Plenty of debate over Wales' two first-half touchdowns
Wales v England dominated by controversial try decisions
Wales took the lead in their Six Nations match against England in Cardiff with two controversial tries.
They eventually won the fixture 40-24 to lift the Triple Crown but it was two first-half decisions that caused the most debate.
Related: Rugby World verdict on the Triple Crown win
The first came in the 17th minute. The scores were level at 3-3 after Dan Biggar and Owen Farrell had exchanged early penalties when Wales were awarded another penalty inside the England 22.
Farrell had conceded that penalty and asked referee Pascal Gauzere for time to talk to his players, who he gathered in a huddle under the posts.
Gauzere blew for time off and as soon as he restarted play, Biggar kicked cross field and Josh Adams gathered the ball to score.
? "You've got to give us time to set!"
A quick kick from Wales catches England out, and Owen Farrell is furious! The right decision from the referee?#bbcrugby #sixnations #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/SLVwhcWgZP
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 27, 2021
Biggar’s conversion made it 10-3 – but England were not happy. They had still been talking under the posts and the water carriers were on the pitch when Biggar kicked crossfield and were not able to react in time to stop Adams out wide.
Farrell approached Gauzere as soon as Adams had touched down to appeal the decision to award the try, but the referee said: “I allowed you time to give the message and after that it was play on.”
Farrell closed the gap with another penalty shortly afterwards to make it 10-6 after 20 minutes, but the try decision has caused debate on social media.
Farrell is right. Same thing happened in the summer. Can’t restart play when water carriers are on the pitch. #WALENG
— ugo monye (@ugomonye) February 27, 2021
Brilliant thinking by Biggar, and Gauzère did say “time on”, but that Adams try didn’t seem fair.
Gauzère asked Farrell to have a word with the team, and he was doing just that. I think ref should have waited until that was clearly over and water carriers were off the pitch.
— Jessica Hayden (@_JessHayden) February 27, 2021
Tough from the ref with the time allowed after Farrell spoke to players. but school boy from england not having players aware at all times
— Lewis Moody (@LewisMoody7) February 27, 2021
Gauzere is right. You don't get the opportunity to line up all your men first. This isn't a battle in the 7th century.
— Sam Larner (@SamLStandsUp) February 27, 2021
Amazing watching the first try back. "Is time back on?" Gauzere has a quick look at England and goes for it with the whistle. Sam Warburton: "I'd be livid if I was Owen Farrell." #WALvENG
— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) February 27, 2021
Then after half an hour, Wales were awarded another try – again in controversial circumstances.
Adams kicked through into the England 22, Louis Rees-Zammit couldn’t gather the ball but as it went loose Liam Williams collected it and went over.
Most people thought that it was a knock-on from Rees-Zammit but TMO Alex Ruiz ruled that he couldn’t see him “knock the ball forward. It touched his leg and then the ball went backwards”.
Should Liam Williams' try have been given?
It took a long time for the officials to decide they were happy with the apparent knock on from Louis Rees-Zammit!#bbcrugby #sixnations #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/sYzmdnKm4C
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 27, 2021
Even the players looked surprised that the try stood but Biggar converted to give Wales a 17-6 lead.
Matt Dawson described the decision as “shocking” on BBC Radio 5Live and it caused controversy on Twitter too.
Seriously. I may be completely biased, but no player on the pitch thought that was a try! @SixNationsRugby we need a fair opinion! @Nigelrefowens ???
— Kyran Bracken (@KyranBracken) February 27, 2021
Crazy decision that!!! ??♂️
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) February 27, 2021
Not in control of the ball. Let’s all practice this skill and score tries like this! Seriously?????!!!#WALvENG #6Nations
— Scott Hastings (@ScottHastings13) February 27, 2021
An Anthony Watson try in the 35th minute as England attacked in the 22 brought them back into the game and Farrell further narrowed the gap with a penalty in front of the posts in added time.
That made it 17-14 at half-time and an intriguing second period awaited.
Midway through the second half it was 24-24 after tries from scrum-halves Kieran Hardy and Ben Youngs, but Wales pulled clear to win 40-24 as England conceded a succession of penalties and Cory Hill scored the bonus-point try.
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