This is undoubtedly one of the best tests of the start of the season. Sireli Maqala lit up the Anoeta stadium with his talent against La Rochelle, but the Fijian international’s achievement was not valid.
The Rochelais deserved no better than a zero-point defeat from their trip to Spain. The improved victory of the Bayonnais, carried by a sublime pair of centers and a conquering pack, leaves no doubt. 37-7, five tries scoredfor total and undivided domination. Having said that, it’s difficult to miss the third Basque try scored by the Fijian Sireli Maqala in the 39th minute.
After a sublime action in disorder which lasted more than a minute and a half, the three-quarter center was found at the end of the line by an acrobatic pass from Segonds and pushed his course to the goal. But Leyds, who had missed the play at the foot of the Bayonne opener, came back in disaster and forced the number 13 to make a dive to flatten the corner. At the end of the effort, Maqala is congratulated by his teammates but the refereeing body around Mr. Ramos has doubts about a possible sideline from the Bayonnais. Rightly so. “We are going to control the potential passing into touch”informs the man in black to his video referee Éric Gauzins, quickly confirming the validity of the in-goal touchdown.
A photo closes the debate
On the live feed, as well as the slow motion images, it is impossible to know whether or not Maqala was in touch before flattening. But a photo clearly shows that the ball does not come into contact with the in-goal when the center’s left hand is out of bounds.
Icon Sport – Scoop Dyga
The try should therefore have been logically refused, and the score remained 20-0 at half-time. Would this fact of play unfavorable to the Maritimes have changed the outcome of the match? Considering the Basques’ equally impressive second period, it’s hard to believe so. Ronan O’Gara’s men certainly took less water after returning from the locker room, but the Blue and White “won” the last 40 minutes 12 to 7. In any case, this five-point victory revives the ‘Rowing in its objective of top 8 and more if affinities, while the teammates of Grégory Damn it will have to quickly raise their heads next weekend with the reception of Union Bordeaux-Bègles, solid leader of the Top 14.
