Simon Zebo has weighed in on the “inconsistent” calls that have gone Leinster’s way after Josh van der Flier’s controversial try against Munster.

The contentious call occurred in the 53rd minute of Leinster’s 28-7 victory over Munster at Thomond Park with the Ireland flanker crossing the whitewash shortly after the hosts had scored their first and only points of the match.

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Zebo described the try as a “momentum shift” and echoed the thoughts of Connacht back Mack Hansen, whose foul-mouthed outburst caused a stir last week.

Hansen was livid by the officials missing Jordie Barrett’s clear-out on Bundee Aki, while in contrast, the tackle from Josh Ioane on Gus McCarthy was checked multiple times before a decision was made, and the outside back did not hold back in the post-match press conference.

“I feel like we get this every week. We never get any calls, ever. I’ve been feeling this for years now,” Hansen told reporters.

“You can’t possibly tell me yourselves sitting there, like checking the Gus McCarthy one, how much? How much did they check that, 10, 11 times? Bundee gets a direct hit to the head, it’s quite obvious, no call, doesn’t care.

“It’s like we get that every time so you can hear the frustration in my voice ’cause it’s starting to get to the point where, honestly, it’s bull***t and it’s starting to get really frustrating for us ‘cause people will say we are an inconsistent team but when you are getting some of the calls we’re getting like, of course, you are going to be.”

This week, it was Zebo and fellow ex-Ireland international Stephen Ferris who questioned the legality of a big moment in a game involving Leinster.

“I’m not sure because a ruck had already been formed, it’s already been played that he is allowed to play it off the ground,” Ferris admitted on Premier Sports.

“But that was a big moment in the game and if it was looked at and swung around, it could have been a penalty to Munster.”

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“Commit a crime like that”

Zebo agreed and rued the inconsistencies of decisions.

“That is what we were saying before the game about Mack Hansen’s comments, it’s so inconsistent,” the former Munster full-back added.

“They [the officials] don’t even have a look at it and Tadhg Beirne runs over to the ref straight away, flailing his arms and he doesn’t even have a look. Just have a look or cue your TMO to have a look, you don’t have to interrupt anything, and you let the game keep going.

“If you think it is a try, okay carry on, just let the TMO have a proper look at it.

“I don’t know, it’s just inconsistent.”

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Asked if that was an example of the big teams getting the benefit of the margin calls, Zebo added: “Yeah, I agree with that. It was such a momentum shift when they scored that try and it’s so deflating for Munster.

“And if you commit a crime like that, you should be punished,” he added with a chuckle.

Leinster finish 2024 on top of the table

Munster were unable to recover from that setback and while Zebo admitted that Leinster still would have won the game, he believed that the hosts would have stayed in the match longer had the try not been awarded.

Instead, Caelan Doris would grab the bonus-point try for the men in blue with Cian Healy denied by the TMO in the final knockings of the derby.

The result means that Leinster end 2024 with a perfect record of nine wins from nine in the new URC season having also won both of their Investec Champions Cup matches.

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/just-have-a-look-simon-zebo-pleas-as-leinster-commit-a-crime-against-munster