IRB set to make Allan the fall guy for try debacle

THE touch judge who mistakenly advised Jonathan Kaplan to award Wales’ try against Ireland on Saturday is likely to be sanctioned by the IRB today.

Peter Allan told referee Kaplan the correct ball had been thrown into play for Mike Phillips’ try, a moment which changed the game.

Former Irish star Ollie Campbell led the calls for an investigation by the governing body and their findings are expected later today.

Every IRB game is reviewed by referee assessors and match referees also include their own self appraisals, while head of officiating Paddy O’Brien has his say in the reports as well.

“The IRB is currently awaiting reviews from all three games from the weekend,” said the IRB’s head of communications Dominic Rumbles.

“We would not like to comment any further at this stage.”

However, the Irish Examiner understands Allan is likely to take the blame for the incident while Kaplan, who did not refer the incident to the television match official despite calls by the Irish team to do so, will not be implicated.

Kaplan has not escaped totally unscathed though and has been given a three-week break from Super Rugby duty.

It’s not the first time he has been involved in a controversial award of an important try. He was under fire in Australia last month for failing to go to the television match in the Melbourne Rebels’ 25-24 win over the Brumbies.

Interestingly he was also in charge of a Super 14 tie between the Western Force and Auckland Blues in May 2007 when Keven Mealamu appeared to have caught the home side off-guard with his team’s third try.

Replays clearly showed Ali Williams, who took the quick lineout to hand Mealamu an unchallenged run to the line, was handed a different ball by the ball boy to the one kicked into touch.

Australian touch judge James Leckie played the role of Allen, dropping his flag to signify all was fine with the throw-in and Kaplan waved away protests.

Wales remained unmoved by the stroke of good fortune that saw Phillips turn the tide in favour of the Dragons.

The scrum-half, who also celebrated his 50th cap, said: “I was chuffed to get the opportunity and I took it. I don’t know exactly what happened but we had a similar call in youth rugby but this is the first time we’ve used it with Wales.

“It was nice for luck to go our way for a change. Ireland had one or two high tackles on us as well, but it’s tough for the referee to pick up everything.”

Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll was not so upbeat following the loss and a week of abuse from the public on Twitter which forced the team into a 48-hour self-imposed ban.

“You would wonder if it’s worth it bothering being on here,” he wrote.