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Nick Mallett unleashes on referee decisions after the Stormers’ narrow 28-27 defeat to RC Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup round of 16. The Stormers nearly clinch victory with a last-minute try, only for Marcel Theunissen to be denied following a lengthy TMO review. Controversy erupts over a missed penalty try when Matthias Halagahu drags down a maul, leading former Springboks winger Breyton Paulse to question the officiating.
Paulse states, “The one yellow card looked like a penalty try to me.” Mallett agrees, labeling the refereeing by English official Christophe Ridley as “dreadful.” He emphasizes that collapsing the maul just a meter from the line should have resulted in a penalty try. Mallett criticizes the final decision, noting Ridley’s poor positioning. “If you are off your feet, you can’t tackle anyone or play the ball,” he asserts.
While fuming over officiating, Mallett points out that the Stormers should have managed the endgame better, especially with Toulon down two players. “They need to learn there’s more than one way to win,” Mallett stresses. Stormers coach John Dobson praises his team's effort but acknowledges the tough loss, calling it “very unlucky.”
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