‘Sharks “try” perfectly good’

Former Test referee Jonathan Kaplan says the Sharks have reason to feel aggrieved for the disallowed try in their defeat to the Hurricanes.

The Sharks were trailing 21-17 after 61 minutes of the match in Wellington when they scored what looked to be a perfectly good try from a lineout driving maul. But referee Chris Pollock went upstairs to TMO Aaron Paterson, who disallowed the try because the Sharks had 'changed lanes'.

Kaplan is the latest to weigh in on the matter, following comments from Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold and former Springbok coach Nick Mallett.

Writing for ratetheref.co.za, Kaplan said Pollock had an excellent game, but this incident marred his performance.

'It was a better performance by the men in black, and perhaps they were a bit stiff when referee Chris Pollock and Aaron Paterson, the TMO, together ruled that obstruction had taken place at a lineout when for all money it appeared that a perfectly good try had been scored.

'I didn’t agree in slow motion and have not changed my mind. It was a simple transfer-shift lineout move and the opposition were involved.'

Read Kaplan's full column

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