Tough calls go against Turbos in Dunedin
There was good news for the Manawatu¯ Turbos following their abortive Ranfurly Shield challenge against Otago – All Black Ngani Laumape will join them today, hopefully to resume hostilities against Northland on Thursday, as maybe will centre Rob Thompson.
Manawatu¯ coach Peter Russell had given Laumape leave to have personal space with his family after the disappointment of not making the World Cup squad.
Then there is the not-so-good news: All Black lock Jackson Hemopo played probably his last game for the Turbos in Dunedin on Friday night. After playing in pain, he is to have remedial work on his left shoulder before joining Mitsubishi in Japan.
Then comes the worst news: The referee who incensed Turbos fans province-wide on Friday, Glen Jackson, instead of being relegated, will also control the match next Thursday and might be looking for a military escort judging by the seething reaction of the populist media.
The Turbos took the game to Otago to give themselves their best stab at the shield since being similarly ripped off at Waikato in 2016. Of course they made mistakes with their adventurous offloading game, trying to rush a little while Otago’s jackals attacked the breakdown in the second 40. Most stats though favoured Manawatu¯ and they didn’t lose a lineout, all hopefully a portent of things to come.
But the challenge will be remembered for negligent calls from Jackson and his cohorts that eventually stifled the Turbos’ momentum and ultimately led to a blowout of 37-20, which did not reflect the match. Otago video ref Chris Hart didn’t help either, nor did freakish tries from Otago’s two Feilding High School emigre wings. Russell is reluctant to castigate referees and will again trudge through official channels.
But there was a litany of errors from a referee who can have no complaints about not being invited to the World Cup.
‘‘We didn’t get any rub of the green,’’ Russell said. ‘‘I feel sorry for the boys after the effort they put in.’’
The sins – calls that favoured the home side and which killed Manawatu’s momentum: Otago’s second try came after a chokehold on James Tofa’s neck and the ball was turned over.
When Vilimoni Koroi lifted and dumped Sam Malcolm on his head, Jackson’s hand stayed out of his pocket, a yellow card any day of the week.
Two minutes before halftime, Jackson awarded Otago a scrum after a Manawatu¯ counter-ruck, Otere Black was clearly taken out, Koroi received a forward pass, Jackson called ‘‘play on’’ and try, seven points.
When Liam Mitchell scored four minutes after halftime, the try was scrubbed because Nick Crosswell had laid hands on a defender.
As Russell said: ‘‘They were critical moments ... It was there for us. We did make errors ourselves. We had our opportunities and didn’t complete them. We have got good young boys in there and can’t get too dejected.’’
And yet they stayed in the game until the 70th minute, with Jamie Booth excelling, and James Tofa and Adam Boult also starring.
The configuration of the forwards worked, with Mitchell exemplary at No 6, Sione Tu’ipulotu at No 8 and Crosswell, who waited 97 games to play at No 7. Tom Hughes was the safe jumping option, while Hemopo will be missed after a massive effort, even if the Turbos battled at kickoffs.
Black offered the agonising intercept after only 86 seconds, missed a vital touch with a long kick, but had a major hand in both tries. However, the decision to go for a scrum and grubber kick in the 67th minute instead of a 5-metre lineout will also be debated.
Northland will be a different physical beast on Thursday but the Turbos must restore belief in themselves.
(Vilimoni Koroi 3, Jona Nareki, Sio Tomkinson, tries; Josh Ioane 2 pen, 3 con)
(Jamie Booth, Adam Boult, tries; Otere Black 2 con, 2 pen) HT: 22-17.
Otago 37 Manawatu¯ 20