The Debatable Call That Denied Wales A Try

February 22, 2020
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Ultimate Rugby

France raced out to a 17-9 half-time lead thanks to tries from Anthony Bouthier and Paul Willemse, Romain Ntamack pulling the strings at fly-half. Fabien Galthie's youthful side survided a spirited effort from Wales who fired back in the second half with a Dillon Lewis try but the Shaun Edward's inspired defence held firm as Romain Ntamack's intercept try sealed a first win for Les Bleus in the Welsh capital since 2010.

However, one of the big moments in the game was a potential deliberate knock-on from France second rower Paul Willemse who rushed up on Ken Owens following a lineout and stopped the hooker from completing a pass that would have swung the momentum in Wales' favour.

The referee on the day, Matthew Carley, ruled that Willemse was attempting to tackle and that there was 'nothing clear and obvious' to award Wales a penalty try, penalty or issue a yellow card. Wales would concede a penalty from the resulting scrum and France were able to clear their lines and ultimately seal the victory.

Wales head coach Pivac voiced his opinion on the matter after the game arguing that Willemse should have been at least been penalised, if not yellow carded.

"The slap down, we've had a look at that and we think the officials may have got that one wrong," the New Zealander said.

"The other disappointing one is when the fresh tighthead (Demba Bamba) came on and we're on the line hammering away and he went straight across the scrum and was rewarded for that (with a penalty).

"The scrums from our point of view had gone OK up until that point. You've got to go in a forward motion and he clearly went across the scrum."