World Rugby concedes All Blacks’ disallowed try in Rugby World Cup final should have stood
World Rugby concedes All Blacks’ disallowed try in Rugby World Cup final should have stood
The All Blacks now have another event to add to their “what-if” dossier following their heartbreaking 12-11 Rugby World Cup final defeat to South Africa.
Things are understood While acknowledging in private to the All Blacks that the decision to throw out Aaron Smith’s try in the final was in violation of the regulations, World Rugby is not making this publicly available.
There have been continuing talks to get World Rugby to officially state that the TMO verdict violated the rules that now govern the game.
In the 54th minute of the thrilling championship game at the Stade de France in Paris, Richie Mo’unga made a spectacular break that set up Smith’s disallowed try.
When TMO Tom Foley detected a knock-on during a lineout, it was called back, and referee Wayne Barnes subsequently rejected the try.
Though the TMO can only go back two phases for any knock-on in the build-up to a try, the knock-on occurred four phases prior to the Smith try.
In the middle of 2022, World Rugby revised its TMO methodology. According to a statement, TMO referrals were permitted for “all clear and evident knock-on or throw forward infringements within two phases leading to a likely try.”
Beauden Barrett gave the All Blacks a four-minute head start on the try, but he did so in a less favorable position for Mo’unga’s conversion attempt.
Mo’unga failed to make the kick, which would have given the All Blacks the advantage, and Jordie Barrett missed a subsequent penalty kick attempt. There were several pivotal moments in the Rugby World Cup final, such as the red card given to All Blacks captain Sam Cane and the yellow card given to Springboks captain Siya Kolisi.
Concerns were also raised when Faf de Klerk, the halfback for the Springboks, refused to give up the ball to the scrum while his team was under pressure late in the second half.
Though these situations are ultimately up for interpretation, the All Blacks were irritated by the Smith “no-try” incident because it was obviously against World Rugby’s own regulations.
The incident also demonstrates the extent to which video officials have essentially taken over refereeing rugby matches.
In his remarks the day after the Rugby World Cup final, departing All Blacks coach Ian Foster was careful to avoid placing the responsibility on Barnes, instead highlighting more significant problems.
“We need to view this from a different perspective,” Foster stated. “Officiating this game is difficult.
“A lot of pressure is present. Wayne has been an excellent referee for a very long time and is a terrific person. Even if I disagreed with several of his choices from last night, he is still a good man and referee.
“What we own must belong to us. Many of the problems in the game, in my opinion, were outside his control.
After the Rugby World Cup, former referee Nigel Owens made similar comments in a column for a Welsh newspaper.
The bunker and technology then provide a problem, according to Owens. “It simply seems wrong that the TMO is officiating games at the moment.”
“They ought to be making more of the important choices while your top player is on the field. Six people shared their opinions on a decision between the TMO, the bunker, and the on-field officials. Never before has there been an overabundance of cooks in the kitchen.