Gatland rants against ‘terrible mistake’ by TMO

LONDON: Wales coach Warren Gatland said a “terrible mistake” by the television match official had cost his side the chance of an upset victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday.

England edged a gripping Six Nations arm wrestle 12-6 on a raw afternoon but things could have been different had Wales fullback Gareth Anscombe’s try been allowed to stand before the interval.

After two Jonny May tries had given England a 12-0 lead Anscombe appeared to have marginally won a race to touch down a loose ball over the England line with Jonathan Joseph.

However TMO official Glenn Newman deemed otherwise, instructing French referee Jerome Garces to rule it out

Newman said Joseph had got their first and that Anscombe had failed to exert enough downward pressure on the bouncing ball.

Gatland, whose side have now won only one of their last six away games in the tournament, was left mystified by the call.

“It looked like a try to me, everyone else I have spoken to who has seen it said it looked like a clear try,” he told reporters.

“To me that’s disappointing that they got that decision wrong at such a pivotal moment in the game.

“They flew a guy over to do a TMO and he has one big call to make and he unfortunately made a terrible mistake.

“I just struggle on the wording. He said that England got their first and there was no clear downward pressure. I saw that completely different. I thought Gareth got there first and there was clearly downward pressure.

“It’s human error. But in front of 82,000 people when there’s a lot at stake these guys have to get these decisions right. That looked a clearcut one to me.”

Despite Wales clawing their way back into contention with a valiant second-half display after England’s fast start, captain Alun Wyn Jones said it had been too little too late.

“We showed positive character and were in the ascendancy in the second half,” he said.

England coach Eddie Jones preferred to steer clear of the controversy, heaping praise on his side who have now won 15 consecutive home games in the Six Nations.

Holders England slipped behind Ireland at the top of the table on points difference but remained on course for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title.