Controversy surrounded the ending to Ulster’s URC loss to Stormers on Saturday. In the 78th minute, replacement loosehead Callum Reid looked as if he had won the game for Ulster with a try to put them 25-23 in front.
However, while Billy Burns was about to take the conversion, the TMO asked the referee to have another look at the score, and after a lengthy deliberation the try was disallowed and a scrum was awarded to the Stormers for an Ulster knock-on.
Speaking on Final Whistle, a segment from South African TV channel Super Sport, the URC’s head of match officials Tappe Henning explained why the try should have stood.
His reasoning was that because there was no conclusive evidence that a knock-on had occurred, then the referee’s original decision ought to have been upheld.
“What’s hugely important here is the referee has awarded a try, and it is during the process of the conversion kick that there’s additional information now visible.
“So now we’re looking for an infringement to overturn the referee’s original decision of try. There was no conclusive evidence there was an infringement of a knock-on, so the original decision (should) stand.
“That’s the important bit: there has to be conclusive evidence that the ball goes from his hand forward to overturn the on-field decision and that’s not there. So it’s a try.
“The first bit, that the on-field decision was a try, was hugely important. In the process they followed, they did not revisit the fact that the on-field decision was a try, which meant they needed conclusive evidence to overturn, and that was not there.”
The rest of the clip with Henning gives a valuable first-hand look at how officials deal with referees who have made errors, and the dangers of being overly microscopic when adjudicating matches.
Henning's insight into rugby refereeing is similar to the Nigel Owens series which we have written about previously.
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland was clearly hurt by decision and felt that his players had performed well enough to have earned four points.
Following the match he said that, “In my head we've won that game. It is what it is. We'll move on. We don't have the four points that go with winning a game."
The loss still leaves Ulster in a strong position in the table. They lie in second place, five points behind Leinster and three points above third placed Munster.
They face the Bulls this Saturday as they continue their URC tour of South Africa.
See Also: Leinster Look Set To Sign Former All-Black Centre This Summer
