Scotland 'Robbed' In Australia RWC Quarter Final

Publish Date
Monday, 19 October 2015, 7:25AM
Image: Getty

Image: Getty

The decision by referee Craig Joubert not to use the TMO appears to have denied Scotland a famous quarter-final win over Australia at the Rugby World Cup.

The South African referee awarded an offside penalty against Scotland in the final minute when the ball bounced forward off the shoulder of Scotland reserve Josh Strauss and was then handled by teammate Jon Welsh.

Bernard Foley slotted the penalty to secure a 35-34 win and booked Australia a semifinal clash with Argentina.

 

However, replays of the incident look to show that the ball didn't touch Strauss at all and that it came off the arm of Australian reserve halfback Nick Phipps.

If Joubert had gone to the TMO the penalty could have been over-ruled and Scotland would have held a two-point lead with less than a minute to play.

Scottish rugby legend Gavin Hastings has led the criticisms of Joubert. Hastings tweeted: "If I see referee Craig Joubert again I am going to tell him how disgusted I am. It was disgraceful that he ran off the pitch like that at the end. The referee is not expected to make the right decision al the time. That's what the TMO system is in place for. This is the quarter-final of a rugby World Cup. This is the highest end of our sport and they have to get these decisions right."

A bitterly disappointed captain Greig Laidlaw said: "They go to the TMO for everything else...why not go for the TMO for that?"

Australian coach Michael Cheika thought it was the right call.

"It's a penalty and that's the way it works," he said.

"It works both ways in all games and that's life. You've still got to kick it once you get it."

- NZ Herald

 

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