James Lowe Try
Andy Farrell Makes Feelings Known On TMO Calls Vs South Africa
Some people felt that Ireland were a bit hard done by with some decisions in this game, with Rory Best among those to question the call to disallow the Lowe try.
Andy Farrell will be hoping that his side a refereed a bit more favourably in next week's second test, a point they will be keen to get across ahead of that fixture.
Speaking after today's match, he said that his side would 'go through the right channels' in order to air their grievances about the calls that went against them in the loss to South Africa.
It’s not for me to say but I saw quite a few of them live and they had a dubious thought about it but anyway, that’s life.
We will go through the right channels and make sure we do things properly as far as those things are concerned. You’ll make of it what you want. We have to go through the right channels. Unlucky, lucky, that’s the game as well...
You’ll make your own decision on whether he still had the ball in his right hand or whether the ball hit him as he threw it back into field and his foot was in touch. That’s for us all to debate. It is what it is, that is the sport, it’s difficult to referee.
You just want consistency, that’s all. Sometimes it’s goes for you and sometimes it doesn’t. You’ll make your own decision on the Craig thing.
South Africa's track record in recent years would suggest that they would certainly make their case if they felt they were harshly refereed in a big test game, with Ireland set to do the same, albeit by official channels.
It will be interesting to see if that impacts the officiating in next week's second test.
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