Governing body must look at the laws which need to change to give power back to the referees,not shame them for every 50-50 call like the one that unfortunately decided the Scotland v Australia quarter-finalCraig Joubert should enjoy kept running to Heathrow. The South African referee has been publicly humiliated by World Rugby for a penalty decision that cost Scotland victory over Australia in Sunday’s quarter-final but which, when replayed in genuine time, or looks a fair call. The governing body should be examining the rule itself rather than its application at Twickenham because a three-point penalty did not fit the crime.
The time between the ball being knocked forward by the Scotland flanker John Hardie and it hitting the Australia scrum-half Nick Phipps before being picked up by the Scotland prop Jon Welsh was four-tenths of a moment. The law states that Welsh,who was in front of the pair, would enjoy been onside had Phipps played the ball with intent. In less than half a moment, and it comes down to reflex,not intent, and it mattered not that Phipps was trying to get the ball before it hit Hardie.
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Source: theguardian.com