‘Was there a TMO!?’ – Outrage as Siya Kolisi is injured by unpunished Sam Cane high tackle
Sam Cane escaped punishment for the high tackle on Siya Kolisi which is likely to rule him out of the Cape Town Test match.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi is set to miss the second match against the All Blacks after sustaining a facial injury in the 31-27 victory at Ellis Park.
Kolisi was forced off the pitch in the final quarter of the match opting to continue playing despite sustaining the injury 10 minutes prior.
Kolisi’s cops a high shot
In the 48th minute of the clash at Ellis Park, the Springboks had an attacking lineout just outside the All Blacks 22 and at the time, South Africa were trailing 14-22.
The Boks failed to secure possession at the lineout with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Malcolm Marx not syncing up right with the latter’s throw going over his teammate’s out-stretched arms.
Kolisi, who was not part of the lineout, shot up and secured possession and was quickly wrapped up by All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor who tackled the flanker around his waist. However, Sam Cane came in to assist Taylor with the tackle and clattered into South Africa’s captain executing a high tackle to Kolisi’s face.
Referee Andrew Brace would award the Springboks a penalty advantage as Taylor fell on the wrong side of the ruck after making the tackle before another penalty soon after brought a halt to play.
Springboks: Siya Kolisi in doubt for second All Blacks Test after nasty injury
It was at that time that New Zealand were issued a warning for the number of penalties they had conceded. Kolisi was receiving treatment at the time as the shot had caused him to bleed but did approach Brace to bring the tackle to the referee’s attention.
Brace responded: “If it is clear, then he [TMO, Brian MacNeice] will come in.”
TMO MacNeice would eventually come in to highlight the tackle with Brace and he deemed that it did not warrant a further review by the man in the middle.
The Springboks would opt for a kick at goal which Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu would slot to bring the Springboks within five points of New Zealand.
Sam Cane's tackle on Siya Kolisi.#RSAvNZL #RugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/9oP0bMYuBH
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 1, 2024
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Sam Cane slammed
The incident did not go unnoticed by viewers online particularly with Kolisi’s face being so swollen after the match. Rassie Erasmus stated that while he is not a medical doctor, he believed it was a fracture but that further assessment would need to be made.
“Sam Cane could do with some hip mobility exercises… Because those hips DO NOT BEND,” @AnalystGus wrote in a response to a video on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Another reaction to the incident read: “49th minute: Sam Cane clearly hits Siya Kolisi with a high tackle. Kolisi goes down and gets medical attention. That’s what broke his cheekbone. Why wasn’t it even reviewed?”
Former England fly-half Andy Goode also weighed in with his view slamming the TMO.
“Was there a TMO in the SA v NZ game? Missed the Bongi Mbonambi knock on when he “scored” and a possible red card for Sam Cane’s head high hit on Siya Kolisi, he must have been in the bogs,” he wrote.
One fan added: “Another instance of NZ not getting penalized when needed. Sam Cane, again, went high (straight shoulder to face). This is what caused Kolisi to suffer the fractured cheekbone. This should’ve definitely been a card.”
