21 May 2011

Blues coach not happy with controversial TMO call

8:17 am on 21 May 2011

Blues coach Pat Lam is fuming after a contentious 79th minute try to Stormers skipper Schalk Burger was awarded, giving the South Africans a 28-26 win over the Auckland based side in their Super Rugby clash at Eden Park.

With time almost up the visitors had a lineout five metres out from the Blues line and drove from that, with Burger detaching to dive for the line.

The touch judge wasn't convinced and referee Keith Brown went upstairs - but it was the wording of Brown's question to the video referee that annoyed Lam, who says the call should never have been left to the TMO.

But Pat Lam admits the Blues really had only themselves to blame, giving up a 19-3 half-time lead with two soft tries to the Stormers' replacement midfielders Juan de Jongh and Johann Sadie.

Albie Mathewson and Lachie Munro scored the Blues' tries.

The win extends the Stormers lead in the South African conference and lifts the Cape Town based side above the Crusaders into third spot behind the Blues in the competition's overall standings.

It's the Blues' second straight loss but they stay top of the New Zealand conference with the Crusaders six points behind them, although the Auckland-based side has the bye next weekend.

The Crusaders tackle the Chiefs in the derby game in Napier tonight.