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Highlanders told by referees that Pita Gus Sowakula's try was illegal

(Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

It may have caught global attention in the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific, but Pita Gus Sowakula’s spectacular try for the Chiefs against the Highlanders last weekend should not have stood.

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That’s the verdict reached by New Zealand Rugby’s [NZR’s] referees, who have informed Highlanders head coach Tony Brown that the try was an illegal act that should have been classified as dangerous play.

Brown confirmed on Wednesday that the try, which saw Sowakula hurdle Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith to score in the left-hand corner, was now deemed by NZR as illegal after confusion reigned over whether the try should have been awarded.

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Earlier this week, NZR’s refereeing team conceded it was unsure of the legality of Sowakula’s actions, and had even sought clarification from World Rugby about the ruling, which resulted in the verdict that a penalty should have instead been called.

“I’ve had an email from the referees, who are saying that is now illegal. Dangerous play, I think, is the ruling, even though it’s not in the law, but it’s deemed as being dangerous now,” Brown told media.

Sowakula’s try was an admirable feat of athleticism from the Fijian No 8, of which is rarely seen in rugby union and more common in American football.

The leap left Smith, the Highlanders captain, grasping at thin air in an attempt to stop Sowakula, and that, Brown joked, was what frustrated him more than the incorrect ruling made by the officials.

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“No, no,” he said when asked if he was disappointed by the on-field ruling. “I’m more disappointed in Aaron Smith, really, so I’m not worried about what happened on the weekend. I’ll just make sure Aaron does his job.”

On Tuesday, former World Rugby referee Nigel Owens weighed in on the matter, posting on Twitter that Sowakula’s actions were “not defendable” as no defender can make a tackle on a player in the air, unless that player is in the act of scoring.

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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