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.
BOUNCE BACK: Curry scored 46 points in the Warriors’ victory over the Spurs, after ‘everybody stepped up’ following Tuesday’s blowout loss to Oklahoma City Nikola Jokic scoring 50 or more points had never been enough for the Denver Nuggets to win — until now. Jokic on Wednesday night tied the highest-scoring performance in the NBA this season with 55 points, as the Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 130-116 for their sixth straight victory. The Nuggets were 0-4 in his previous 50-point outbursts. “It’s a good feeling,” the three-time NBA Most Valuable Player said. He equaled Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 55 in a double-overtime game at the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 23. Jokic has been on a roll during Denver’s winning streak. He is the
The tri-nation Twenty20 international series featuring hosts Pakistan, as well as Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, is to be played entirely in Rawalpindi from Tuesday next week, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said yesterday, after this week’s suicide bombing in the capital, Islamabad. The change came after at least eight Sri Lankan players asked to leave over security fears following Tuesday’s bombing that killed 12 people and wounded 27. Their country’s cricket board issued a stern directive to the team to stay put or face consequences. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said the decision to stay was taken after “close consultations” with hosts Pakistan who
France’s Kevin Aymoz snatched the men’s title at Skate America on Saturday, winning his first grand prix title with a battling free skate, while short program leader Kazuki Tomono faltered. It was an emotional triumph for Aymoz, who made his grand prix level debut in 2017, with seven prior podium finishes, but no gold. He had struggled with a painful foot injury since a disappointing 10th-place finish at Skate Canada last month. “It was so difficult,” the 28-year-old said. “After Skate Canada I wanted to give up so much and today I’m here and it’s so beautiful to be with my friends competing
Australian restaurant chain Grill’d has made a cheeky apology for putting a “curse” on Oscar Piastri’s Formula One title hopes with their offer of a free burger for every time the McLaren driver gets on the podium. The Melbourne native has not finished in the top three since the promotion relaunched five races ago, losing the championship lead to teammate Lando Norris and now 24 points behind. Online conspiracy theorists have been quick to put two and two together. The chain’s Piastri 81 Burger debuted ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in March, with his endorsement, and was relaunched in September after he
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