Scotland fans want game replayed after referee 'cost' Finn Russell as unseen clip goes viral
Yesterday at 02:58 PM
Jamie Roberts was left baffled after spotting an unusual moment in Scotland’s clash, where Finn Russell took a crucial conversion from a tougher angle than necessary.
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The fly-half lined up his kick near the left touchline—around two metres wider than where Duhan van der Merwe had actually touched down.
Taking to X after the game, Roberts questioned the decision:
“Epic finish. I'm certainly no place kicker – but interesting that the kicking tee for the vital conversion was placed 2m further towards the touchline from where the try was scored, making the kick a tighter angle? Do kickers do that purposefully?”
Hours later, Roberts posted a clip that seemed to clear things up. It wasn’t Russell's choice—referee Pierre Broussett appeared to instruct him to move the tee further wide.
“Actually, the ref pushed him out 2m,” a stunned Roberts added.
The revelation sparked outrage among fans, who were quick to call out the officiating blunder. While there’s no way to say for sure that Russell would have nailed the original kick, the fact his effort drifted just a couple of feet wide suggests a slightly better angle could have made all the difference.
One fan fumed:
“Such a poor bit of officiating given the magnitude of the moment. That's not even splitting inches—that's 2m, which is huge in this situation. And that's before you factor in the shot clock pressure and Russell having to reset further out.”
Another added:
“Ref has done him dirty there. Shocking given the amount of cameras and officials watching.”
A third weighed in:
“That's a shocker. Not only does he have to move wider, but he also loses five seconds on the shot clock.”
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Six players who flopped in the Six Nations today, one player ‘cost his team’
Ireland bagged their 14th Triple Crown in style, keeping their hopes of a historic third consecutive Six Nations title alive with a nail-biting victory over Wales in Cardiff.
Meanwhile, England edged closer to the business end of the competition, but a missed 79th-minute conversion from Finn Russell saw Scotland's Calcutta Cup winning streak come to a halt at Allianz Stadium.
But let's turn the spotlight onto the five players who didn't quite live up to expectations in today's Six Nations action…
#1. Finn Russell (Scotland)
Planet Rugby 5/10: “Not a game the Scotland co-captain will remember fondly as his goal-kicking proved costly and in the end it was the difference between winning and losing for his side. As expected, he asked plenty of questions of England's defence but his inability to convert any tries will haunt Scotland's fans for some time.”
RUCK 4/10: “Co-captain Russell's kicking was the difference in a heartbreaking result for the Scots, failing to make any of his three conversions from wide areas. While he was reliable away from the tee and all three kicks were near the touchline, there's no looking past his abysmal kicking in a gut-wrenching Scottish defeat which ends their championship hopes.”
Telegraph 5/10: “Missed a tackle for a Lawrence break. No problem finding width, but then what? Missed (tough) conversions were killer. A step back for his Lions hopes.”
#2. Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
RUCK 3/10: “Gave away a cheap penalty and a consequential yellow card when Ireland were on the back foot towards the end of the first half which not only gave Wales an easy three points but a bunker review upgrade to a red card took Ringrose out of the game really before he even got into it.”
Rugby Pass 4/10: “Back in the starting side after coming off the pine against Scotland. Maybe could have scored but for a poor pass from Jamie Osborne and was yellow-carded minutes later for a clumsy challenge that was upgraded to a 20-minute red.”
JOE 5/10: “Was good while he was in the pitch but his red card was costly.”
BALLS.ie: “Did little in attack but stuck all six of his tackles. Unfortunately, one of them was too high on Thomas and he copped a 20-minute red card.”
Planet. Rugby 3/10: “A bad day for the centre, who was red carded for a head-on-head collision with Ben Thomas and will probably sit out the rest of the Six Nations as a result.”
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