World Rugby has conceded that the controversial decision by Craig Joubert to award Australia a penalty in the dying moments of their late victory over Scotland was wrong, but the referee has been defended by many in the game.
Joubert has become persona non grata in the aftermath of the Wallabies’ 35-34 win at Twickenham on Sunday after running off the pitch at the final whistle to a chorus of boos shortly after Bernard Foley had kicked the crucial points to send Scotland out.
Gavin Hastings, the former Scotland international, described Joubert’s swift exit as a “disgrace” and World Rugby admitted that a scrum should have been awarded to Australia rather than a penalty. However, the organisation stated that rules prevented Joubert – who had a bottle thrown towards him at Twickenham – from referring the incident to the television match official (TMO).
A statement read: “The selection committee confirms that Joubert applied World Rugby Law 11.7 penalising Scotland’s Jon Welsh, who had played the ball following a knock-on by a team-mate, resulting in an offside. On review of all available angles, it is clear that after the knock-on, the ball was touched by Australia’s Nick Phipps and Law 11.3(c) states that a player can be put on-side by an opponent who intentionally plays the ball.
“It is important to clarify that, under the protocols, the referee could not refer to the television match official in this case and therefore had to rely on what he saw in real time. In this case, Law 11.3(c) should have been applied, putting Welsh onside. The appropriate decision, therefore, should have been a scrum to Australia for the original knock-on.”
Following the release of their statement on Joubert’s decision, World Rugby have also announced the referees for next weekend’s World Cup semi-finals - and the South African has not been selected.
Jérôme Garcès has been appointed for Saturday’s clash between New Zealand and South Africa, while Wayne Barnes will officiate in Sunday’s semi-final between Argentina and Australia.
(Guardian service)
