Africa-Press – South-Africa. Had the Stormers lost Saturday’s URC semi-final showdown against Ulster, Scottish referee Mike Adamson wouldn’t have been the most popular man in Cape Town.
When the final whistle blew, however, roughly 30 000 in attendance had forgotten the many decisions that left them frustrated throughout the afternoon.
Damian Willemse has blue and white in his veins
Manie Libbok’s conversion long after the full-time hooter secured a 17-15 win for the hosts, who will now meet the Bulls in next weekend’s tournament final at the same venue.
It was so very nearly a different story for the Stormers, who were woefully poor for large periods of the contest.
Ultimately, that is why they came so close to an upset exit, but as poor as the Stormers were, many felt Adamson was worse, most notably when he refused to check a potential forward pass that led to Ulster’s first try.
It was almost as if Adamson was trying to over-compensate for the pressures that come with refereeing in front of a vocal home crowd, and while Stormers head coach John Dobson was all smiles at the end, he acknowledged after the match that some of the officiating had been “frustrating”.
“It was quite a hot topic during the game,” said Dobson.
“I think for both the coaching box and the players – leaders on the field – they found it quite a frustrating afternoon.
“I don’t know if this goes back to the British & Irish Lions tour, but what’s really important to me is that we get equal access to the referees and have the same interactions. Both teams need to be afforded that.
“I don’t want to say too much, but it was a frustrating afternoon for us. I don’t think we got the relationship we should have got with Mike.”
The Stormers also finished the game with 14 men after Adre Smith was red-carded in the last quarter.
“I think it was a tough one on Adre,” said skipper Steven Kitshoff.
“The law is the law, but I don’t think there was any intentional foul play from his side.”
Attention will now turn swiftly to this coming Saturday, where the Stormers and Bulls will meet for a shot at history.
Kickoff will be at 19:30.
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