Gold furious over ref calls
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While there was a definite improvement in all facets of the Shark's play against the Hurricanes on Saturday, Director of Rugby Gary Gold feels hard done by with some dodgy referee calls.
Despite a very frustrating loss in a game that could well have gone the other way, there was no faulting the team’s commitment and positive attitude.
"Obviously we’re massively disappointed with the result," Gold said from the team's training base in Sydney.
"After a very poor performance against the Highlanders, I thought the guys worked extraordinarily hard during the course of the week and I was impressed by the commitment from the players and management in terms of getting the situation sorted.
The Sharks were denied a try in the 61st minute, which they appeared to score after Marcell Coetzee dotted down following a powerful driving maul close to the Hurricanes try-line.
Referee Chris Pollock referred the decision upstairs and eventually disallowed the try for what he called "changing lanes".
"We crossed the Hurricanes line four times and bizarrely one of the tries wasn't allowed at a critical time of the game," Gold explained.
Had the try stood, the Sharks would have been in a commanding position and may well have reversed the final outcome.
"I thought we had driven well for very little reward before that," continued Gold.
"They [the Hurricanes] had conceded a couple of penalties before half-time from the drives and I think they were very close to conceding a yellow card at that stage.
"We unleashed what I would deem a textbook quality drive which led to an emphatic try – which was disallowed.
"That was a huge momentum shift."
Gold continued to rage about Pollock's calls after another decision went against the Sharks.
"Then a few minutes later the late charge in the air on Odwa [Ndungane] was again another momentum shift.
"Not only was it not a yellow card, not a penalty, it ended up being a lineout to them.
"I’m just staggered as to how you ’re allowed to compete with no arms in the air let alone being late.
"It’s important that I’m not seen to be moaning about it but those things didn't seem to go our way.
"At that stage, even though the try wasn't allowed Frans [Steyn] still had an opportunity to kick at goal. It’s disappointing, but I’m proud of how the guys fought until the bitter end."
The Sharks mentor confirmed that there were a few niggles in the camp including concussions and concerns for Bismarck du Plessis and Marco Wentzel.
"There are three or four concussions and we have to look at Bismarck’s [Du Plessis] knee while Marco [Wentzel] played with what seems to be a fractured rib or cartilage," Gold said.
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