Social media explode with 'evidence' of referee robbing France
REACTION: Video replays circulating online are calling into question the nature of England’s crucial late try, which forced their Nations Cup Final into sudden-death extra time with France.
England won the tournament Final in the most dramatic circumstances.
Owen Farrell landed a ‘golden point’ penalty 15 minutes into sudden-death extra time to secure a 22-19 victory over a young French team who had been seconds away from a famous victory.
Farrell converted a Luke Cowan-Dickie try with the last kick of normal time to level the scores, but then hit the post with a penalty 80 seconds into extra time, where the first points scored would win the match. When he got a second chance, though, Farrell made no mistake.
However, in the lead up to the Cowan-Dickie try, England No.8 Billy Vunipola appears to knock the ball on, a call missed by referee Andrew Brace.
2 mins remaining. England with clear knock-on – followed by handling on the ground. Not seen – go on to score a converted try to level the scores. pic.twitter.com/s6MVXbjZpG
— Derek Alberts (@derekalberts1) December 6, 2020
There was also a second alleged knock-on moments later, also missed by Brace, in the lead up to the vital try that saved England’s blushes.
The clips, which were spotted by eagle-eyed South African Derek Alberts, have been viewed thousands of time. Fans also noted that the TMO – Ben Whitehouse – also didn’t pick up either of the knock-ons.
And then this is what led to France being penalized… pic.twitter.com/RvJ57hOcGX
— Derek Alberts (@derekalberts1) December 6, 2020
Surprised the ref not taking this! 😜 #ENGvFRA
— Andy Nicol (@AndyNic9) December 6, 2020
Can exclusively reveal England’s man of the match is Andrew Brace #ENGvFRA
— Rhys Knott (@buck_mitchell) December 6, 2020
Biggest shock is Andrew Brace didn’t take that final penalty#ENGvFRA
— Graham Love (@glove931) December 6, 2020
Hard to sport that wasn’t a knock on in real time. But with sudden death surely the TMO should be piping up about that#ENGvFRA
— Graham Love (@glove931) December 6, 2020
Stolen of a dominant French performance. Awful calls by the ref, From missing knock ins to making up knock ons #ENGvFRA
— Darren Clarke (@MRDarrenClarke) December 6, 2020
France have been robbed here, 2 knock ons before that penalty. #ENGvFRA #AutumnNationsCup2020
— The Rugby Critic (@therugbycritic) December 6, 2020
“I don’t have a dog in this fight and regard refereeing as one of the toughest and most thankless jobs in the world. I could probably find a few decisions where France benefited too. But those closing few minutes delivered some shambolic officiating which cost France a trophy,” noted Alberts.
Aside from these missed calls, Brace came under fire online for the calls he did make, which many felt favoured the home side, including former Scotland captain, Andy Nicol, who quipped:
It was tough on France, who played with all the confidence of youth and, taking the game to the hugely experienced hosts, deservedly led 13-6 at halftime after a sharp Brice Dulin try and the boot of impressive flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert.
They then offered a spirited defence of their own line in the face of a relentless England forward assault at the end of the half.
England made most of the running in the second half but an uncharacteristically inaccurate Farrell could not turn enough penalty opportunities into points.
Instead, replacement France flyhalf Louis Carbonel landed two pressure kicks which looked to be enough, before England scored their fateful try.
* additional reporting AAP
