Yahoo Finance Six Nations: Referee Pascal Gauzere admits to try errors in England’s defeat by Wales in Cardiff
Pascal Gauzere awarded two controversial first-half tries for Wales against England
(AFP via Getty Images)World Rugby’s head of match officials Joel Jutge says referee Pascal Gauzere has acknowledged key mistakes made in England’s Six Nations defeat by Wales in Cardiff.
Eddie Jones’ defending champions saw their 2021 title hopes effectively ended by a 40-24 loss at the Principality Stadium on Saturday evening.
While in the end England - also defeated by Scotland at Twickenham on opening weekend - ultimately only had their poor discipline to blame for the loss after levelling the match at 24-all with 20 minutes still to play, the decision to award Wales two first-half tries proved hugely controversial.
"There were two unfortunate events during the match which were tough cases to handle. Pascal Gauzere recognised as such when he spoke to me on the phone," Jutge said on Monday, per French newspaper Midi Olympique.
The first try came through a quick piece of thinking from Welsh fly-half Dan Biggar, who produced a swift cross-field kick penalty for returning wing Josh Adams to catch and touch down in the left corner after Owen Farrell had been penalised inside his own 22.
However, the England captain was left incensed after he had been instructed by the referee to talk to his team about their repeated early infringements, not leaving them enough time to set up to defend with the water carriers still on the pitch and most of the players still huddled in front of the posts expecting a kick at goal.
"From the moment when the referee says 'time on' the game can recommence," Jutge said.
"Except that it was on him (Gauzere) to make sure the English had material time to reorganise themselves, because it was him who had asked the captain to speak to his players."
England were furious again soon after, with Liam Williams diving on a loose ball to score after it appeared that the ball had been knocked forward by the hand of Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit, with it then going backwards off his leg without touching the ground before bouncing forward again off the knee of England centre Henry Slade.
The on-field decision was a try and the decision was surprisingly not overturned despite a review from TMO Alex Ruiz.
“I think there is a tendency to refer to the TMO too often when one can make the call oneself on the pitch and stick with it, which if Pascal had whistled for a knock-on there would have meant no appeal by the TMO to review it,” Jutge said on that call.
“When one commits an error one should be transparent about it. Despite this he is still an excellent international referee.”
Additional reporting by Reuters.
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