The end of the game between the Highlanders and the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night could have not been any more contentious.
In the wash-up at the end of the season, this could be the difference between playoffs and an early shower.
Highlanders winger Patrick Osborne dived for the corner in the tackle of Crusaders fullback Israel Dagg in the last play of the match. At first glance, it looked a try, and with it victory for the Highlanders.
But slow-motion replays suggested Osborne had placed the ball on the touchline and goal line at the same time.
After a lengthy examination by television match official Vinny Munro, the try was ruled out and the Crusaders won, much to the disappointment of most of the 21,305 crowd.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph thought the ball hit the goal line, and it was a 50-50 call.
''I think you can make your own mind up on that. I don't know if that is a try or not a try. The wording I heard was it hit the touchline and the goal line simultaneously. I did not see a touchline - I saw a goal line.
''The rule is if it hits the flag, and I saw it hit the flag.''
Rugby laws state if a ball or a player carrying the ball touches the corner flag, the ball is not out of play unless it is grounded against a flag post.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder was clear in his understanding of the decision and felt Munro had got it right.
''If your foot is on the line and you score, the try it is out. I thought it was the right decision. It just so happened there was a [lot] on it. But it was the right decision,'' Blackadder said.
''We could hear what they [TMO] are saying but you just don't know.
''This year there has been some TMO ones that have been correct and there have been some ones that have been a bit dubious. If we had have lost, we would have just taken our medicine. It was just one of those games.''
