Lions cry foul over dodgy penalty calls
THE LIONS have expressed grave misgivings about the officiating of penalty kicks after two controversial incidents on this tour involving shots at the posts.
On Tuesday in Dunedin, the tourists were awarded a penalty in their own half two minutes from time against the Highlanders.
Trailing by a point, they opted for Elliot Daly to take the kick from 55 metres out, only for referee Angus Gardner to move the mark back a further two metres after pressure from the home side. Daly’s effort fell just short.
Three days earlier, Owen Farrell protested in Christchurch after thinking he was on target with a penalty against the Crusaders, only for the touch judges to keep their flags down. The Lions urged referee Mathieu Raynal to consult the Television Match Official but he chose not to do so.
These episodes have caused consternation within the British and Irish squad and management team, in the build-up to the Test series against the All Blacks.
Assistant coach Neil Jenkins — the Lions’ kicking guru — was asked yesterday if the visitors were given a chance by Gardner to change their decision to go for goal, after Daly was told to move back.
Jenkins said: ‘I don’t believe we were, no. If he says otherwise, that’s up to Angus, but I don’t think that was the case. It was more one of their players dictating to the ref. It was pretty much a case of, “That’s what it is, we’re going back”. In terms of where the mark was, the ref was probably right, but where he’s actually given it — that’s where we were taking the shot. I don’t know whether the ref can change his mind and say, “I got it wrong”.’
The incident in the game against the Crusaders wasn’t decisive, as the Lions won 12- 3 in Christchurch.
But, in what could have been a tight contest, the tourists were angered by Raynal’s decision not to refer to the TMO for a ruling.
‘It was over,’ said Jenkins, of the contentious kick. ‘We were behind it and it was over.
‘It’s incredibly hard to be a referee and a linesman. If you’re standing underneath the posts, you can’t tell me if it’s just crept in or not, so the ref has to take control. If he’s unsure, I don’t see why it would be an issue to go to the TMO. Owen and I felt the kick was certainly over. It just crept in but the decision’s made and that’s how it is — you’ve just got to get on with it.’
When it was pointed out that Johnny Sexton, who was on as a replacement, brought up the matter with Raynal later, Jenkins added: ‘We did ask the referee and he didn’t want to know.’
The Lions are monitoring the progress of head-injury casualties Jonathan Davies and Courtney Lawes as the pair continue with their return-to-play protocols.
One positive aspect of the defeat in Dunedin was that it featured a comeback from captain Sam Warburton which became increasingly encouraging as the game wore on.
‘It was certainly better from Warby,’ said Jenkins. ‘ There were quite a few turnovers and he carried quite a few balls.
‘For Sam, it’s just about keeping on getting game-time.
‘It was a big improvement from him and the more game-time he has, the better he’s going to be.’