It was a crucial answering try early on by Chiefs centre Seta Tamanivalu - but should it have been awarded?

Sky Sport comments man Justin Marshall certainly didn't think so, telling the television audience that Tamanivalu's first try in the Super Rugby showdown against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday night should never have stood.

Cory Jane had scored early on for the Hurricanes, but just four minutes later Tamanivalu received the ball 15 metres out, slipped through one tackle and powered to the line. But as he reached out to ground, the ball bounced suspiciously high.

Referee Craig Joubert sent it to TMO Glenn Newman, and Marshall weighed in with his view: "His reaction to me is he lost it. He's not got control of that ... he's let it go."

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Then, after numerous replays, Newman declared: "There's no clear and obvious separation, therefore you can award the try."

Marshall, the former All Black halfback, was flummoxed. "I honestly think that's rubbish, I really do," he declared.

The try was converted and gave the Chiefs an early 7-5 lead in the match between first and third in the New Zealand conference.

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