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'Was the TMO in the toilet?': Legality of Eben Etzebeth's try under question
By Sam Smith
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth scored a crucial try for South Africa against England but the legality of his actions have come under the spotlight after a failure to review the try.
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A pivotal error by England lock Johnny Hill reversed a penalty in England’s favour, giving the visitors the chance to attack straight after the restart after an Owen Farrell penalty narrowed the gap to 17-6.
After pounding England’s line, the ball spilled out of the ruck after a contest by Maro Itoje. His rival lock Etzebeth scooped up the ball and dived over to score under the posts.
Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk kicked the conversion in swift fashion before any replays were looked at, glossing over how the ball was played by Etzebeth.
Former England flyhalf Andy Goode called out the incident on Twitter, joking that “Eddie Jones is currently making a Rassie video” after footage showed Etzebeth taking possession while still on the ground.
“It’s either the knock on or a penalty for playing the ball on the floor. Was the TMO in the toilet or the biscuit tin at that point?!” wrote Goode.
Eddie Jones is currently making a Rassie video about how Etzebeth’s try should never have been allowed. It’s either the knock on or a penalty for playing the ball on the floor. Was the TMO in the toilet or the biscuit tin at that point?! pic.twitter.com/GjhNEbUb6f
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) November 26, 2022
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Many other Twitter users spotted the illegality of Etzebeth playing the ball from the ground.
The Springbok lock had flown off his feet trying to clean out originally and was still on the floor when the ball came his way.
Another user called it “shambles” after picking up the ball after a potential knock on from Faf de Klerk.
did Etzebeth play the ball from the ground before his try? looked like it to me….
— MalarkyFreeZone (@padlnjones1) November 26, 2022
A dodgy enough looking try from Eben Etzebeth under the shadow of the posts and under the nose of the referee. There was no way he was on his feet to make a play on that loose ball. #bbcrugby
— Andrew Priestley (@A_Priestley89) November 26, 2022
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Gardner having a really good game, but he needed his TMO for that Etzebeth try. Whitehouse conveniently asleep and Faf takes the kick as quickly as he possibly can#ENGvRSA
— Astie Bolton (@AstieBolton) November 26, 2022
Etzebeth had a knee on the ground when he picked that up. No try. Pen England #ENGvRSA
— Ian Graham (@irgWR11) November 26, 2022
England very poor today, and against a depleted SA team. But surely Etzebeth played the ball in the ground for his try? He was on his arse when he took possession.
— Seamus dot (@J_eastbay) November 26, 2022
@rpetty80 @CharlieFelix @thedeadballarea was Etzebeth’s try actually a try? Didn’t he get the ball on the floor?
— Ar Dee (@0327Rob) November 26, 2022
Arendes was guilty of obstructing the England Fullback. Have a look at the replay. It looked pretty obvious, I couldn’t believe that it wasn’t picked up. The Etzebeth try was also a shambles. He was off his feet when he played the ball, which he got from a knock on by De Klerk.
— Alastair (@akinnear124) November 26, 2022
Frankly thought Gardner was awful as usual. Scrums were a shocking mess. England should’ve seen about 3 yellow cards by my count and in the same breath Etzebeth’s try shouldn’t have stood, but Boks should’ve had pen advantage for not rolling and killing the ball anyway.
— Rugbedia (@rugbedia) November 27, 2022
Am I going blind, or was Etzebeth on the ground when he got the ball for that try? #ENGvRSA #Rugby
— Ross B (@Rossinio) November 26, 2022
Gently surprised Arendse’s block on Steward not looked at. Fell squarely in the “he knows what he’s doing” category for me, Jim.
— Nick Heath (@nickheathsport) November 26, 2022
Etzebeth’s score was the second try of the match by the Springboks that came under the spotlight after suggests of an obstruction in the lead up to Kurt-Lee Arendse’s try.
The luck flowed the Springboks way in the week after Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus was banned for two matches after posting on social media about calls that went against South Africa in their losses to Ireland and France.
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber hailed it a ‘very special’ occasion after winning at Twickenham for the first time, and ending a losing run that extended back to 2014.
“We’ve had a couple of special results as a team, but this was the first win for Siya and I at Twickenham, so it’s very special to us,” said head coach Jacques Nienaber.
“The forwards were outstanding and created a good platform for our backs to attack, so all-in-all, it was a fantastic team effort.”
Captain Siya Kolisi was equally delighted to get the result for a ‘special’ group of players.
“Sometimes we take it for granted what a special environment one is in and the great coaching team we have,” said Kolisi.
“When we got together with most of this coaching team in 2018, we all bought into the plans and the synergy and the way we work together is really special in this group.”
Eben's try should have been disallowed, but there is no way on God's green earth that Steward is making that tackle on Willemse, regardless of where Arendse is.
Good to see that bad reffing calls affect other sets of fans around the world and it is not just a South African thing.
On the Slade try, I like the tradition in football where when a member of the opposition is down with an injury. you boot the ball out, stopping play. I guess thats why its called the "beautiful game" and if rugby were to adopt this it would be utopian but beautiful like the way the Irish supporters respect the kicker even when he is the opposition.
Sam Smith your article detracts from what is normally a useful site to go to for facts. What we have here is a bunch of unsubstantiated assertions made by keyboard warriors blinded by their anger that their team lost. Focus on why England lost - the poor discipline amongst the forwards (eg. Hill).The under performing back line that took 72 minutes to eventually score a try against 13 men.
This article lends credence to 17 test Goode stoking up a furor and a bunch of assertions that will go unchallenged - Faf took the conversion quickly to avoid Etsebeth's try being turned over - yeah right! You take a conversion quickly from in front of the posts to avoid it been charged down. If he had taken his time the keyboard warriors would anyway be accusing him of time wasting and denying England their 19 minute one man advantage. Angus Gardner was awful "as usual" - mate, here in NZ he is highly regarded and he is not even one of "us" - he is from across the ditch!
Rich coming from human porta-potty Andy Gooooode who loved rubbing AU noses in Raynal the Ruiner’s decision in the Rugby Championship. Keep that same energy, twitter toes 🤣
EE had a knee on the ground so should not have been a try. I am a Bok supporter. The standard of officiating is very poor and has been for a long time now which begs the question.... are matches predetermined?
The Etzebeth try should have been disallowed. Clearly and obviously a player on the ground (ie out if the game) intentionally playing the ball. It was also completely obvious that he was not on his feet. It was not a 50/50 call, and the ref/TMO plainly got it wrong. As relates to the England try: Player safety and fair contest should be top of mind in the case of disabling injury.
Ha, tell me you are a hypocrite without telling me.... South Africans have been telling you for weeks that the standard of refereeing needs to be addressed and most of you writers have just been calling them names. South Africans have told you it will eventually start costing you too although I don't England lost the game because of it.
So, are you prepared to start putting pressure on world rugby to improve the game for all of us or just write another article about how bad Rassie is?
32-12, 27-13. Pick one 😂
Haha, how amazing after hearing the bigot moralizes from England all week preach against the demon Rassie the calamitous.
Also, only try that should have been disallowed was England’s, who shouldn’t have been able to tap and go with a player clearly down injured and later carted off right in front of the line. But take your kicks, and enjoy your in the end meaningless 15 v. 13 try.