Tuilagi’s big hit on Larmour sparked uproar among some but on the whole it was fair
Despite what fans thought of contentious decisions, referee Nigel Owens and his team did a good job
One moment that caught my eye at Twickenham was Manu Tuilagi’s hit on Irish wing Jordan Larmour. There was uproar on social media and it was a potentially contentious moment relating to an area of the game that has been under great scrutiny of late.
When you take a look at the hit you must look at net result, and it’s certainly a big collision with only one winner. To a large degree, I think the challenge was fair. Did Tuilagi hit him in the air? No. Did he connect with a swinging arm or make contact to the neck or head? I don’t think so.
Did he wrap his arms around the tackle? Yes, actually. I think the officiating team got that one right.
The next potentially contentious moment also came from a man in a white shirt, this time second row George Kruis. The Saracen received a yellow card for making contact with the head of Ireland’s replacement fly-half Jack Carty during the final minute. That is the way in the modern game – if you go to charge down the kick there are consequences to making contact. It seems fair from the officials. I’d say if I thought it wasn’t a good call, but it was.
The potentially contentious Kruis try that went to the television match official was also well handled, I think. Clearly there could have been a knock-on from Jonny May, but they went through each facet of the process in an exemplary manner. Again, the end result was fair.
Where the referees could have been stricter was at the jumping across the line-out from Maro Itoje.
While it may seem innocuous, it is illegal. It may have hampered a crucial part of Ireland’s game at the line-out. It’s a coached thing that takes away an attacking option from the team in possession.
I thought it could have been better policed given that it’s been on the agenda for some time.
The change to the scrum laws that endeavours to eradicate the axial loading on hookers at the scrum also looks like it’s being closely monitored. Loading of power through the hooker where he rests his head on an opponent hooker’s shoulder on the second call of scrum can have a significant risk if it goes wrong.
Refs have made it clear, at least to me, that this is banned and has been well refereed.
Generally, the officiating from an experienced team led by Nigel Owens at Twickenham was well managed.
While kudos must go to the England players for their preparation, power, organisation on defence and a strong kicking game.