Stormers 'absolutely perplexed' with ref calls in URC quarterfinal
REACTION: Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said he was baffled by some of the decisions that went against his team in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Glasgow Warriors.
The Capetonians went down 10-27 at Scotstoun Stadium with missed try-scoring opportunities and strikes at goal coming at a high price for the team.
Manie Libbok missed all his kicks at goal which meant that his team missed out on 10 points in the match.
The Stormers were also reduced to 14 men in the second half when captain Salmaan Moerat received a yellow card for a head-on-head collision.
Meanwhile, Dobson was scratching his head regarding an incident involving Glasgow’s Kyle Steyn and Warrick Gelant in the first half.
With both players competing for the ball in the air, Steyn’s arm made contact with Gelant’s head, but referee Chris Busby deemed it not worthy of a card.
“We were absolutely perplexed by that,” Dobson told reporters after the match.
“We are having some discussions out here with Tappe Henning [URC’s Head of Match Officials].
“It was disappointing. I think Salmaan was a justified yellow, but it probably didn’t cost us the game.”
Another area of the game Dobson questioned was the scrums as he felt his team didn’t get the rewards they deserved.
“I’m disappointed, but I am proud of the effort, especially in the first half,” said Dobson.
“I’m’ disappointed because I thought with the wind in our favour at 13-10, we had enough in us to close it out and it was just a staggering scrum that I didn’t understand and they got on top of us.
“They were more effective into the wind than we were.
“I thought we were good playing into the wind, but we didn’t kick particularly well and we didn’t play particularly well with the wind.
“It’s always a challenge. I think you can’t fault our physical effort or us staying in the fight.
“It doesn’t feel like a 27-10 game.”
On the scrums, Dobson added: “I don’t want to sound like a sore loser.
“Frans Malherbe was standing at the side and he said he never saw a penalty like that, and it led to a try which got them away at the end.
“It was a big call.
“It [scrums] was against us when I thought it was going our way, but that’s not the only reason we lost.
“With that penalty, I thought there was maybe a case for it going the other way, but that is going to sound like sour grapes and I don’t want it to be like that.”
@rugby365com
