5 Most Controversial Referee Decisions in Rugby History - Page 5 of 5 - Ruck

5 Most Controversial Referee Decisions in Rugby History

#1. Wayne Barnes – NZ v France 2007 RWC

Many Kiwis still haven’t gotten over Barnes’ performance in the 2007 RWC quarter-final against France.

Barnes missed a clear forward pass from Damien Traille to Freddie Michalak in the lead up to a France try.

It led to the All Blacks’ earliest ever exit from a World Cup.

Answering a Q&A on BT Sport, Barnes was asked whether there are any decisions he regrets making throughout his career ahead of his final year in refereeing.

“I think, perhaps the most high-profile mistake was in 2007 when there was a forward pass in the lead up to a French try against New Zealand, the fallout from that was pretty huge,” Barnes told BT Sport.

“I think I was voted the third most-hated man in New Zealand that year so it was pretty impressive.”

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