Ref review: How Jerome Garces rated
ANALYSIS: No referee ever wants to be a big talking point post-game, but such were the circumstances, Jerome Garces’ name was on the lips of many in the wake of the British and Irish Lions’ serieslevelling 24-21 win over the All Blacks on Saturday night.
Let’s take a look at those crucial decisions, and see how he fared:
Sonny Bill Williams red card (25th minute)
The pivotal moment of the test match, and Garces got it spot on in waving red for his no-arms hit on Lions winger Anthony Watson.
Garces ran the play through his head, then can be heard asking Ayoub to have a look at the footage. Ayoub confirmed he was already doing so, then instructed Garces to stop play to have a watch of the screen. Good communication and process between the pair.
Mako Vunipola yellow card (56th minute)
The Lions prop was sinbinned for a dangerous cleanout on All Blacks first five-eighth Beauden Barrett. Again that seemed the right call from Garces.
Sean O’Brien citing (59th minute)
Garces and his team wavered on what should have made the game 14 on 14 for the final quarter. Lions openside flanker O’Brien got away without sanction on-field but was later cited for his shot which forced All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo off with concussion.
TJ Perenara complaint on Conor Murray try (68th minute)
All Blacks reserve halfback Perenara is left remonstrating with Garces after he believed he was held back in the lead-up to Lions halfback Conor Murray’s crucial try. On the replay you can see Lions second five-eighth Owen Farrell coming into contact with Perenara’s legs and grabbing hold of them momentarily, but not enough to make any real difference to the situation.
Charlie Faumuina mid-air tackle (77th minute)
This turned out to be the winning of the game for the Lions, with Owen Farrell stepping up to slot the penalty in the dying minutes after All Blacks prop Faumuina was penalised by Garces for tackling Lions prop Kyle Sinkler in the air.
Garces spotted it and got it right. Although it was a bit of a tough one on Faumuina because Sinkler was jumping for the ball, he just got his timing wrong slightly and collected him before he landed on the ground.
Overall performance
It was a stop-start affair for sure, but Garces can’t be blamed much for that.
Overall Garces did a decent job.