Ref admits mistakes over key decisions

REFEREE Pascal Gauzere has admitted he made two errors in Wales’ Six Nations win over England on Saturday.

The Frenchman came in for criticism from English supporters and pundits after two big first-half calls that resulted in Welsh tries in the 40-24 win in Cardiff.

And Joel Jutge, World Rugby’s Head of Match Officials, says Gauzere has acknowledged to him that he got both decisions wrong.

Speaking to French publication Midi Olympique, World Rugby’s referees manager Joel Jutge said that the French referee was transparent about his own errors.

“I think one has to be transparent, say what one thinks rather than let things fester,” Jutge said.

“In this game there were two unfortunate incidents, which were not simple to manage. I know from having spoken to him by phone on Sunday morning that Pascal Gauzere recognises that himself.”

Gauzere’s first moment of controversy happened after 16 minutes when he first ordered England captain Owen Farrell to address his players on their discipline, only to call ‘time on’ – allowing Dan Biggar to take a quick penalty, which he kicked cross-field for Josh Adams to score in the corner.

“From the moment when the referee says ‘time on’ the game can recommence,” Jutge explained. “Except that it was on him [Gauzere] to make sure the English had had material time to reorganise themselves, because it was him who had asked the captain to speak to his players.”

The second contentious decision came when Gauzere and his TMO decided Louis Rees-Zammit had not knocked on in the lead-up to Liam Williams’ try.

“The ball was not under the control of the wing and went forward on to his thigh,” Jutge said. “In the laws such as they’re written, there isn’t this notion of loss of control, that’s why this situation lends itself to confusion. But the reality is that if [Gauzere] had blown up for a knock-on, no one would have been able to complain... it’s one of the perverse effects of the TMO, that we sometimes have a tendency to look too hard with a microscope. There is a balance to be struck and in this case, a simple bit of common sense would have sufficed.

“There is a loss of control, the ball goes forward, so it’s a knock on. Pascal looked at the situation on Sunday and is the first to admit it. When you make a mistake, it’s best to own up and be transparent.”