Penalty try to New Zealand?
With the score 24-19 to the Wallabies, in front of the Wallaby posts and about a metre before the goal-line, Peter Hynes tackles Sitiveni Sivivatu without the ball. There has been a thought that there should have been a penalty try which would have put the All Blacks back in the lead.
To be true it was more than a thought. In some quarters it was a an anguished cry that became an angry cry.
The All Blacks are on attack but not making much headway till Andrew Ellis lobs a kick over a tackle/ruck into empty spces well inside trhe Wallaby 22. As he kicks Sivivatu races in pursuit. For the Wallabies Adam Ashley-Cooper and Hynes fall back to the ball which, perverse thing, bounces to the right away from Hynes. Sivivatu passes Ashley-Cooper who drops out of the equation. Sivivatu gets a foot to the ball sending it further to the right across the face of the goal. Hynes is first level with Sivivatu and close up against him but stumbling. Sivivatu gets a foot to the ball and then Hynes falling behind tackles Sivivatu who falls. Closing in on the scene is Tuqiri and the ball goes beyond him into in-goal. Tuqirir grounds it and the referee orders a drop-out from the 22.
When Sivivatu falls his head is over the goal-line. It's all that close.
Penalty?
Yes.
Hynes tackled Suivivatu who did not have the ball. That's a penalty.
If Hynes had been running next to Sivivatu and had bumped him, shoulder to shoulder, that would have been OK. It has been a part of rugby practice from time immemorial.
Law 10.1 OBSTRUCTION
(a) Charging or pushing. When a player and an opponent are running for the ball, either player must not charge or push the other except shoulder-to-shoulder.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
Except shoulder to shoulder.
But what Hynes did.
Law 10.4 (f) Playing an opponent without the ball. Except in a scrum, ruck or maul, a player must not hold, or push, or charge into, or obstruct an opponent not carrying the ball.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
Penalty try?
Law 10.2 A penalty try must be awarded if the offence prevents a try that would probably otherwise have been scored. A player who prevents a try being scored through foul play must either be cautioned and temporarily suspended or sent off.
Wouild a a try probably have been scored in this case? Proabably not. Sivivatu kicked the ball before Hynes grabbed him and the ball, such a difficult ball, went away from him on a diagonal and Tuqirir was nearer to the ball than Sivivatu would have been had Hynes not grabbed him.
It was interesting to watch it over and over in slow motion, facilities which the referee did not have.
If there had been the extended use of the television match official as there is in South Africa's Currie Cup, the uincident would probably have been referred to him.