How did Francois Steyn think he could get away with this right in front of Nigel Owens?
Northampton Saints claimed a closely-fought victory over Montpellier in their Champions Cup opener on Saturday thanks to a late Stephen Myler penalty to seal the 16-14 win.
The 2000 champions will have been thrilled to get off to a good start in a group that also features three-time champions Leinster (who beat the Saints in the 2011 final) but it could have been so different if referee Nigel Owens had not spotted an offence during a conversion attempt early in the game.
In the early stages of the match, Myler was unfairly distracted by Francois Steyn while trying to add two points to Calum Clark’s fourth-minute try.
With Myler attempting to slot the ball home from the corner, Steyn did his best to charge down the kick. But when he made his run-up, he shouted ‘Miss!’ just as the English fly-half struck the ball, and the effort went sailing to the right.
The crowd were displeased with the South African’s conduct and a chorus of boos boomed around Franklin’s Gardens. Never one to let the integrity of the game slip away, Owens spotted it straight away and acted swiftly.
The Welshman – who officiated last year’s World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia in Twickenham – immediately called for the penalty to be retaken and gave Steyn a good talking to on the pitch.
Myler’s second effort went straight between the posts and more importantly, justice was served as those two points were all that separated the sides at the end of the 80 minutes.
That told him! @MHR_officiel's @fsteyn12 is reprimanded by ref @Nigelrefowens for some ungentlemanly conduct. https://t.co/QgchRu34hy
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 16, 2016
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