Ireland's Six Nations winning streak continued on Saturday, with a 31-7 victory over Wales at the Aviva Stadium.
While the scoreline was convincing, there are some Wales fans who feel the margin of defeat should have been smaller, after spotting what they feel should have been a second try for their team in the 75th minute.
With the score at 24-7 to Ireland, Wales were pinning Ireland back, looking for a score that would have boosted hopes of claiming a third losing bonus point of this year's Six Nations.
As they inched towards the try-line, Tommy Reffell and Mackenzie Martin appeared to dive for the ball, with Aaron Wainwright seemingly getting the final touch.
It looked like Wales had done enough but referee Andrea Piardi, who seemed to have a perfect view over the incident, could clearly be heard shouting "short," indicating that he was happy not to award a try.
Piardi doesn't award second Wales try
"The referee said it was short," said ITV commentator Miles Harrison said. "It looked like it might have clipped it, but again the referee was well-positioned. The best to see it, really."
Despite the referee's positioning, some Wales fans have questioned his decision, and feel that they should have come away from the Aviva with at least 12 points to their name.
"Was I seeing things or did Aaron Wainwright actually get the ball down on to the try line during that long pick-and-go passage in the second half?" posted rugby journalist Simon Thomas on Twitter.
Thomas added that by the time the referee said "short," the ball had already been over the line but had moved back.
"Referee said “short” but by then the ball had moved back after initially appearing to hit the line," he added. "It wouldn’t have changed the result, but would have been some reward for all the effort."
24 February 2024; Referee Andrea Piardi during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Wales at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Wales fans clutch at straws
Comments underneath Thomas' posts agreed with his theory, with some supporters lamenting the lack of TV replays of the incident.
Judging by the reaction of players on both sides though, it seems as though Wales fans are clutching at straws in the hope of finding some solace in defeat.
The referee was right there and had no reason not to award the try, if he did indeed deem the ball to have crossed the line.
After the incident, Tadhg Beirne added a fourth try for Ireland to secure a bonus point that could well prove pivotal come the end of the Six Nations.
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