Ireland came away with a bonus point win against a dogged Wales side on Friday night at the Aviva, winning 27-17.
The bonus point win means Ireland are still in for both the Triple Crown and the Championship should Scotland do Ireland a favour on Saturday.
However the game did not go to script. Wales were resolute in defence and the game was in the balance deep into the final quarter.
Indeed the match could have been very different if there’d been a different ruling from the TMO on Jack Conan’s try after halftime.
Conan – who had a try scratched off by the TMO in the first half – barrelled over in the 44th minute of the game. Ref Karl Dickson referred the try to the TMO. It was unclear if Conan had grounded the ball, and or if Rónan Kelleher had committed an obstruction penalty in the moments before the try.
After a lengthy review, the try was allowed to stand. However speaking on ITV after the game, Brian O’Driscoll said he thought Welsh fans had a right to feel aggrieved by the decision.
If you’re Welsh and you’re looking at this, you’d certainly think there’s a cause for the TMO to interject. Lookit, it’s Kelleher at number 2, it’s just the line that he runs and the defender that he potentially does take out… is he in front of Jack Conan, who does eventually carry the ball? That angle is a bit inconclusive, there is one from behind. He just gets himself into the way of the block. I don’t know if Eddie James is going to make the collision but he certainly isn’t helped by being taken out by Kelleher. The referee said that he was level. If you’re Irish you say he was level, if you’re Welsh you say maybe he’s marginally in front.
Shown in slow motion from the spider camera, it did look like a penalty had been committed. Dan Biggar chimed in to say he saw it just like O’Driscoll.
“Probably the frustrating thing is the TMO has had a really good chance looking at it. It probably wasn’t absolutely conclusive but I think you’re right Brian.”
This post on reddit provided a better angle on the potential obstruction.
Why is this not obstruction?
by
u/billyb4lls4ck in
rugbyunion
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Though Ireland were dominant on the stats boards, it would not take long for Wales to return with a bang, as they once again got within through as James Botham went under below the posts.
It was Wales’ just rewards for a lengthy period camped on the Ireland that brought several penalties – and could have brought a yellow card or penalty try had it been prolonged much longer.
Ireland, to their credit, would punch right back, and it took only five minutes for them to claim a bonus point try and calm the nerves
A penalty was on the way when Jamie Osborne crashed over to secure a bonus point, and Tomos Williams would be sent to the sin-bin before Jack Crowley missed his conversion.
Try Ireland!
Jamie Osborne with a huge score in Dublin as they try and see off this stiff Welsh challenge. Bonus point secured.
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From almost the same position as his missed conversion, Crowley would slot over a penalty with three minutes to play to snatch the losing bonus point away from Wales.
Eoin Harrington reporting from the Aviva Stadium
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