Letter of the Lawes: big decision that changed course of the game

IT was England who benefited from a marginal call last week when the decision not to penalise Owen Farrell for a potential ‘no arms’ tackle secured victory over South Africa. Eddie Jones’s men were not so fortunate this time around, as a late disallowed try by Sam Underhill cost them victory against the All Blacks. As our graphic above shows, Courtney Lawes was ahead of the offside line ...

74mins 53secs Courtney Lawes charges down TJ Perenara’s clearance and the ball bounces to Sam Underhill.

75mins 2secs Underhill bamboozles Beauden Barrett as he feigns one way and then bursts past the All Blacks fly-half to score in the corner.

75mins 10secs The England players celebrate in the corner before referee Jerome Garces calls for the TMO.

75mins 29secs Video official consults numerous replays before telling Garces: ‘From the pictures I have, as the half-back from black picks up the ball, No20 white is in an offside position. It is offside so you need to change your on-field decision to a penalty.’ The try is overturned. Former England fly-half Toby Flood: ‘England tend to sit half a yard off the back foot. Courtney was looking to go as Perenara picked up the ball to pass. It gives him momentum, the speed off the line, you can accelerate into it. It perhaps makes Courtney’s offside look worse than it was.’