Former Lions captain criticises Jonker's TMO decision

Two former British and Irish Lions - including former Lions captain Sam Warburton - have come out and criticised television match official Marius Jonker’s decision not to award Willie le Roux a try in the first test between the Springboks and Lions on Saturday.

Warburton and former Lions flyhalf Stuart Barnes both appeared on The Times’ Ruck podcast this week discussing the first test, which the Lions won, and both said Jonker had got it “100% wrong.”

The controversial decision, as well as a yellow card that should have been awarded against flanker Hamish Watson for a tip tackle on Le Roux, remain the contentious points of the first test.

Barnes said that Lions coach Warren Gatland “put just enough pressure on Jonker” with his comments on the TMO decisions in the week to influence the outcome of the tough decisions in the test.

“Warren Gatland played it well, he put just enough pressure on Jonker in the week. I don’t think there is any doubt that Marius Jonker wanted to be objective,” Barnes said.

“But I think when you are from one of the countries involved in something as big as this, he was always going to bend over backwards - not to help South Africa, but to convince the entire rugby world that he was neutral.

Barnes added that the wording of the referee Nic Berry - in saying the on-field decision was a try - was what swayed his view on the decision, and he agreed with Warburton that it should have been a try.

“It is all in the words of it. Had the official said “I’m not sure, can I award a try?” You would have said no. But when the ref says “I think it is a try, there is absolutely no defining evidence against it. It was an utterly erroneous error, because of the speech. He had to say there is no defining evidence. Sam is 100% right and I’m afraid Jonker was 100% wrong. He did it because he wanted to prove to the world he wasn’t a biased South African and I feel sorry for him. “

Warburton had earlier agreed that it was a try, and said it was a “pivotal” moment that changed the match.

“This is where we can’t get carried away. The Lions finished the game stronger and in the A game it was very similar. But there were moments in that game that (were controversial). The on field decision was that there was a try. For that to be overturned you had to have significant evidence that it wasn’t. I don’t think there was significant evidence.

“To me he was bang in line and I would have awarded the try. If someone said to me Sam, you have to make this call now, I would say I don’t think there is enough evidence he is offside. I would award the try.

“And that could completely change the game. So even though I thought the Lions were deserved winners of the game, that one moment could be pivotal. I wouldn’t say that the De Allende try was controversial because it was an obvious knock from (Cheslin) Kolbe, but we’re looking at two significant moments in the game. That was one of them - I think that should have been a try to South Africa.

“I also thought Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar’s decision to go for the corner in the 44th minute and not take the points - where they got the lineout try was a massive moment.

“But if I was South African I would feel very frustrated.”

Warburton added that he still thought the best team won on the day.

“It’s massive that they won the first test. In the test series I can remember, the Lions have only come back once in 100 years from losing the first test. With South Africa only likely to get better given their lack of game time together, if they lost the first game, it would be very difficult to come back from there.

“I loved the game, it was really nip and tuck...it was a proper test match and just about the best team won on the day.