Absolutely respect that TSR, however for a good proportion of the game the Hurricanes were sloppy too. Missed tackles and lots of dropped ball/bombed tries. The result of this was a closely contested match between two teams on a similar level. However, those absolutely crucial howlers turned the match and it ceased being a genuine contest. I don’t think it’s a side story.
I agree the score didn’t reflect the game. As I said, I think the Hurricanes were very much there for the taking.
But I think it’s been a feature of TT that defensive lines have consistently been offside, tacklers have deliberately impeded the ball release to help create breakdown turnovers and players are coming in from the side and not supporting their body weight. I hate it - but that is where professional rugby is at the moment, in this comp at least. So, if you know that and you don’t do the same you are setting yourself up to fail.
I’m not trying to pretend the Reds are clean skins. They infringe too - but I think they are a step behind where they need to be with their breakdown and they are struggling to have breakdown presence as a consequence.
I am hoping that a reffereeing directive will come out to be zealous on policing offside, rolling away and side entry - but until it does you play the ref.
Edit: as an aside, I thought Daugunu’s card was probably right. I thought it was marginal but he probably was offside when he got up and, as such, it was a card. I can also see how he got Hegarty for batting the ball dead - although I disagree Laumape was probably going to score. IMO he’d made his play and missed. But I think a penalty for as fair enough.
My issuing with the reffing was the policing of offside and the breakdown - several crucial plays came off turnovers when the tackler impeded the ball placement - but with BPA, Wright, ASY (Angus Scott-Young) all on the field and McReight off the bench we should have turned that to our advantage IMO.