strong controversy surrounding Sireli Maqala’s superb try against La Rochelle?

The match between Aviron Bayonnais and Stade Rochelais, largely won by Bayonne 37 to 7, offered us its share of spectacle and in particular a superb try by Sireli Maqala at the end of the first half. The Fijian international concludes a superb Bayonne action and resists the return of Dillyn Leyds in a very acrobatic manner! Here are the images from the test.

A magnificent essay…but not valid?

This test was validated after a necessary video referee, in view of the dive from the center of Rowing, to verify the legality of the touch on the ground and whether there was no touch. After viewing the images, Mr. Ramos, referee of the match, validates the try. But did he make a mistake? A photo post question, as noted by our colleagues at Rugbyrama.

It’s played with one hand…

In the photo you can see above, you can very clearly see Sireli Maqala’s left hand touching the ground out of bounds, and especially before the ball is flattened. Sireli Maqala therefore seems to pass well before scoring, and the try should therefore have been refused.

Would that have changed anything in Bayonne’s victory? No when we see the difference in the score. If we only remove this test in Bayonne, the Basques still win and keep the offensive bonus. But this could perhaps add a little more bitterness on the Rochelais side. Especially since we remember that another decision by Mr. Ramos had led to the anger of Grégory Alldritt, when the referee considered that a tackle by Manu Tuilagi on the La Rochelle captain was valid.