Blues five-eighth Stephen Perofeta was the victim of a bizarre smash and grab raid during the Super Rugby Pacific match against the Fijian Drua in Whangarei on Saturday.
Perofeta was preparing to convert the first try of the game, which was scored by Hoskins Sotutu, when the ball toppled off the kicking tee.
Having plonked the ball back on the tee, and with the clock ticking, Perofeta then attempted to continue his routine but was denied the opportunity to do so because the Drua players rushed up and attempted to pluck the ball off its perch.
Referee Ben O’Keeffe ruled in favour of the Drua, saying the ball was “live.”
“You have got to take it, you have got to take it,'” O’Keeffe barked to Perofeta, as he tried to prevent the Drua players from taking possession of the ball.
Perofeta was clearly unhappy with the outcome, as he unsuccessfully pleaded his case.
It mattered little in the end as the impressive Blues romped to a 34-10 win in coach Vern Cotter’s first game in charge.
It wasn’t the first time a goalkicker has had the ball stolen from under his nose.
Earlier this month, England’s George Ford was stunned to look up and see Wales winger Rhys Dyer had rushed up and booted the ball off the tee during a Six Nations match in London.
A surprised Ford turned to New Zealand referee James Doleman to plead his case, and ask that he be given the chance to take another conversion attempt, but was told that Dyer had operated within the rules.
Doleman correctly explained that because Ford had begun his approach to the ball, the Welshman had every right to sprint up and attempt a charge down.
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