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'Perfect example of how not to officiate': Countless questions raised following perplexing TMO call

(Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)

We’re just five games into the new season of Super Rugby Aotearoa and we’ve perhaps already witnessed the most egregious TMO decision of the tournament.

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In Saturday night’s clash between the Crusaders and the Chiefs, the match was poised on a knife’s edge early in the second half with the home side holding a narrow 11-10 lead.

Despite the Chiefs scoring first through Damian McKenzie, the Crusaders had fought their way back into the game through a combination of an incredibly dominant scrum and some fine work by the silky backs – including one exceptional finish by 21-year-old Leicester Fainga’anuku.

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McCaw and crew crossed the finish line in the adventure race in Rotorua, NZ after completing the 666 kilometre expedition in 5 days, 7 hours and 25 minutes.

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McCaw and crew crossed the finish line in the adventure race in Rotorua, NZ after completing the 666 kilometre expedition in 5 days, 7 hours and 25 minutes.

There was a sense that once the Crusaders were able to build up some steam, the red and black machine would keep chugging and a victory would be inevitable. In all likelihood, they would have managed to generate that momentum themselves but come the 44th minute of the match, the Television Match Official seemingly took things into his own hands.

Crusaders No 10 Richie Mo’unga – arguably the best performer on the night – made a break down the field and was eventually wrangled in by Chiefs halfback Brad Weber.

Mo’unga attempted to offload the ball but had his right hand slapped by Weber in the process, causing the attempted pass to shoot forwards.

From the pick-up, the Crusaders were eventually able to work themselves into a try-scoring position and Fainga’anuku almost barrelled over the line for his second of the night but was stopped short thanks to a tackle from a clearly off-side Weber.

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Referee James Doleman blew his whistle and was quickly approached by Chiefs co-captain Sam Cane, who challenged the Mo’unga offload.

A captain’s challenge, introduced for this year’s competition, allows a team to ask for a reassessment of a refereeing decision. Each side is allowed just one per match (the rules go out the door in the 75th minute, however), which has introduced some extra strategy into the game for 2021.

While TMO Paul Williams looked at the incident, he appeared to consider just one angle of the tackle and quickly confirmed to Doleman that the right decision had been made.

Further angles, however, clearly showed that Weber had not touched the ball.

Following the decision, Weber was sent from the field for his off-side play and the Crusaders were awarded a penalty try, taking the score out to 18-11. Shortly before Weber returned to the field, Will Jordan touched down to hand the Crusaders a sizeable 25-10 lead.

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The Crusaders went on to win the match 39-17.

Following the game, Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan appeared bemused by the decision.

“I thought it was a pretty good challenge, to be fair,’’ McMillan said.

“It didn’t look, from the angle that we had, that Brad got a hand to the ball. I guess the ball definitely propelled forward but the decision was made that it came off one of our players.”

The decision was widely panned on social media.

The way the match was heading, it’s hard to envisage that even without the dodgy call, the Chiefs would have been able to end their 10-match losing streak.

Prior to Weber’s tackle, a Chiefs player also clearly held back a supporting Crusaders runner – so the Crusaders would have likely had a penalty to play with regardless.

Still, with the Chiefs having received apologies last year for some poor refereeing decisions that potentially cost them matches, it’s not a good look for the competition.

“In big moments, we’ve got the TMO for a reason,” Midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown told Newstalk ZB last year following a loss to the Blues that included a last-minute contentious call that was not referred to the video ref.

“We’ve been on the wrong side of a lot of calls this whole year and when it counted, when we needed it, why not go upstairs? I was a little bit frustrated. In a massive moment, I think we’ve got to use the TMO.”

Using the TMO obviously didn’t help on Saturday, however, and the Chiefs will be left wondering what more they need to do to have a bit of luck go their way.

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R
RedWarrior 32 minutes ago
Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland

Foster was literally whinging about the TMO in the Ireland series in the presser AFTER the RWC final. NZs whinging about the final itself was apparently picked up by Voyager 2 which was near the asteroid belt. What about the whingefest and crybabies after O'Mahony's legendary sledge (during the match) on Sam Cane?


I often hear talk about NZ players being poisoned or similar nonsense during the 1995 final. NZ boast that they are 'superstars' and 'humble heroes' on their own website. You gave England the same treatment in 2002-2003, calling them arrogant just because they beat you. They told the rest of us then what you were like, we should have listened. I would give as much credence to a NZ supporter disliking us, as I would to Krusty the clown saying the same thing. Let's just say your judgement may not be the best.


Regarding 2016, as the referee had basically let NZ away with cheating their way to victory via filthy dangerous play and fouling he was hardly going to pull Sexton up when clearly trying to stop a grounding. NZ always leave the boot or arm in to hurt a try scorer but that seems to be invisible to you entitles lot.


BTW NZ have literally being whinging and crying about Ireland since Soldier field. You are just very bad losers. We will be delighted to be shot of you on Friday. I hope we do so with a win, so that you rethink your philosophy of mocking opponents and spectators you've just beaten.


After the match last Saturday the internet was full of Kiwi supporters basically abusing English folk. Where is your national honour? Where is your national integrity?

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