VIDEO: All Blacks praise 'brave' referee
WATCH as All Black coach Steve Hansen reacts to his team once again getting the rub of the green from match officials.
England’s Sam Underhill was denied a late match-winning try as world champions New Zealand came from 0-15 down to win 16-15 at a rainswept Twickenham at the weekend.
Just four minutes remained when England thought they were about to record just an eighth win in 41 Tests against the All Blacks, when replacement Courtney Lawes charged down reserve scrumhalf Thomas Perenara’s kick and Underhill, weaving his way past Beauden Barrett, crossed.
But French referee Jérôme Garcès, after consulting South African television match official Marius Jonker, decided Lawes had been offside and disallowed the score to the dismay of a capacity Twickenham crowd of over 82,000.
Hansen praised Garces for his “brave” call, while hailing the All Blacks’ resilience.
Garces’s decision came just days after a new World Rugby edict declaring that “try scoring should be an on-field decision with the referee being responsible, but the team of four [the referee, two touch judges and the TMO] can all contribute”.
“England actually got off to a great start,” he said.
“We had to show a lot of character to come back.”
“It’s difficult to play when it’s hosing it down.
“You’re not going to play razzle-dazzle rugby so we had to grind it out.”
