🔥 Trending Nika Amashukeli Overrules TMO: What Happened in the Bulls vs. All Blacks Game?

Referee Nika Amashukeli's Rare Overrule in Bulls vs. All Blacks Match

During the recent Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour fixture on Saturday, August 16, 2026, in Pretoria, South Africa, a notable incident occurred involving Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli and French Television Match Official (TMO) Eric Gauzins. Amashukeli made a rare decision to overrule his TMO during the match between the All Blacks and the Bulls ¹³⁸.

The Incident

The event took place in the second half of the game when Bulls lock Ruan Vermaak powered over for what appeared to be a try ¹¹⁰. Referee Nika Amashukeli initially awarded the try ¹³⁶. However, TMO Eric Gauzins intervened, attempting to persuade Amashukeli to disallow the score due to a perceived knock-on ¹³⁸.

Amashukeli's Decision

In an unusual move, Amashukeli disagreed with his TMO and chose to stick with his original decision to award the try to the Bulls ³⁶⁸. This kind of disagreement and subsequent overrule by the on-field referee is considered a rarity in professional rugby ³⁸.

Match Context

The match, which saw the All Blacks defeat the Bulls 50-19, was part of the All Blacks' tour in South Africa ²⁴⁷. The All Blacks scored eight tries in total, maintaining their unbeaten record on the tour ²⁷. Despite the Bulls' efforts, including Vermaak's try, they ultimately fell short against the dominant New Zealand side ⁴⁷. This was the first time these specific Bulls and All Blacks teams played each other, with the All Blacks showing strong form ⁹.