It's fair to say that there's a lot of laws in rugby. It's a complex sport where even the supposed 'experts' get stuff wrong and there's always loopholes to be found in them. However it's rare to see a player unknowingly commit a foul that costs their team the match.
Well that's what happened this morning the Brumbies hosted the Crusaders in round 12 of Super Rugby Pacific and it was a very exciting contest for the crowd in Canberra as both team were tied 24-24 as the clock went red.
With the last kick of the game Brumbies and Wallabies fly-half Noah Lolesio had a penalty to win the game from out on the touchline. The kick hit the post and the ball bounced in the in-goal area.
Brumbies sub scrum-half Harrison Goddard chased down the kick before Crisaders' lock Quinten Strange slapped the ball out past the dead ball line just before Goddard got to the ball.
Then in a moment of sheer disbelief for the Crusaders referee Ben O'Keefe went to his TMO to see whether Strange deliberately slapped the ball out. O'Keefe and the TMO agreed that Strange deliberately committed the offence he was given a yellow card and the Brumbies were sensationally awarded a penalty try to win the match 31-24.
UNBELIEVABLE 😱 It’s deliberately knocked dead by the Crusaders, penalty try to the Brumbies and they win!
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You can tell that Strange had no clue what he did was going to cost his team the match, looking surprised when O'Keefe told him it will be a penalty try. It's an awful way to lose a match for the Crusaders, who are languishing down in 10th place as they are going through a period of transition under former Munster Head Coach Rob Penney. The win brings the Brumbies up to third in the table as Super Rugby Pacific heads towards the playoffs next month.
Quinten Strange for sure won't do that again and that's why it's always good to know the laws inside and out.
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