Wayne Barnes, the ex-referee, has weighed in on the contentious last-minute penalty situation involving Italy. Certain fans are calling for a retake.
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When the fly-half moved to reset the ball on the tee, French players advanced, aiming to disrupt the shot.
However, according to World Rugby regulations, if the opposing team encroaches on an unsuccessful kick, the team taking the kick should be granted a penalty 10 meters ahead of the initial mark.
Barnes was asked: The French players ‘charged’ and encroached within 10 metres during Italy’s last second penalty kick on Sunday. Why was the kick not taken again after it was missed?:
He responded: “I’m sure you were on the edge of your sofa like me yesterday afternoon and I couldn’t believe how unlucky Italy were when the ball fell off the tee.
“The law book explains that the kicker has 60 seconds to take the kick from the moment they indicate their intention to kick at goal. It also says that if the opposing team infringes during the kick at goal and the kick is unsuccessful then the kick should be retaken 10 metres from the original mark.
“The question for the match officials was whether the French team infringed and whether that infringement affected the kick at goal. There was no appeal from the Italian team or Paolo Garbisi, which would suggest to me that Italy didn’t feel as if the failed kick had been because of the French team.”
On making the game simpler for rugby fans and neutrals, Barnes said: “Every fan that I currently speak to says that referees should look for reasons not to blow their whistle.
“So that’s what I would do if I was in charge of international match officials. I’d encourage referees not to go looking for technicalities and allow the game to flow more.
“But as a fan, that means you have to buy into that too and not criticise a referee for missing a technical infringement which is only clear on replay!“
Check out the full Q&A with Telegraph readers here.
Retiring Wayne Barnes ranks the worst rugby players to referee
Record-breaking rugby referee Wayne Barnes has ranked some of the trickier players he had to run the rule over down the years.
Barnes has taken charge of a record 111 Tests, which included officiating at five World Cups.
Worst players to referee
#5. Joe Marler (England)
Joe Marler facts:
- Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees
- After joining the Quins academy in 2008, the prop spent some time on loan to Esher and Worthing
- He’s been nicknamed Croissant. In his own words, it’s because: “The boys think I have a nose that looks like a French pastry.”
- Marler was captain for England at U18s level and represented the U20 squad throughout the Junior World Championship in summer 2009
- He is also one of the hosts of The Joe Marler Show podcast with Tom Fordyce