Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill on Saturday lashed out at the influence of the television match official (TMO) system, claiming technology is having a detrimental effect on the decisionmaking of referees.
Cockerill was angry that both Telusa Veainu and Mat Tait had first-half scores ruled out after consultation with the TMO, despite his team cruising to a 22-10 win over the Newcastle Falcons.
“Mat Tait’s try could have gone either way, but you have the referee saying I can’t see anything wrong with it, but then the TMO is saying it’s a knock-on,” Cockerill said.
“So I don’t know who’s refereeing the game any more,” Cockerill said.
“It used to be that the attack got the benefit of the doubt, but it seems to be that the defense is getting the benefit now, but is it a knock-on or not?” he said.
The Northampton Saints slumped to a shock 25-23 loss to London Irish, with the Saints’ Boxing Day misery compounded by news that England prop Kieran Brookes will have to undergo knee surgery.
Brookes suffered an injury in last weekend’s European Cup clash against Racing 92.
For London Irish, it was a first win of the season after six defeats in six games.
Luke Narraway and Sean Maitland bagged tries for the Exiles, with a penalty try for a scrum offense three minutes from time — converted by Shane Geraghty — earning them victory.
Ken Pisi, George North and Kahn Fotuali’i were Northampton’s try scorers.
CHIEFS TOP
The Exeter Chiefs went top courtesy of a 33-17 win at home over the Sale Sharks at Sandy Park Stadium.
Scrumhalf Will Crudley — who got a brace — Thomas Waldrom, James Short and Tom Johnson scored the tries for the hosts.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was