‘Unbiased’ Scotland want World Rugby clarification over ‘incorrect’ TMO call

Scotland’s Finn Russell waits for a TMO decision on a Scotland try late in the Guinness Six Nations match at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. Picture date: Saturday February 10, 2024.

Scotland will be contacting World Rugby after they were controversially denied a match-winning try against France on Saturday.

Gregor Townsend’s men were 20-16 in arrears going into the final minute when they won a turnover and got to within touching distance of the line.

Sam Skinner then crossed the whitewash but referee Nic Berry could not see whether the ball had been touched down.

Clear evidence

Berry then went to the television match official, who could not find clear evidence that a try had been scored.

Although one camera angle appeared to show the ball rolling off a France boot and onto the ground, TMO Brian MacNeice remained unsure and stated that he could not overrule the on-field decision.

Scotland were angry over the call with Townsend still adamant that the match officials got it wrong, and the head coach will therefore seek to get some clarity from the governing body as to why it was disallowed.

“The TMO influenced the referee more [with the final call]. They have quite a big screen in that corner, so it should be the referee that decides,” he told reporters.

“I don’t think I am being biased here to say the ball was put on the try-line, I think everybody sees that. It’s how we get to the correct decision.

“If it was held up and we’re here going that we’re gutted to have been held up to win a game, that would have been the right decision. But for us it clearly wasn’t the right decision that they came to at the end.

“It doesn’t really matter. That game moves on. We’ll get feedback, we do regularly, and that’ll be one of some incidents we’ll ask for clarification on, but it doesn’t change the outcome, unfortunately.”

Own accountability

Townsend will also look to analyse their own performance as they failed to build on a superb first half-hour where they went 13-3 in front.

Scotland were the dominant team in the opening 40 minutes but that did not show on the scoreboard.

Although Scotland’s boss was happy with their overall display, the 50-year-old did admit that they should have been less profligate.

“We will look at how we could have been more ahead at half-time with our play, and how we should have not let France have an opportunity to win the game,” Townsend said.

“I thought the team’s game management and the collective mentality was brilliant, something they’ve been working on.

“The decision-making around where to put France under pressure was spot on. Finn had one of his best games for Scotland and Rory [Darge] was outstanding, he brought physicality.”