An SA TMO could well have sunk the Boks in the Tri-Nations

Was it or was it not a try of Ma’a Nonu shortly after the restart of the All Blacks-Wallabies Tri-Nations clash at Eden Park?

Mark Lawrence, one of the world’s best referees, referred the decision to Shaun Veldsman, a fellow South African who was the television match official, to study the six different camera angles in slow motion and determine whether Ma’a Nonu had control of the ball in touching down over the try line when tackled by Lote Tuqiri.

The images and replay that the TMO saw is what we, the public, saw.

There is no question about two dead-certain facts.

1. Shaun Veldsman needs a sponsorship from SpecSavers, with complementary eye examination and new lenses.

2. Ma’a Nonu had no downward control over the ball and spilled it a fraction before he was able to apply downward pressure to dot it down.

The consequence has been a number of events, or non-events, from the All Blacks and Wallabies coaches in contrasting responses.

First, All Black head coach Graham Henry has praised Lawrence — his praise comes in a season that has been marred by “cheating claims, alleged judicial bias and refereeing controversies”.

“I thought Mark Lawrence refereed the match well,” Henry declared.

Second, Robbie Deans, the Australian coach, has impressed with his conspicuous silence, which is deafening.

The fact remains the All Blacks got a bonus point from a try that was highly questionable and nothing can alter that situation.

What is irksome is that such a match should be marred by sloppy decisions from the assistant referee who never put his flag up for Woodcock stepping into touch en route for his second try to Veldsman for not reading the countless replays correctly.

Take away those 10 points and the All Blacks are not so mighty a machine.

Will this bonus point be a crucial factor in the Tri-Nations? The answer is a resounding “Yes” as the teams have shown that no one team is dominant and it is wide open.

All the more reason to get SpecSavers in as a sponsor of the Test-match officials. But are they brave enough to sponsor them?