Despite their victory (16-20), the Blues came very close to defeat on Saturday in Scotland. But after more than four minutes of waiting, the referee, Nic Berry, did not validate the try which could have given victory to the XV du Chardon.
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Everything could have collapsed for the Blues. After another ball lost in their 22 meters, the French suffered a final Scottish action in front of their in-goal, concluded by a charge from Sam Skinner in the in-goal (80th + 1). After 4 minutes 40 of hesitation and checking the video, referee Nic Berry decided to refuse the try, offering victory to the French XV at Murrayfield (20-16), Saturday February 10.
Day 2: electric end to the match with a victory for the XV of France
While the French XV had possession, Scotland were able to regain the ball a few seconds before regulation time. The Thistle XV attack pushed to score a try while the French defense worked hard not to concede the try. The referee watched the video for a long time before granting the final victory to the French XV, almost miraculously. – ()
The decision caused talk, while the Scottish third row seemed to have flattened. But a doubt remained. “At all costs, the video referee must have a clear and obvious image”, enlightens for franceinfo: sport Laurent Cardona, ex-Top 14 referee. A breakdown of the action is necessary. Once he entered the goal, Skinner flattened on the foot of Yoram Moefana. There was then no question of granting the trial. But subsequently, the Scottish third line freed itself from this obstacle.
On the importance of the “field decision”
Problem, at the same time, Posolo Tuilagi’s arm came in front of the camera, obstructing the video referee’s vision. “OWe can 90% think that the ball hits the ground, but we cannot exclude that something else, like Tuilagi’s hand prevents itjustifies Laurent Cardona. “I can’t say for sure, I don’t have clear enough vision”indicated, live, the video referee Brian MacNeice to the main referee, Nic Berry.
In these conditions, you must refer to the “field decision”, i.e. what the referee orders directly. In this case, as proven by the images and words of the referee translated live using the velotyping set up by France Télévisions, his first decision is that there is “no try”. For the trial to be granted, an image would have had to show “clearly and obviously” the flattened ball… or that Nic Berry’s “first instance” judgment was to grant the try.
The fact of seeing, on two different shots, that Skinner has crossed the line and that the ball seems flattened, does not constitute validation either: all the elements must be brought together in one and the same image. “We cannot make a cause and effect link between the images, because we are not in factually certain”explains Laurent Cardona.
A logical decision that frustrates the Scots
In this context, the refusal of the test seems logical, even if it is difficult to digest for the Scots. You had to hear the roars of the Murrayfield public when each slow motion was broadcast on the giant screen, or the distress of Finn Russell after the verdict to be convinced. “When we look at the screen, we think it’s good”illustrated captain Rory Darge at a press conference.
“It’s like that, there are decisions you understand and others you don’t. […] For me, we scored but it doesn’t matter what I think. “
Rory Darge captain of Scotlandat franceinfo: sport
“When we saw the first image, for me it was obviousanalyzed, for his part, French captain Grégory Alldritt. I didn’t think the decision could be other than not to grant the try.” This divergence of points of view illustrates, above all, the complexity and subtlety of refereeing a rugby match. It wouldn’t have taken much more for the fate of the match to swing the other way.