The South Africans will call it gamesmanship but Ireland were left fuming.
At 19-3 up after 55 minutes of the Second Test against South Africa, Ireland looked comfortable. The scrum was humming, Irish players were making big hits and the Springboks were shelling the ball.
What happened next, after another attack from the hosts was repelled, punctured the Irish defence and gave the home crowd hope. Ireland, who lost 32-26, were convinced foul play was afoot and the video evidence backs them up.
The Springbok scrum was going nowhere but Faf de Klerk managed to get the ball away to Elton Jantjes. A split second later and the outhalf knocked on after massive coming together with Paddy Jackson.
The pair appeared to clash heads but Jackson was able to drop back, moments later, to make a clearing kick.
Conor Murray led the chase as Willie Le Roux fielded the ball but he was bumped by flanker Siya Kolisi as he closed in on the Springbok 15.
From the overhead angle, you can get a better view of Murray being taken out of the play, with replacement hooker Julian Redelinghuys also blocking his path.
The Irish scrumhalf appealed to the referee as Ruan Combrinck steamed towards the Irish tryline.
Jackson, possibly surprised to be called upon for another big tackle so soon, was utterly demolished by the Lions winger, who dived over before Jamie Heaslip could make the covering tackle.
Post-match, Joe Schmidt expressed his displeasure with the Boks’ tactic in an interview with Super Sport. He said:
“It probably turned a little on that first [South African] try. We’re obviously disappointed that Conor Murray wasn’t able to make the tackle but, once they got through, Combrinck… he is a handful.
“That try got them a little bit of momentum. We managed to get one back but there is always a danger when you are ahead and are trying to close it out with a team with weaponry like South Africa have got.”
The footage proves Murray was impeded but, as South Africa will argue, that’s rugby.
Ireland get a chance to claim the series next Saturday in Port Elizabeth.
– Clips via Super Sport
