May God have mercy on my soul. As possibly the biggest, most fanatical English rugby-fan you may encounter, it pains me to say it, but it wasn't. :( The video footage during the match led us to believe it was, but they showed some post-match where his knee had clearly touched the line, so no try.
Tough call though, glad it wasn't me who had to make it.
His knee? His knee was nowhere near the line. Look:
Ball grounded, knee well inside the line, foot in the air. The crucial image is this one:
That's just before his toe lifts off the ground. Look at the angle of the line across the frame. Bear in mind the foreshortening. He's not in touch. Bah!
There was a shot they showed after the match where it was clear but I can't find it online. But like I said in my post, had it been in the days pre-video ref then it would have been awarded and it was a harsh decision.
No matter though, we have to live with it. I don't think it would have made that much of a difference to the outcome of the match however and like I said in my post, South Africa have been the better team. I wanted England to win so badly, more than most, but you can't say they deserve to be world champions and I don't mean that to sound disloyal in any way, it's just how it is.
Sorry to spam your page, but I found the stills of the clip I meant from behind. Although through the beer goggles I did mix up knee and foot (and knew it yesterday too, but couldn't admit it ... !). The last pic shows him starting to lift his foot but he was already in touch, as per the first two.
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zvi and
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Date: 2007-10-20 11:36 pm (UTC)May God have mercy on my soul. As possibly the biggest, most fanatical English rugby-fan you may encounter, it pains me to say it, but it wasn't. :( The video footage during the match led us to believe it was, but they showed some post-match where his knee had clearly touched the line, so no try.
Tough call though, glad it wasn't me who had to make it.
I still love them. :D
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Date: 2007-10-21 03:47 pm (UTC)Ball grounded, knee well inside the line, foot in the air. The crucial image is this one:
That's just before his toe lifts off the ground. Look at the angle of the line across the frame. Bear in mind the foreshortening. He's not in touch. Bah!
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Date: 2007-10-21 07:41 pm (UTC)No matter though, we have to live with it. I don't think it would have made that much of a difference to the outcome of the match however and like I said in my post, South Africa have been the better team. I wanted England to win so badly, more than most, but you can't say they deserve to be world champions and I don't mean that to sound disloyal in any way, it's just how it is.
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Date: 2007-10-22 07:04 pm (UTC)Anyway, roll on 2011, we'll have it back!
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Date: 2007-10-20 11:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-22 01:26 pm (UTC)The disbelief in the pub I was in when the try wasn't given was deafening, I think that it must have been the same at your place!