Double whammy from referee as Wales lift Triple Crown in Cardiff
World-class Welsh referee Nigel Owens says Wales’ first two tries should never have been awarded in their Six Nations triumph but England coach Eddie Jones refused to roast the referee.
Wales beat England 40-24 yesterday to win the Triple Crown and maintain their unbeaten record in the 2021 Six Nations.
Former British and Irish Lions captains Martin Johnson and Sam Warburton were among media pundits who cast doubt over Wales’ first two tries, to wing Josh Adam and fullback Liam Williams.
Owens – who has retired from test refereeing after a record 100 internationals – agreed, commenting on Wales Online that neither try should have been awarded.
The first try came in the 16th minute, after a quick tap penalty by Dan Biggar, after referee Pascal Gauzere had asked England captain Owen Farrell to have a word to his team about repeated infringements.
After Adams touched down, Farrell protested that the referee should have indicated time on while he was still addressing his troops.
‘‘The referee clearly says ‘time on’, so then Biggar is quite entitled to do what he does quickly,’’ Owens said.
‘‘But I think Owen Farrell’s point here is correct.
‘‘If you are asking the captain to speak to his team, I certainly wouldn’t restart time until I have given them time to line up in defence.’’
Owens also indicated on Welsh language TV channel S4C and on Wales Online that the match officials got it wrong in awarding Williams a try after checking video footage to see whether Wales wing Louis ReesZammit had knocked on.
‘‘It was definitely a knock on,’’ he said.
‘‘You see situations sometimes where a player loses control of a ball and then kicks it before it hits the ground. Well, that’s still classed as a knock on.
‘‘What the law says is if a player loses control of the ball forward, he must regain possession of it before it touches the ground or anybody else.’’
In the other match of the day, Will Connors scored a brace of tries as Ireland posted six in all in a 48-10 stroll past the hapless Italy team at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.