OH , CHRIST ALMIGHTY!
Matson fury at Tshiunza’s winning late try
HARLEQUINS head coach Tabai Matson will be putting a call in to the RFU tomorrow looking for an explanation on how Exeter were awarded their last-minute winner.
Flanker Christ Tshiunza scored to send Sandy Park into overdrive as the Chiefs stole this game in injury time after nearly throwing it away.
Referee Ian Tempest had a long look at a potential forward pass early in the move, from Stuart Hogg to Patrick Schickerling, and asked TMO Dean Richards for guidance.
Richards did not have a decent view but said prop Schickerling had been in front of Hogg but as Tempest had awarded the try on the pitch he stuck with his decision.
Quins had bounced back from 31-7 down at the break to lead 42-38, with Marcus Smith playing out of his skin in his first game of the season.
But that was in vain and Matson will be checking in with Twickenham to make sure they have had a look at the call. He said: “I haven’t heard the dialogue but ultimately the TMO is there to give the referee advice and make the game more accurate.
“So if the referee has chosen not to use that information that’s flipping frustrating. The RFU have a really thorough review on Monday and that will definitely come up.
“That process will be chewed through and we normally talk to referees on Tuesdays to ask if there is anything we can do to improve the game and vice versa. They are pretty diligent at HQ so I’m sure that will be brought up and if it isn’t I’ll be ringing them on Tuesday.”
But Exeter head coach Ali Hepher, who confirmed Sam Simmonds will leave for Montpellier at the end of the season, replied: “I would say, as they rule it now, that’s not forwards. The hands went backwards, momentum carries the ball forwards slightly, not a mile.
“They’re probably right to review it but I’m obviously going to say it was all right.”
Wales flanker Tshiunza was on fire as Chiefs went 24-0 up in 22 minutes, his score and tries from Stu Townsend and Harry Williams putting Quins on the canvas.
Wing Cadan Murley started the comeback just ahead of half-time, Tyrone Green carried it on before Murley’s runaway second and two from Luke Northmore.
Chiefs went down to 14 men with centre Ian Whitten in the bin and Smith exposed them with a cross kick for Joe Marchant to make it 42-38. Tshiunza then scored his second to clinch it.
EXETER: Tries: Williams, Townsend, Tshiunza (2), Skinner, Schickerling; Cons: J. Simmonds (4), Slade; Pen: J. Simmonds QUINS: Tries: Murley (2), Green, Northmore (2), Marchant; Cons: Smith (6)