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NO TRY! Boks get lucky...

Cape Town - Rugby referees and TMOs have come in for a LOT of flack in recent times - and rightly so - and, if one removes one's Green and Gold blinkers, true to form they boobed once again this past weekend.

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As it happened: Wales v South Africa

The 1 picture which summed up the Wales fans on Saturday...

The Springboks ran out 24-15 winners against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday - thanks in no small part to Irish referee Alain Rolland.

In the 64th minute, with the Boks holding a narrow 17-15 lead, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez kicks ahead with team-mate Jaque Fourie a good couple of metres ahead of him (as seen below). Fourie has an 'influence on play' as he chases and gathers the kick before offloading to Du Preez who runs in unopposed to score.

Rolland fails to consults his assistant referee nor the TMO, France's Eric Gauzins, and awards the try.

In recent times, no doubt decreed by the IRB, rugby supporters have grown accustomed to referees double-checking literally every try scored for possible forward pass, offsides or foul play infringements.

Not on Saturday however!

Rolland, who by general consensus had a poor Test in charge and won't be missed when he hangs up his whistle at the end of the season, ought to have consulted the TMO on the clear offsides, and awarded a penalty to Wales - which would've been within kicking range, and, if successful, would've given them the lead.

Although not as obvious, South Africa's Jaco Peyper was also at fault for a similar incident in the France v New Zealand Test in Paris when he awarded a try to wing Charles Piutau - who was also ahead of the kicker.


Fourie du Preez (right) kicks ahead, with team-mate Jaque Fourie metres ahead of him (YouTube)
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