Forward passes have long caused controversy and confusion in rugby union, and so it proved again in the Rugby Championship thriller between Australia and Argentina in Sydney on Saturday.
The Pumas held off another Wallabies comeback to win 28-26, but it was the final pass in the lead-up to the hosts’ fourth try that caused most debate.
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What happened?
Australia were trailing 28-7 going into the final 15 minutes, but got themselves back into the game with two tries in as many minutes from Andrew Kellaway and Filipo Daugunu. Given the Wallabies’ remarkable comeback win the previous week in Townsville, Argentina would undoubtedly have felt nervous.
Heading into the final five minutes, the home side think they have a try-scoring opportunity, but Fraser McReight’s pass to Max Jorgensen is adjudged to be forward by the assistant referee and play is brought back for a scrum.
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A couple of minutes later Australia get their try. A fine attacking move takes play to the left wing, with slick hands from James O’Connor and Joseph Sua’ali’i creating space for the two try-scorers to combine.
Kellaway delivers the last pass to Daugunu, who breaks clear to score the Wallabies’ fourth try, but it does appear to drift forward, with the winger having to stretch his arms forward to collect the ball. From the main camera angle, full-back Kellaway’s hands also look to be pointing forwards rather than backwards, which plays a key part in ruling on a forward pass.
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Even the Australian commentators question the final pass by saying, “Will this one stand?” as Daugunu touches down, later adding: “That was forward out of the hands.”
Before O’Connor takes the conversion, referee Christophe Ridley is informed that the television match official wants to check that final pass. There is no formal review, however, where Ridley would watch replays on the screen. Instead, the TMO gives the all-clear and determines that the try stands.
Referee Christophe Ridley was not sent to the monitor by the TMO to review Daugunu’s second try – Getty Images/Jason McCawley
What is the law?
“A throw forward may occur anywhere in the playing area” is the wording used in Law 11.6, with the sanction a scrum.
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Yet the interpretation of this law has become more nuanced over the years, with the direction of the hands rather than the ball playing a part in decisions. This is because of “relative velocity” – the momentum of a player moving forward will also take the ball forward, even if the pass leaves their hands going backwards.
As former referee Wayne Barnes has said: “It’s not about the direction that the ball eventually ends up, it’s about the direction it’s travelling in as it leaves the hands.”
What has been the reaction?
While there did not appear to be much outrage from Argentina’s players on the pitch over the decision, it did lead to consternation on social media.
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Derek Albert, of Supersport, posted: “For a TMO, with the benefit of time and replays, to deem this perfectly fine is inexcusable.” ABC Sport commentator Brett McKay said: “Goodness, gracious. Think the game dodged a massive issue with ARG winning that. Absolute garbage that last AUS try was allowed to stand. Clearly forward. Metres forward. Ridiculous.”
Another X user posted: “When even the Aussie commentators question the pass you know it wasn’t ‘flat’.” Another wrote: “TMOs and referees ruining rugby. That last Wallabies try was embarrassing. The last pass to Daugunu was forward by a country mile. There’s no way that try should have been allowed to stand. Argentina must have felt hard done by.”
Should the try have stood?
From the camera angle shown on TV, the ball appears to travel forward and leave Kellaway’s hands forward, so no. However, the TMO may have had access to other angles that show something different.
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How significant was the try?
While the try did not affect the result as Argentina held on to win 28-26, it did ensure Australia finished the match with two bonus points – one for scoring four tries and one for losing by seven points or fewer.
Given how tight this year’s Rugby Championship has been, those two points could be crucial in the final shakedown. The Wallabies sit in second on 10 points, above the Pumas in fourth, who are on nine points.
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