Aaron Smith scores the disallowed try in the World Cup final. Photo: PhotoSport.
Fans ridicule World Rugby, All Blacks for ‘disallowed try’ saga
South African social media users were not entertaining the suggestion that World Rugby had admitted to an officiating error in the final.
Aaron Smith scores the disallowed try in the World Cup final. Photo: PhotoSport.
In a rather strange story that made headlines around the rugby world on Tuesday, it was reported that the All Blacks had received an admission from World Rugby that at least one big officiating error was made during the World Cup final.
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A New Zealand based publication suggested that the game’s governing body had conceded that one disallowed try should have been awarded to the All Blacks, although no one was specifically quoted.
“Stuff understands World Rugby has privately acknowledged to the All Blacks that the ruling out of Aaron Smith’s try in the final was in fact outside the rules, but is refusing to publicly acknowledge that,” the report on reads.
“Discussions have been ongoing in an effort to get World Rugby to publicly clarify that the TMO ruling was a breach of the current rules governing the game. Smith’s disallowed try occurred in the 54th minute of the tense final at the Stade de France in Paris, following a brilliant break by Richie Mo’unga.
“It was called back when TMO Tom Foley spotted a knock-on at a lineout, and referee Wayne Barnes then disallowed the try.However, the knock-on happened four phases before the Smith try, despite the TMO only having the power to look back two phases for any knock-on in the buildup to a try.”
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However, such a report was quickly laughed off by South African social media users.
World Rugby have sent out a statement after the All Blacks ‘non-try’ story came to light
“As confirmed prior to Rugby World Cup 2023, World Rugby does not publicly comment on match official decisions. We stand by our outstanding match official team, who performing one of the hardest jobs in professional sport to an exceptional standard.
“As we have seen in recent months, sadly, criticism of match officials can have wide-ranging consequences, including online hate and threats, and we must be mindful of such a human impact.”
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