When is a try not a try and then a try again?
Well, when the referee believes it is, and the TMO disagrees.
That’s the bizarre set of circumstances that took place in the opening try for the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday as Willie le Roux scored for the home side against Zebre Parma.
The try came from a Canan Moodie break, where the Bok utility back passed inside - but the ball looked to have gone forward out of his hands, missed Jan-Hendrik Wessels and was picked up one-handed by Le Roux, who went to score.
The TMO flagged what he believed was a forward pass, and Ben Whitehouse, the referee, without a television replay on the big screen, accepted his view.
But as the conversion was being lined up, it popped onto the big screen and Whitehouse asked for another view, then overruled the referee and awarded the try.
Should it have been awarded? Should the TMO have made the decision and not the referee? This is a talking point all around.
NOT THE ONLY TRY THAT WAS CONTROVERSIAL
In the Fidelity Securedrive Lions' loss to Leinster, two incidents caused debate - and both made a huge difference to the game.
First of all Erich Cronje tackled Luke McGrath with the ball, and the scrumhalf dropped it, with Siba Mahashe picking up and running 60 metres to score an exceptional try.
Then the TMO intervened and the discussion was whether Cronje was bound at the ruck, and therefore offside? Holly Davidson took the TMO’s word for it and disallowed the try, although it took more than five minutes to get to the decision.
Was it clear and obvious? Definitely not, and an argument could be made both ways. The Lions will feel it was a try. Leinster will feel she got it right.
But to make matters worse, a few minutes later Davidson didn’t consult the TMO when Tom Clarkson had “scored” and awarded the try. Clarkson was busy shuffling the ball back to his pack, an indication he didn’t think he scored and a replay showed he had placed it on a Lions’ player’s arm, not dotting down.
But Davidson was convinced, and no TMO relook was asked for. Two minutes, and a 12-point swing. Again, without the replays, it was almost impossible to know who was right.
Either way, it will be debated for months to come.