WATCH | Swys slams ref's decision to award Munster a controversial try against Sharks

Former Springbok assistant coach Swys de Bruin has criticised match officials for awarding a crucial try to Munster in their 22-22 draw against the Sharks in Durban at the weekend.

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The Sharks led 22-3 early in the second half, but a strong fightback by Munster saw the Irish team snatch a draw.

However, Munster winger Calvin Nash's try in the 53rd minute was a controversial one.

Nash was awarded a try after he dived on the ball in the corner. Replays showed Nash’s foot was in touch when he made contact with the ball, which was still airborne, before grounding it to score.

Speaking on SuperSport's Final Whistle programme, De Bruin said the wrong call was made because the ball was still in the air when Nash made contact.

"Terrible officiating," De Bruin said. "The ref was wrong, everyone was wrong. That was not a try!" 

Law 22.4 (g) stipulates that "if an attacking player is in touch or in touch-in-goal, the player can score a try by grounding the ball in the opponents' in-goal provided the player is not carrying the ball".

However, the laws also stipulate that "a player is considered to be carrying the ball as the ball is in the air when it is first played". 

In this instance, Nash was "carrying" the ball in touch - outside the field of play - as the ball was still in the air when he made contact with it as his foot was simultaneously on the touchline.

Therefore, De Bruin argued, the try should not have been awarded.

WATCH De Bruin's explanation in the video clip below: 

??? "The TMO was wrong, everyone was wrong, that was not a try!"??? "The ball is in the air, his foot is in touch."Swys de Bruin explains why Calvin Nash's try against the Cell