Video ref would have said the same, says Archer of Cecchin’s decision

SYDNEY: World Cup referees boss Tony Archer has defended the decision to deny Andrew Fifita what would have been a gamewinning try in Tonga’s semifinal loss to England.

The Tonga camp was left fuming when referee Matt Cecchin failed to refer the passage of play to the video referee during England’s 2018 victory on Saturday.

With seconds on the clock, Fifita lost control of the ball under the pressure of an Elliott Whitehead tackle before regaining it and rolling over the tryline.

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf was dumbfounded that the decision was not sent upstairs. However, Archer said the decision was correct and Cecchin was in contention to oversee next week’s final.

‘‘The decision is correct for me and that is he’s effecting a tackle and there was no indicator he was stealing the ball,’’ Archer told AAP.

‘‘It’s a loose carry, knock on, the referee called it on field.’’

Archer said Whitehead’s tackle did not meet the criteria of a strip because he did not attempt to steal the ball.

Whitehead’s hand momentarily touched the ball. However, Archer said that did not make it a strip and he was trying to bring Fifita to the ground.

‘‘There needs to be a deliberate intention to steal the ball; he’s effecting the tackle as his arm slides down the attacker’s arm,’’ Archer said.

Woolf was incensed that the decision was not sent upstairs to be examined, arguing it at least warranted a review.

‘‘I would’ve thought that, in those circumstances, there’s no way in the world you don’t look at it — that really surprises me.’’

Archer said the video referee would have come to the same conclusion and he had no problem with Cecchin making an onfield call.

‘‘There’s always the option to [go to the video referee] on a pointscoring play but we encourage the referees to make a decision onfield when they’re in a position to see it,’’ Archer said.

‘‘Ultimately, if it had been referred up, the same result would have been the case. It would have been a notry because the decision was correct.’’ — AAP