Two disallowed tries ensured the Western Force ended their South African tour fruitless on Saturday, with the Sharks winning their Super Rugby match 15-9 at Kings Park in Durban.
The Force were looking to shake off the heart-breaking, last-second loss to the Bulls in Pretoria after controlling the majority of that contest and again they took it right up to more fancied South African opponents.
The Force led 6-0 at half-time with two penalties courtesy of Sias Ebersohn, but a disallowed try to Ben McCalman and then another in the second half to Steve Mafi proved match-deciding.
The Sharks ran in two tries after the break courtesy of SP Marais and Lwazi Mvovo to secure the win despite the Force feeling as though they were the better performers.
The Perth-based franchise has now lost six straight matches since scoring a stirring opening-round victory against the defending champion Waratahs in Sydney.
Both teams missed early penalty attempts on Saturday with Frans Steyn struggling with the kicking duties on goal and in play in the absence of the rested Patrick Lambie.
The Force did lead 6-0 at half-time thanks to the boot of Ebersohn, but a disallowed try to McCalman when referee Nick Briant refused to declare the ball had touched the line denied the visitors a healthier advantage.
With Force captain Sam Wykes joining winger Marcel Brache in being ruled out of the game due to concussion, the Sharks got on top in the second half starting with a try to Marais just minutes into the half.
Then a stirring run returning a kick from Marais set up a try to Mvovo and that proved enough to win the game for the Sharks.
However, the Force were again denied a try despite Mafi crossing in style. McCalman was ruled to have caused obstruction and that only added to the pain for the visitors.
BOB
Guest
If you look carefully the ball when being placed touches a forces players leg who is involved in the ruck and is in front of the ball... which is offside anyway.
Lano
Roar Guru
The decision was an absolute shocker, here's why: Briant could have awarded the try but referred it to the TMO, Marius Jonker. Briant: “I just want to check that. I was going to give that. I just want to see if he’s grounded the ball without knocking-on. Can you tell me if a try has been scored, please.” Jonker: “Mate, there was no knock-on. It’s not clear from the evidence whether the ball was on the line so if you saw the ball on the line, you should go with your call but there’s certainly no knock-on.” Briant: “Are you comfortable with … it’s difficult for me to tell down here … that he’s actually on his feet when he picked the ball up or do you think he was playing the ball in the ruck?” Jonker: “Yeah, I’m comfortable with that, mate.” Briant: “But it’s inconclusive if it even got to the line?” Jonker: “Correct” Briant: “So we can’t have a try.” Ref was going to award the try subject to checking the knock-on. There was none.
AndyS
Guest
In fairness, I haven't seen him show any great enthusiasm for the idea and has consistently refused to sign up...
scrumpoacher
Guest
South Africans cost the Force the game. Ebersohn with his off boot and Steencamp was the obstructing player for the second try. McCalmans effort was a try all day long too. Fair play of the ball and it hit the chalk. Robbed and I hope Foley or the Force make a complaint...
Hoy
Roar Guru
What is scary, is Foley being touted as Wallaby forwards coach... this year, his forwards have gone backwards in set piece.
Mat
Guest
"Everyone" who has two eyes and can clearly see the ball on the line. And Mike is saying it wasn't a try because McCalman was off his feet, which WASN'T the TMO's determination. He had no problem with McCalman playing the ball, so Mike is wrong.
Mat
Guest
The first try was disallowed because the TMO determined there wasn't enough evidence to show if it had touched the line, which is complete bollocks as it was clear as day it had. He had no problem with McCalman playing the ball, and said as much to the on field ref. No one's disputing Mafi's disallowed try. McCalman simply boneheaded there.
DJW
Guest
The South African commentators even said it was a try. You know you have no argument when you have to pick on grammar. You must live a sad life if that is all you can offer.
MMaaxx
Guest
Sharks were so so so bad that I was hoping they would lose. What brainless and boring rugby. I am not sure what Gold has them doing at training during the week. They are still playing like it is their first game of the season. The first force try looked good to me and Jonker said that he could not see a reason not to award it and that if Briant thought it was good then to give it. So not sure why it wasn't given. Thankfully the Bulls Crusaders produced a cracker to wash the bad memories of this game away
Viv
Guest
"Jonker has proved himself bias" - is English your first language? There is not a single part of that sentence which is grammatically correct.....or ept, for that matter
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Who is "everyone"? You and a few of your mates? Or a handful of fellow posters who agree with you? Of the few comments on this page, an Aussie site, we even have Mike above who is stating it wasn't a try. And I agree with him. So not sure who "everyone" is .....? I lived in London in 2007 and an English work colleague told me he'd "argue until he was blue in the face that it was a try", referring to the foot in touch during the RWC final between Boks and England. "The eyes of the beholder....."
DJW
Guest
It was clearly a try. Everyone has said that. jonker has proved himself bias time and time again and Briant is simply inept
Mat
Guest
Absolutely robbed the McCalman try, even the typically one-eyed Saffa commentators had given it. But it didn't change the fact the Force are always battling to stay in games. They simply lack the attacking flair to lead from the front. 5 minutes to go and needing more than a converted try they still resort to kicking the ball away. And the sad truth is they aren't up to snuff when it comes to attacking the line, with too many mis-read passes and guys overrunning the line. And the scrum was absolutely deplorable, maybe now the Australian commentators will stop talking up the Force scrum, its been terrible all year. And it shouldn't be, there enough quality in that pack to threaten at scrum time.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
"Robbed" is in the eye of the beholder. Sharks fans would've felt "robbed" if he had given it, because it wasn't a try. Fined and demoted??? Get a grip. There've been plenty more terrible decisions made against SA teams in Australia and NZ..... "In the eyes of many beholders".
Roberts
Guest
Benefit of the doubt should go with the attacking side.. Maybe rugby should employ the try or no try ruling! I hate seeing teams done in by poor referring, I feel your pain!
Jack
Guest
The Force were robbed by referee when he looked for any reason to deny McCalman's try.This referee should be fined and demoted,this will possibly have an influence on the makeup of the teams to make finals,not good enough.
Mike
Guest
Both disallowances were completely correct. The first one actually the the force player was off his feet and as such could not play the ball anyway, which negates any further discussion on whether the ball touched they line. The second "try" was just blatant cheating by mcalman, cleaning out the sharks player off the ball and behind the ruck. Indeed the force looked the better team for the entire match, but lacked the finishing touch.