Johan Ackermann 'flabbergasted' that Jerome Garces didn't refer decisions in Challenge Cup defeat to TMO

Gloucester head coach didn't understand why Garces decided not to review the decision to rule out Lewis Ludlow's try and the awarding of the match-winning penalty

Lewis Ludlow saw his try for Gloucester ruled out for a forward pass by referee Jerome Garces (Getty)

Johan Ackermann questioned why referee Jerome Garces refused to use his television match official on two key decisions during Gloucester's nail-biting 31-30 defeat by Cardiff Blues in the European Challenge Cup, but accepted that such crucial moments will always happen in sport and that they will not always go the way that he wishes.

Garces came under criticism for his decision to chalk off a try from Gloucester flanker Lewis Ludlow, who was then sent to the sin-bin later in the second half for what the French referee told the Gloucester captain Ed Slater was a “cynical penalty” by coming in the side of the ruck in their own red zone. Down to 14 men, Gloucester conceded a try scored by Blues wing Blaine Scully, before a second contentious decision saw the Welsh outfit awarded a penalty that Gareth Anscombe kicked in the penultimate minute to win the match.

Ackermann did question why Garces chose not to refer Ludlow’s try – which was ruled out for a forward pass on advice from assistant referee Pascal Gauzere – to the TMO, and also why the final penalty was given against wing Tom Marshall for holding on when the South African coach believed it should have been called a ruck.

“The Cardiff one I’m not sure about but the Gloucester one I felt if we have the technology then use it, and then at least if you got it right even if it’s your gut feeling on the field, you’ve got that confirmation and the next day or the following day or an hour after the game you’ve got a clean slate,” said the Gloucester head coach.

“That’s why I say it still flabbergasts me sometimes when we have the technology but we don’t want to use it, but we’re using it for a simple try like the winger from Cardiff [Scully] scoring in the corner. We could see that’s a try but we’ll refer that one, so I was disappointed that we don’t want to lose it but I don’t want to debate on that angle because we could argue ‘was it forward or not’ and the same with the yellow card, it’s big decisions in big games so it’s a simple thing of using the technology.

“We have to live with that, that’s sport and obviously we could look at how not to put ourselves in that position where such decisions impact the game.”

The defeat was Gloucester’s second Challenge Cup final loss in as many years, and also represents the third consecutive final heartbreak for Ackermann on a personal level. However, he stressed that the near-miss was not the end of the world to his players, taking a philosophical approach that they can still be proud of their achievements – particularly having qualified for next season’s European Champions Cup by reaching the final alone.

“We said just now, myself and Ed [Slater], obviously that is sport, sometimes decisions go against you and I said to the players in the changing room that’s life as well,” he added. “If everyone here could say we’ve had smooth sailing in our life, no setbacks, no disappointments, no heartache, no sorrow, it would be a great life, but somebody had to lose tonight and the reality is we still have a lot to be thankful for, a lot of things like we all have families.

Garces was jeered by Gloucester fans after replays were shown of the disallowed try (Getty)

“Tomorrow the sun will shine and we all get another day to live of this earth so for us that’s emotions speaking and we all will be emotional if we lose and like I said there’s always decisions – even the last decision I can argue it was a ruck, they should have released the ball, our cleaner was there, so why the penalty and why not a scrum? I don’t know, it led to Cardiff winning the game.

“I’m not going to sleep well tonight and I’m probably not going to sleep well for the next seven or eight nights because it’s the third final in a row that I’m losing, but we just spoke about it, we can either not take part in this game or we can, but then sometimes things will go for you, sometimes not.”

Cardiff's brilliant fightback gave Danny Wilson a winning farewell (Getty)

Departing Cardiff head coach Danny Wilson was unsurprisingly overjoyed to end his reign with a thrilling final victory, with the Welshman due to join Wasps next season as forwards’ coach.

"It's a fantastic feeling. For this group over a three-year period to go through the ups and downs we've gone through and to finish it off in the style we have to win some silverware is fantastic and something I'll always remember,” he said.