Scotland 16-20 France: Gregor Townsend 'doesn't understand' TMO ruling
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Should this have been a try? Agony for Scotland
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend "doesn't understand the rationale" behind the controversial late decision that cost his side a Six Nations victory over France.
With Scotland trailing 16-20 at Murrayfield and the 80 minutes up, Sam Skinner appeared to burrow over the line to secure the hosts a dramatic victory.
However, referee Nic Berry's on-field decision was no try, and after lengthy discussions, TMO Brian MacNeice ruled there was no conclusive evidence to overturn that decision.
Replays seemed to show the ball on the ground and the officials looked set to award the try before backtracking - a decision that left Townsend dumbfounded.
"I don't know why he changed his decision," he said. "We were celebrating in the coaching box, having seen the pictures of the ball being placed on the try line after it was on the player's foot.
"It's TMO driven. If the referee's seeing the pictures that we're all seeing, maybe it's on his shoulders as well.
"The TMO was the one that changed his mind, so I don't understand the rationale. When you see the pictures and hear the conversation - they have already said between them the ball was on the try line."
Co-captain Finn Russell also felt Scotland were on the end of a wrong decision, but refused to directly criticise Berry.
"France came out the winning side, but for me that was a try at the end," the Bath fly-half said. "That's not for me to decide, that's up to the referee. That's why he has the job.
"We've got to take this defeat on the chin and get better for England. We can't let the referee decide what happens in a game, that's up to us to play better and make these matches a victory.
"The way we got back into the game, and the way I believe we scored shows the character we've got. I'm proud of the boys for that performance and we will learn from it."
Gregor Townsend reflects on loss to France
'Scotland weren't clinical enough'
Aside from the late drama, Scotland will look back with regret. They scored no points during the 10-minute spell France prop Uini Antonio spent in the sin-bin, conceding a scrum penalty on the stroke of half-time after turning down the opportunity for three points. On multiple occasions, visits to the French 22 yielded nothing.
In the second half, with Scotland leading 16-10, they were content to trade kicks and sit on their advantage, waiting on a French mistake rather than going for the kill.
Instead, Louis Bielle-Biarrey took full advantage of a Scottish error to give France the lead for the first time, a score that would ultimately prove decisive.
While the consensus among pundits was that Skinner should have been awarded a try late on, they also believed Scotland should have had the game wrapped up before then.
"Scotland should have won that," former Scotland hooker Fraser Brown said. "They weren't clinical enough.
"France showed absolutely no desire to play any rugby in the second half but within two or three phases they're in behind Scotland and have scored.
"The decision at the end is shocking in my opinion."
Former Scotland prop Peter Wright echoed those thoughts.
"It shouldn't have gotten to that play," he said. "The game should've been dead and buried by that point.
"I'm not accusing Nic Berry of losing the game for Scotland. Scotland lost the game for themselves. They weren't clinical enough. Scotland will be very disappointed.
"That's what disappoints you, the ease with which France scored the second try. The frustration is they lost a game they definitely should've won.
"The only way that ball didn't touch the white line is if someone had dug out the line and it was just muck. Even if it was France, I'd be saying the same thing. Every player knew it was a try."