Second time in three seasons that the Springboks were done in by the same move.
South Africa should have had their Rugby Championship match with New Zealand in the bag by the time Richie McCaw steamed over for a controversial, matchwinning try.
The All Blacks captain backed away from their attacking line-out and. Hooker Codie Taylor looked set to find Kieran Read as he was hauled into the air, slightly earlier than the rules state is legal.
Instead, McCaw set off and clutched the throw before heaving Ruan Pienaar out of the way to score.
https://youtu.be/P55a5qjFYtE
Unsurprisingly, given that they lost another nail-biter against the ABs, South Africans are up in arms.
Columnists across the rainbow nation have been grumbling about the try ever since the final whistle sounded defeat for their team. Retired referee Jonathan Kaplan agreed with them.
Here are the two bones of contention:
- Law 19.9(a): The lineout begins when the ball leaves the hands of the player throwing it in.
- Law 19.10(f): A player must not jump or be lifted or supported before the ball has left the hands of the player throwing in.
However, as Rugby Heaven point out, South African hooker Bismarck du Plessis was also in an offside position, in defence.
While the play should have been referred to the TMO, South Africa can have little cause for complaint as they should have finished off their opponents by that stage. AND they have conceded a try like this before.
In 2013, Samoa’s Junior Poluleuligaga scored a 70th minute try in similar circumstances against the Boks.
Once bitten, twice… bitten.
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