VIDEO: Farrell explains what he found 'dubious' in the first Test
VIDEO: Ireland coach Andy Farrell said he had ‘dubious’ thoughts about some of the TMO decisions in his sides’ 20-27 loss to South Africa at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
There was plenty of debate over James Lowe’s try being chalked off which proved a pivotal moment in the game, particularly after the Ireland wing then gifted Cheslin Kolbe a try in another magical chase down.
During the post-match briefing after the game, Farrell was asked if he thought his side was hard done by the TMO and it was clear he searched for the right words to express his feelings.
Then there was the tackle on Ireland scrumhalf Craig Casey, who was stretchered off and Farrell also hinted that some foul play was overlooked by the TMO in that incident.
“Sometimes it goes for you and sometimes it doesn’t. You’ll make your own decision on the Craig thing,” Farrell said.
“It’s not for me to say but I saw quite a few of them live and had a dubious thought about it but anyway, that’s life.
“We will go through the right channels and make sure we do things properly as far as those things are concerned. You’ll make of it what you want.
“We have to go through the right channels. Unlucky, lucky, that’s the game as well.
“It was a special play by Kolbe to chase that ball and it’s one of the reasons why they won the World Cup with him chasing down the kicker in France, but we were slack not backing James up.
*(Article continues below Farrell interview…)
“You’ll make your own decision on whether he still had the ball in his right hand or whether the ball hit him as he threw it back into the field and his foot was in touch.
“That’s for us all to debate. It is what it is, that is the sport, it’s difficult to referee. You just want consistency, that’s all,” Farrell said.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was more matter-of-fact when asked if he thought the Irish had reason to complain about the TMO.
“Ag, it wouldn’t help, would it? I certainly learned from the past, let it be.
“So yes, that’s the protocol, that’s how it works. And I’ve certainly learned, accept it and move on,” the Springbok coach said.
Overall Farrell felt that Ireland did not do enough in the first half, but he was very proud of the way in which his charges fought their way back into the game.
“It had a little bit of everything, the unexpected was popping up at times and that was the game in the end. South Africa deserved to win the game, so congratulations to them.
“First half I thought we were off. I thought was gave away access for them to be able to play their game.
“Defensively we were a bit passive, certainly for the first try. But then the story of the game for me after some words at half time, I thought it was courageous at times how we defended and got ourselves into the game.
“It is the make-up of this team.
“History would say that even with the type of performance in the first half we hung on in there and we don’t go away.
“There is plenty of teams that would have been under the pump in the first half and got the game run away within the second half and we didn’t, we stayed in the fight and could’ve, should’ve, would’ve at times with some decisions that rightly or wrongly didn’t go our way,” the coach concluded.
