The Stormers are out of the Champions Cup after a 28-27 loss to Toulon at Stade Mayol on Saturday, a result that hinged on a late TMO ruling that denied lock Adre Smith what appeared to be a match-winning try.
With the Stormers trailing and needing to score twice in the final eight minutes, they hauled themselves back into contention only to see the moment of apparent glory overturned on review. The TMO found Smith had been held up over the line, a call that left coach John Dobson visibly frustrated — not least because Toulon flank Charles Ollivon, who made the intervention, appeared to be on the ground and inside the field of play at the time.
"I believe Adre Smith got it down, but I don't understand why it wasn't awarded," Dobson said. "Once it goes to the TMO, then maybe you can't see the grounding, and the on-field decision for some reason is no try. What's frustrating for us is that Ollivon is clearly inside the field of play and on the ground."
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu acknowledged that a drop goal was an option he did not take in the closing stages. "Upon reflection, I probably could've dropped into the pocket, but it's easier said when things don't go our way," he said, while stopping short of criticising the officiating directly. He did flag a separate maul decision involving JD Schickerling as another moment where fortune did not favour the Stormers.
Dobson was measured in his broader assessment, crediting the performance while identifying areas that cost them. The Stormers failed to achieve their usual scrum dominance, and a costly defensive lapse — conceding a try immediately after going ahead — proved decisive. "We should never have been in that position," he said. "We would've loved to have won this game at one of the cathedrals of rugby, but we were maybe not quite good enough in some areas."
Attention now shifts back to the URC, with Connacht visiting Cape Town Stadium on April 18. Dobson flagged defensive spacing as the primary area requiring attention ahead of that match, though he was at pains to acknowledge the physicality and heart shown at Stade Mayol. "You can see that Toulon was visibly tiring after some great defensive sets," he said.