Fabien Galthié came close to experiencing a third defeat in a row with the XV of France.
But the Blues coach can take a breather this Saturday afternoon after his team's success in Edinburgh, Scotland (16-20).
A victory acquired at the end of the suspense after a long video refereeing sequence after a potential try scored by second row Sam Skinner in added time of this second match of the Six Nations Tournament.
On the pitch at Murrayfield, Australian referee Nic Berry initially indicated that he would not award the try, the ball being flattened in the heart of a flurry of hands and crampons on the goal line. French goal.
He still asks for video refereeing.
But just one slow motion can allow him to judge whether the ball is really flattened or not.
For almost 5 minutes, Nic Berry studies the image in which the ball first lands on a stud before possibly sliding down the line.
An unbreathable end to the match in Edinburgh 🥵#SCOFRA |
#SixNationsRugby pic.twitter.com/cioUciiC39
— Six Nations (FR) (@SixNations_FR) February 10, 2024
The entire Scottish public then believes that the trial will be granted.
But Nic Berry judges that the image is not sufficiently explicit to allow him to grant the try to the XV du Chardon, who would then have won.
“The rule works for us,” says Vincent Clerc, consultant for France 2. “The referee decided on the pitch that there was no try and he has no clear image to change his mind.”
To the great happiness of the French.
But the decision should keep the Scots talking for a long time.
Former international referee, Welshman Nigel Owens, on the BBC, believes that this try was valid and should have been awarded.
The coach of La Rochelle, the Irishman Ronan O'Gara, wonders on his social networks about the importance of such a decision: "Is there another sport where the referees have such a impact ?
Too many rules/laws… Too complicated.
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