Melbourne Rebels coach Dave Wessels was bemused by the decision to penalise Waratahs winger Curtis Rona for a no arms tackle on Marika Koroibete, yet not award the home team a penalty try.
Koroibete was hurtling down the left wing yet was prevented from scoring what would have been the Rebels first try of the night by Rona.
The Rebels went close from their resulting possessions, but ultimately failed to score a try in the first half before going down by five points.
Wessels was adamant Koroibete would have got over the line if not for the tackle and struggled to understand why it did not at least lead to a card for Rona.
“Marika was going to score. 100 per cent he was going to score,” Wessels said.
“Those moments change the game.”
The defeat is the fifth the Rebels have suffered from their last seven matches.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
But that’s the point, it was worthy of a penalty. A penalty in the act of preventing a try. If the penalised player is removed from the play, is a try scored? Ain’t no way Hooper was stopping MK, and you can’t include Rona doing a legal tackle as he is removed from the play. The act itself isn’t that bad, but it directly stopped a certain try.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
And the further out he slides from, the further sideways he is pushed before he hits the line if Rona tackles him... He can slide 100m out. The point is what he’d have to do to try to ensure a certain try.
Jacko
Guest
he could of easily started to dive from 5 metres out. The guys were sliding for a lot longer than the 2-3 metres he would have needed. You were clearly looking thru your Rebel shaded glasses you purchased at the beginning of this season because BT rested a player during a trial.
jacko
Guest
Yeah and it was a very minor shoulder charge so worthy of a penalty and nothing further
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
If you read my comment that he responded to, you'd see it all laid out for you.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Nothing at all to say about the rest of Paul's reply TWAS ?? Rub of the green went both ways in my opinion.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Well, he got penalised for a shoulder charge so?
Ex force fan
Guest
https://laws.worldrugby.org/?domain=9&guideline=13 There is a nice flow chart that may help explain when it is a penalty and when it is a card.... I think this would be classified as a shoulder charge with mitigating circumstances.
Jacko
Guest
There was at least 1 arm in the tackle so this "No arm tackle" claim is BS. If anything is being questioned its whether its a shoulder charge or not a shoulder charge.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He’s not going to dive from over 5 out. To try and avoid Rona on the outside, he has to go closer to touch. Meaning less impact from Rona is needed to drive him out. The other “clear point” is completely irrelevant. You aren’t allowed to tuck one arm and shoulder charge if you wrap the trailing arm after. And it’s never been the case either.
Jacko
Guest
thats the point.....Its difficult to tackle a man diving straight to ground and sliding the last 3 mtrs....Almost impossible in fact.....The other very clear point is that Rona very much had his right arm in the tackle.
Kick n Clap
Guest
Wish he’d pull his Red Card for Super Rugby in Australia. That said I don’t want say being in the RED too loudly. I don’t want offend the Rebels or the ARU!!
Chris Bailey
Guest
If you add to that the try that Tom English should have scored after a behind the back pass form Cooper, any to be called back for a penalty instead of letting play continue with advantage being paid go the Rebels... but one team was in light blue and they need to look good ahead of Wallaby selections.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Williams, the ref, seems very reluctant to give out cards, he's only given one out all season I think. Maybe he's trying to keep a low profile after his mate Seconds (in the same ref pod) making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Unless Rona tackles him into touch...
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Yea, the excuse that MK changed the timing of contact seems to overlook that, Rona had his arm cocked for impact, you don't run like that. Bracing for impact makes no sense either as the aim would have been to make contact anyway, Rona knew how he wanted to collide and that was with the shoulder to push him into touch, that was the only way you could stop him getting to the line.
Jacko
Guest
Korobieti should have been sent off for bombing a certain try. If he runs straight for the corner and dives in from 3m out he scores. But he decides to sidestep his imaginary friend and head for Rona. The same thing happened in a Chiefs game recently without even a penalty awarded to the attacking side. The Foley in the air was more likely to concede a card but I agree with that ruling as well.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Actually they've been playing hard all year, no one has run away from them. No one. They just aren't very good, trying to play to last year's game plan but without the cattle.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
100% this should have been a penalty try AND yellow card at least - possibly a red card offence. And I'm no Rebels fan. This bad Ref error probably decided the result.
Crash Ball2
Roar Rookie
A ball carrier never dictates his defenders tackle technique. His line into contact has no bearing on the foul play law. Whatever collision Rona was “preparing for”, matters not because the one he actually executed was a no arms tackle and this single interaction stopped a certain try. Penalty try. Yellow card.