What turned out to be a crucial try awarded to Tupou Vaa’i in the Chiefs’ 19-15 Super Rugby Pacific victory over the Blues at Eden Park at the weekend should have been disallowed, according to the competition organisers.
Vaa’i scored in the first half of the match after leaping over several would-be defenders near a ruck while close to the try-line.
The try was awarded by referee Ben O’Keeffe despite the protestations of several Blues players.
O’Keeffe was heard on the broadcast saying Vaa’i, the Chiefs and All Blacks lock, jumped in the act of scoring a try, rather than to avoid being tackled.
Not so, according to Super Rugby Pacific in what was a rare proactive statement highlighting a law transgression clearly designed to stamp out such behaviour.
The statement read: “Super Rugby Pacific management has reviewed the decision to award a try to Chiefs player Tupou Vaa’i in the 32nd minute of Saturday’s Round 1 game against the Blues.
“The review concluded that Vaa’i’s actions constituted leaving the ground to avoid a tackle, rather than simply diving forward to score a try, and that as a result the try should not have been awarded.
“The relevant law provision is World Rugby Clarification 3-2022: In principle, in a try-scoring situation, if the action is deemed to be a dive forward for a try, then it should be permitted. If a player is deemed to have left the ground to avoid a tackle; or to jump, or hurdle a potential tackler, then this is dangerous play and should be sanctioned accordingly.”
Vaa’i’s try was the opening score of the game but should instead have been a penalty for the Blues.
To add insult to injury for the Blues, Vaa’i celebrated by pointing to his head – presumably a reference to his out-thinking the opposition defence.
The officials also took a lassez-faire attitude to the breakdown during a match which, during the first half at least, was not of the highest quality.
Perhaps seduced by the requirement to keep the game flowing, there were few sanctions for players entering the breakdown from the side, or even from the opposition’s side in one extreme case.
It was another poor start to the season for the Blues, who left their run to the playoffs late last year and who face the Force in Western Australia in round two. The Chiefs play the Highlanders in Dunedin.
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