ANSCOMBE TRY WAS GOOD – IT’S OFFICIAL
WORLD Rugby have officially admitted that Gareth Anscombe’s effort against England should have stood.
Anscombe raced onto a loose ball during the 23rd minute of Wales’ 12-6 defeat at Twickenham and appeared to ground the ball before England winger Anthony Watson.
Replays indicated a Welsh try, but television match official Glenn Newman ruled that Watson won the race and disallowed the score.
Now the game’s governing body have accepted that Wales were on the wrong side of a mistake, as head coach Warren Gatland protested in the aftermath of Saturday’s loss.
“World Rugby has clarified to the Wales team management, as part of the usual review process with teams, that the TMO made an error in the application of law during the England versus Wales match at Twickenham,” a statement read.
“In accordance with law 21.1 b, Wales should have been awarded a try as the Wales player grounded the ball.”
Gatland’s men were 12-0 down when the incident occurred in the first half.
Wales had a handful of opportunities to score throughout the match – making seven line breaks to England’s five – but couldn’t make them count as the hosts put the squeeze on by dominating territory.
Howley confirmed a conversation had taken place between Gatland and World Rugby’s head of referees, Alain Rolland to clear up the issue.
“It was good to have dialogue with World Rugby over the weekend,” said Howley in the wake of Wales’ 12-6 defeat.
“I know Warren Gatland has spoken to Alain Rolland and they’ve confirmed that the TMO made a mistake.
“That dialogue happens continually throughout the autumn series and the Six Nations.
“Referees have meetings and that phone call took place yesterday and Alain Rolland confirmed, on behalf of World Rugby, that they made a mistake.” He added: “It’s happened. It’s disappointing that it happens in professional sport.”
Wales now turn their attention to getting their Six Nations Championship back on track against Ireland in Dublin a week Saturday.
The men in red can be confident heading across the Irish Sea, boasting a handy six wins in their last 10 matches against Joe Schmidt’s side.
And they could be bolstered by returning British and Irish Lions for the must-win clash with Wales management hopeful that Leigh Halfpenny, Taulupe Faletau and Dan Biggar will all step up their training this week after missing the England game.
“With Leigh Halfpenny, the redness of the foot and the infection is OK, he’ll take some part in rugby over the next couple of days,” said Howley.
“Taulupe (Faletau) is back in rugby this week and Dan Biggar is going through his return to contact protocols.”
WHEN Wales named a 39man squad for the Six Nations, it was always clear that some players would spend more time holding tackle bags on the training field than hitting rucks in anger in the white-hot atmosphere of Test match rugby.
And after Warren Gatland rewarded the resounding win over Scotland by naming a virtually unchanged team against England on Saturday, it means that there are still a fair few players in the Wales squad without any Six Nations minutes under their belts.
But who are they? Why haven’t they featured? And do they have a chance of getting on the pitch?
We’ve taken a look at the unused Wales players so far... Liam Williams Some Wales fans might have been wondering why the British and Irish Lions full-back was playing for Saracens against Newcastle on Saturday after Leigh Halfpenny was ruled out of the Twickenham clash.
Wales opted for Gareth Anscombe at full-back – with Williams getting 63 minutes under his belt at Allianz Park in what was just his second game back from an abdominal injury suffered in the autumn.
If the versatile star can prove his fitness with his club, expect him to slot back into the back-three at some point, potentially even against the Irish. Alex Cuthbert The Cardiff Blues winger was released for the region’s fixture against the Cheetahs on Saturday, but was not involved in the match through injury.
And it was revealed afterwards that the two-time Six Nations winner will require surgery on a knee injury with a 4-6 week return time predicted.
As such, Cuthbert has been released back to the Blues for his treatment – ending his Six Nations. Hallam Amos The Dragons wing had finished the autumn internationals with plenty of credit in the bank after some stellar performances that moved the 23-year-old up the back-three pecking order.
Amos would have been hoping to carry on where he left off in the Welsh jersey, but an ankle strain suffered on Boxing Day has seen Steff Evans and Josh Adams steal a march on him.
But, after a lively return for his region on Friday night, Gatland may be tempted to bring him back – although the return of George North at Twickenham provides the medical student with a fresh obstacle. Owen Williams The centre had been the big experiment of the autumn, starting as the much-anticipated second-receiver against Australia and New Zealand.
Did very little wrong against those two Southern Hemisphere giants, but being unavailable for the South Africa match let Hadleigh Parkes in and the Scarlet has held on to the jersey ever since.
It seems plying his trade in England has hurt his cause and it’s hard to see the Gloucester playmaker getting a start during the campaign. Dan Biggar Wales were forced to look elsewhere for a fly-half for the first time in a long time after both Biggar and Rhys Priestland went down with injuries before the tournament.
Priestland has been released back to Bath, while Biggar has stayed with the squad to get over his shoulder injury.
The Ospreys fly-half has already started doing bits and pieces in training and could be in contention for the Ireland game in Dublin. Tomos Williams The Cardiff Blues scrum-half was called up after Rhys Webb pulled out of the squad with a knee injury.
The Scarlets namesakes Gareth and Aled Davies have been preferred in the matchday 23 so far and it’s hard to see Williams getting a look in.
Italy at home seems the likeliest, but it’s hard to Wales bringing in the Arms Park scrum-half soon. Ryan Elias Another injury replacement – Scarlets hooker Elias was called up to cover for Scott Baldwin after the Osprey withdrew from the squad with a foot injury.
Elias won two caps on the summer tour last year against Tonga and Samoa, but Elliot Dee clearly did his reputation no harm in the autumn and looks set to be Ken Owens’ deputy for the remainder of the tournament. Dillon Lewis The Cardiff Blues tighthead didn’t feature in the autumn, but Leon
Brown’s concussion has opened the door to Lewis.
However, the chances of him getting on the pitch to hit a ruck in anger seem slim, with Samson Lee and Tomas Francis ahead of him.
Nicky Smith
The Ospreys loosehead finds himself in the same boat as Dillon Lewis as the third-choice prop.
With Rob Evans far and away Wales’ first-choice now, Wyn Jones has usurped Smith as replacement. However, Smith was in fine form for the Ospreys before the tournament so he shouldn’t give up on a place on the bench just yet.
Adam Beard
Was at Twickenham as travelling reserve so clearly the Ospreys lock isn’t a million miles away from selection.
Alun Wyn Jones and Cory Hill have cemented their places as first-choice locks in the opening two rounds, but if Wales are looking for something different off the bench than the pure physicality of Bradley Davies, they may turn to the 22-year-old Beard.
James Davies
It seemed that the Scarlets flanker would never get a Wales call-up under Gatland, but that all changed this year after ‘Cubby Boi’ was named in the Six Nations squad.
The 27-year-old has yet to feature for Wales and was released back to his region for their 22-12 defeat against Benetton on Sunday.
Given the form of Wales’ backrowers, it’s hard to see the popular Bancyfelin product get a look in during this campaign.
Ellis Jenkins
For James Davies, read Ellis Jenkins.
Wales are stacked with back-row options at the minute, with two-time Lions tourist Justin Tipuric having to make do with a place on the bench.
It would realistically take an injury to see the Cardiff Blues flanker come in, but the five-cap international is a good openside is a call upon if needed.
Taulupe Faletau
Losing the Bath No. 8 to injury in the past has been enough to make Welsh rugby fans wake up in a cold sweat.
But it is testament to the form of Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi and Ross Moriarty that no one is contemplating rushing the talismanic back-rower back from his knee ligament injury sooner than expected - with Wales having suggested Faletau could be fit for the final two rounds against Italy and France.
In fact, given how well the likes of Shingler and Navidi have taken to Test rugby, Faletau should have a battle on his hands to get back into that back-row when he returns.