Gatland laments TMO call after loss

WALES coach Warren Gatland was left bemoaning a “terrible” replay ruling following a 12-6 defeat by England in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday.

With England leading 12-0, it appeared Wales fullback Gareth Anscombe, under pressure from home wing Anthony Watson, had touched down for a 24th-minute try.

But television match official Glenn Newman ruled Anscombe had not grounded the ball.

French referee Jerome Garces awarded Wales a penalty, which Rhys Patchell kicked, for an infringement in the build-up.

But that still left England two scores in front at 12-3.

England, who saw wing Jonny May twice cross early on for his first tries in the Six Nations, held on, with an Anscombe penalty three minutes from time too late to turn the tide in Wales’s favour.

“I cannot understand why the television match official did not award Gareth Anscombe the try,” Gatland said of the decision made by Newman.

“You could see on the replay that he got there first, put his hand on the ball and grounded it. It was a big moment in the game and he [Newman] got the decision wrong.

“It looked like a fair try to me.”

Gatland, a two-time British and Irish Lions coach, launched his reign as Wales coach 10 years ago.

“It is disappointing to get such a big decision wrong. The TMO had one big call to make and he made a terrible mistake,” Gatland said.