Lille match bad for European Cup

Munster's great adventure in Europe is over but the memories of what they have achieved and the many great days they have given us and Irish rugby linger on.

It has been a week in rugby of immense significance: apart from the semi-final of the Heineken Cup in Lille we had the announcement of the Lions squad to tour Australia and the inclusion of six Irish players. Bearing in mind that Ireland did not play three of their five championship matches, a representation of six has, understandably, left a few disappointed.

The circumstances surrounding Saturday's match have left many questions, and some of them add frustration to the acute disappointment felt by the team, management and supporters.

Munster did not give the kind of potent display that so often characterised their performances in Europe, and Stade Francais deserve immense credit for the manner in which they defended.

But then we come to John O'Neill's try that touch judge Steve Lander ruled was not a try. It was an appalling decision. Did it cost Munster the match? Who can say what would have happened with almost 30 minutes remaining. But it would have brought Munster to within two points at 16-14 and level if the conversion had gone over. With the wind at their backs and the tangible and psychological benefits that would accrue, I believe that Munster would have won. Stade Francais did not score in the second half.

Owen Doyle, IRFU Director of Referee Development, a vastly experienced international referee and one of the subcommittee who appointed the referee Chris White of England, said of the touch judge's ruling: "It was a very poor decision and very costly. Anyone can make a mistake but it was an unbelievable decision.

"A genuine error is pardonable and understandable but making a decision on what you thought you saw is ludicrous. If a touch judge is not sure about a decision he should state that to the referee. The video evidence is absolutely conclusive."

There are many, too, who believe that a penalty by Ronan O'Gara that was deemed wide in fact went over, although this is open to more debate.

We are in era when the old argument about amateurism and referees no longer applies. Referees are now paid officials with all the responsibility that goes with it. In an interview in the Irish Examiner last Tuesday, Lander said he has not looked at the video.

I find this truly remarkable, especially bearing in mind the following comments: "I have not seen the video replay but accept by what I have been told that it was a try. It is unfortunate, but officials have only a split second to make up their minds."

Chris White has stated it was not his call, so therefore that leaves no doubt it was Lander who called the decision. "As a touch judge," says Lander, "I was fairly well on the spot as I thought. I felt that the ball had gone into touch in goal and that it was not a try. If I got it wrong, as it appears I did, I am sorry." It is patently obvious he got it wrong and there is a contradiction in some of his subsequent statements on the issue.

His track record is deplorable. He cost Harlequins the English Cup a few weeks ago by another appalling decision. His display as referee in the Ireland v South Africa match was to say the least very poor. Yet he is one of the 18 referees recently graded "A" for the major internationals coming up and has been appointed for one of those internationals. That should inspire confidence in those who will play under his control.

Questions have been asked as to why there was no video referee. "It was not in our rules at the start of the competition and we could not change them for the knock-out stages," is the answer from ERC (European Rugby Cup) chief executive Derek McGrath.

Well one may ask: "Why not?" Are the rules set in stone? In so important a match what would have been wrong with telling the four semi-finalists that the video referee would be in place? Who would have objected? What possible difference could it have made to those already out of the competition? Was the extra cost the factor?

The video referee is not infallible, as we saw with Brian O'Driscoll's try against France, but if the technology had been in place last Saturday, the evidence would have been clearcut, as it is on the video of the match. There are other issues: Christophe Dominici served only eight minutes in the sinbin, not the stipulated 10, and in any case stamping is a straight red card offence. And why are corner flags encased in a foot of padding carrying advertisements for the sponsor? If a player touches the covering he is deemed to be in touch. And if the flags had not been covered last Saturday O'Neill's try would have been obvious even to Lander.

The choice of Lille as the venue was as bad a call as Lander's. The area between the 22-metre lines was like a bog, and there was not even a scoreboard. "That was due to a technical fault," said McGrath.

The facilities at Lille Airport were also totally inadequate, the situation chaotic. Not even a sandwich was available and the only restaurant was closed on Saturday night as thousands of Munster supporters waited. ERC stands indicted and I hope they have learned a lesson from last Saturday. The competition, those who play in it and those who support it were badly served.