Ireland unsatisfied with feedback from World Rugby’s refereeing department over first Test calls

Cheslin Kolbe of South Africa and James Lowe of Ireland during the Test at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on 6 July 2024. (Photo: Samuel Shivambu /BackpagePix)

By Craig Ray

11 Jul 2024

Management appear frustrated with official feedback to some key decisions following their 27-20 loss against the Springboks.

Ireland followed the “channels” to seek clarity on several crucial incidents with World Rugby’s refereeing department that occurred in the first Test against the Springboks, but were apparently less than satisfied with the feedback.

Ireland defence coach Simon Easterby was asked if they (Ireland) had received “satisfactory feedback”. His reply was revealing.

“We got feedback, yeah.”

RG Snyman’s tackle on scrumhalf Craig Casey, that left the halfback concussed and out of the second Test, as well as some other massive moments, left Ireland frustrated.

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Snyman’s tackle was legal in terms of where he struck Casey, but there was a question of whether it was late. Referee Luke Pearce and the other match officials were happy it was not.

Two crucial television match official (TMO) decisions saw a 14-point swing in the game. Wing James Lowe’s 58th-minute try was chalked off after the TMO ruled that Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher had hooked the ball out of the ruck while off his feet in the build-up.

Ireland forwards coach Simon Easterby speaks to the media. (Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)

Six minutes later Bok wing Cheslin Kolbe scored from Lowe’s infield pass. It was inconclusive whether Lowe’s foot was in touch when he played the ball, and because the on-field decision by Pearce was “a try”, the TMO could not overturn it.

“We’ve gone through the right process; we’ve had an opportunity to get feedback and put our case forward. I think South Africa have done the same,” Easterby said from the team’s training base at Northwood High.

“So, that's no different. And we now believe that we'll make sure that this weekend there’s no ambiguity… there’s always going to be decisions you don’t agree with; referees have an incredibly tough job – especially at the breakdown, there’s so much going on.

“We just want to make sure the clear and obvious is picked up, that it’s refereed. It sounds bad, but it means a side has to concede 15, 20 penalties, it’s because those indiscretions are there and clear and obvious.

“If a side concedes five, then it’s because they’ve been disciplined. We’re no different. We want to make sure we’re giving the referee, his TMO and assistants, we want to make sure on the other side of that we’re getting real clear comms and decisions on the back of that.”

Referee communication

There was also a sense of frustration from the Ireland camp over referee Pearce’s interactions with No 8 Caelan Doris, who took over from Peter O’Mahony in the final quarter.

The interactions between the pair were spiky at times, and were not helped by the majority of the contentious issues occurring in that period.

“We thought that Caelan handled himself incredibly well,” Easterby said. “He has the responsibility to ask questions, he has just to do it at the correct time, and that we give the referee a bit of space to make the decisions,” Easterby said.

“They need to work as a team of four, sometimes that maybe didn’t happen in the game. We believe Caelan was well within his rights to ask some of those questions, and he needs to also understand that the referees need a little bit of space to then make those decisions.”

test tmo boks ireland lowe Cheslin Kolbe of South Africa and James Lowe of Ireland during the first Test at Loftus Versfeld. (Photo: Samuel Shivambu /BackpagePix)

It’s added a bit more spice to the second Test, which Ireland are desperate to win to take something from this series in South Africa. The last time Ireland lost back-to-back matches was in the 2021 Six Nations, which is something they want to avoid.

The tourists declared a clean bill of health for the remainder of the squad barring Casey and hooker Dan Sheehan, who suffered knee ligament damage in the first Test.

But they are mulling some changes after being rocked back by the Boks’ more expansive attacking play in the first half at Loftus.

Centre Garry Ringrose is set to start, possibly in place of Robbie Henshaw, while captain O’Mahony’s place is under scrutiny after a tired performance in the first Test.

“Selection is always a balance between knowing that players maybe didn’t produce the type of performance you believe and know they’re capable of, and that they know they’re capable of doing, and also giving an opportunity,” Easterby said. “That will be reflected in the selection this week.

“It’s one of the toughest jobs as coaches in deciding on that 15 because there is so much competition in the squad. You can’t give opportunities to everyone, but the guys who do get an opportunity must have a feel and understanding that they have got that chance and there are lots of other players who won’t have got that chance last week or this week.

“So, they have to make sure that they play for each other in the group.” DM

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