REF’S VIEW Alain Rolland

FORMER WORLD CUP FINAL REFEREE

WHEN I saw the Cheslin Kolbe’s challenge on Conor Murray in real time, I thought it was a red card (picture 1). Having looked at the replays, I can see how the officials decided on yellow. If I showed this to a group of referees, it would split the room.

I thought the referee explained the decision well. In his view, it was all because of how Murray landed. His opinion was that he landed on his side. That, for him, was enough to turn the red yellow. However, I think the officials were wrong to award a try when Lukhanyo Am touched down.

The ball was in the air, so there had to be an element of control in the grounding. Am had to be in possession of the ball but at no point did he have the ball in his hands (picture 2).

The referee gave the try because at no point did Am lose contact with the ball from when it was in the air to when it was grounded. But that does not mean he was in

control of the ball.