Nigel Owens has shared his verdict on a controversial incident from the first Test between the Springboks and All Blacks, with Ardie Savea fortunate to avoid a tackle that could easily have resulted in a card.
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The incident was referred to referee Matthew Carley by TMO Mike Adamson after Savea entered a tackle in an upright position and his shoulder eventually made contact with Jasper Wiese’s head.
Carley judged that Savea’s initial contact was with the Springbok number eight’s shoulder, rather than his head, and Owens agreed with the decision.
One of the most respected referees in rugby history, Owens praised the officials for reviewing the incident and explained why he felt the decision to play on was correct.
“To be fair to the TMO when I was watching that live, I thought, ‘Oof, they’re going to check this’ because it looked high,” he said on World Rugby’s Whistle Watch.
“First of all, let’s look at what a high tackle is; a tackle above the line of the shoulder and making contact with the head or neck. What happens after that is degree of danger, head-on-head, shoulder-to-head, then you go into the yellow or red card zone.
“Then they look at it. The key thing for me is this, the initial contact seems to be right on the shoulder and the South African number eight’s head goes forward into the New Zealand player because of the force of the tackle.
“Just remember, an upright tackle is not illegal as long as you’re not leading with the shoulder. An upright tackle is legal unless there’s contact with the head or neck.
“There isn’t that direct contact with the head or neck here so it’s unlikely they will identify this as foul play.”
However, Owens admitted that Savea had come extremely close to finding himself in serious trouble, with even a slight difference in the height of the tackle potentially changing the outcome completely.
“He’s very lucky because if he had been an inch higher and it’s direct contact to the head, you’re probably looking at a 20-minute red card but, to be fair, a strong on-field decision by the referee,” he added.
A card for Savea could have dramatically altered the course of the match, particularly given the importance of the moment. Instead, the All Blacks escaped punishment, with the tackle judged to have remained just within the laws, before going on to secure a 33-16 victory at Ellis Park.
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All Blacks Handed NIGHTMARE Route to 2027 Rugby World Cup Final
The All Blacks have been handed a potentially brutal route to the 2027 Rugby World Cup final after being drawn alongside hosts Australia in one of the tournament’s toughest pools.
With the competition expanding to 24 teams and introducing a Round of 16 for the first time, New Zealand can already map out their possible path to the Webb Ellis Cup — and it is packed with danger.
Pool A: A Trans-Tasman Showdown
New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A with Australia, creating one of the marquee clashes of the group stage. The All Blacks and Wallabies are expected to battle for top spot, with the pool winner earning a potentially more favourable route through the knockout stages.
Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each pool automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams across all pools also advance.
For New Zealand, the objective will be simple: finish first in Pool A.
Round of 16: A Third-Placed Opponent Awaits
If the All Blacks top Pool A, they will face one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams in the Round of 16.
Based on the draw, that opponent would come from Pools C, E or F. Possible challengers could include:
- Samoa, USA or Japan (Pool E)
- Wales or Tonga (Pool F)
- One of the emerging contenders from Pool C
On paper, this should represent a manageable first knockout assignment for New Zealand.
