Law discussion: Why the officials got Makazole Mapimpi’s first try correct in Scotland v Springboks clash
Makazole Mapimpi scoring his first try for the Springboks against Scotland in 2024.
The Springboks secured a dominant 32-15 victory over Scotland in their opening Autumn Nations Series encounter but some claimed they were helped out early on.
In the fourth minute, Makazole Mapimpi sent Rassie Erasmus’ men on their way to a win when he touched down after latching onto Handre Pollard’s cross-field kick to score.
Mapimpi fended off Tom Jordan’s attempted tackle to go over in the corner, putting the visitors 5-0 in front.
On first viewing, the outstanding wing, who has now accrued 32 Test tries in 46 games, appeared to score easily in the corner, but the reverse angle hinted that he could have been in touch.
Relevant law
Under Law 21.4, which references the in-goal area, it states: “When an attacking player holding the ball grounds the ball in-goal and simultaneously makes contact with the touch-in-goal line or the dead-ball line (or anywhere beyond either), a 22-metre drop-out is awarded to the defending team.”
That means the Springboks wing needed to have got the ball down before his hand touched the dead-ball area to have scored.
After the try was put on social media, some observers seemed convinced that Mapimpi’s hand grazed the line at the same time that the ball was put down, but there was no conclusive evidence it happened.
The try was immediately awarded by referee Christophe Ridley and television match official Ian Tempest decided not to step in but, even if he had, conclusive proof would have been needed to overturn the original decision.
Key images
As these split images show (below), which were taken at the exact moment the ball is touched down, Mapimpi’s left hand appears to be inside the line.
At the very least, it is not categorically on the whitewash, which is why the officials were correct to award the try.
Mapimpi would go on to add a second try later in the half as the visitors went into the break 19-9 ahead against Scotland.
Although two Finn Russell penalties reduced the arrears in the second period, successive Pollard three-pointers, allied by Jasper Wiese’s late score, sealed the win for the Boks.
READ MORE: Rassie Erasmus: ‘It will be sad the day when Mapimpi is done because he always produces’
