Do we want the decisions to be right or the game to be “free flowing”?

That’s the questionafter an old-fashioned howler cost the Brumbies the match against the Reds in Canberra on Saturday.

Filipo Daugunu clearly knocked on at the final restart, but it was missed, and the Reds promptly went up to the other end and scored the match-winner in their 34-31 win.

Setting aside the perception issue of having two former Queensland halfbacks in the Super Rugby refereeing pool - a perception issue, not a real one, it must be added - the fact that the television match official (TMO) could not intervene to correct Damon Murphy’s on-field error raises a big problem for the competition.

In one sense, the Brumbies have to cop it on the chin - all coaches apparently signed up for the guidelines that keep the TMO out of the game - but this was not the first try scored this season that should not have been allowed.

There is a very fine line between chasing entertainment and maintaining the integrity of the result.

Friday night didn’t pan out well for the Waratahs.Credit: Getty Images

A triple whammy for the Waratahs

It was a bad weekend for the Waratahs, with three significant setbacks. The 59-19 loss to the Hurricanes highlighted limitations in both strategy and personnel.

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