Argentina’s first try in their Rugby World Cup bronze medal match with England caused plenty of controversy, as Owen Farrell fumed after at the opposition while their score could have been chalked off for a forward pass. Tomas Cubelli went over just before half-time to cut England’s lead, but the decision to award the try was not well-received.
Farrell caused a scene on the try line and hit out at the Argentinian team after Cubelli went through the skipper following a quick series of phases. Cubelli signalled to go right and then darted left as Farrell was unable to keep him from hitting the line.
The fly-half was unhappy at the move that Cubelli used to get past him. Later, it was spotted that a forward pass may have occurred in the build-up to the score.
Lawrence Dallaglio explained the possible forward pass to ITV: “I’m on the other side of the officials at the moment but a forward pass is a forward pass. Let’s have a look at that, hands goes forward, ball goes forward. Ben Whitehouse has a look at it and says it wasn’t, maybe because the conversion was about to be taken but nine times out of ten that’s pulled back for a forward pass.”
The try was checked by the TMO but the decision was made to stick with the on-field call and to award the try, as England went into the half-time break reeling despite leading the Pumas.
TMO Protocol allows for review of “all clear and obvious knock-on or throw forward infringements within two phases leading to a possible try.” However, there were three rucks between the forward pass and the try being scored, possibly preventing the video officials from ruling it out.
In what was billed as a mild-mannered affair after both teams had lost in the semi-finals and would have hoped that they were playing in tomorrow’s final, the match quickly turned heated thanks to the controversial Argentinian try.
After returning to the pitch likely aware of the controversial nature of Argentina’s try, England then went behind as Santiago Carreras was missed by Theo Dan and he gave his side their first lead of the day.
The hooker quickly atoned for his mistake, however, charging down a clearance kick before darting over to re-take the lead and England went on to close out the game and learn from their shortcomings against South Africa to claim their bronze medals.
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