Ireland v Argentina controversy as ‘invisible knock-on’ saves Andy Farrell’s charges

Jared Wright
Argentina back Juan Cruz Mallia reacts to the defeat to Ireland and an insert of Franco Molina.

Argentina back Juan Cruz Mallia reacts to the defeat to Ireland and an insert of Franco Molina.

Ireland’s 22-19 victory over Argentina did not come without a tinge of controversy with fans calling foul play on the match’s final moments.

Argentina fought back valiantly from a 22-9 half-time deficit to trail by just three points as the clock went into the red in the second-half.

Controversial ending

This was after Los Pumas brilliantly won a turnover in their own 22 in the latter stages of the game and marched upfield in search of a match-winning score.

Argentina looked to be lining up an easy drop-goal attempt for on-song fly-half Tomas Albornoz in the dying moments of the match as they worked their way deep into the Irish 22.

However, their efforts were in vain as referee Paul Williams called an end to the match after appeals from the Ireland players for a knock-on at the breakdown by Los Pumas back-rower Joaquin Oviedo.

This is where the controversy that left fans fuming occurred as there was no clear evidence on the pictures shown and there was not replay or additional angles of the incident, leading many to believe that there was no knock-on.

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Fans fume

“Just ended a game with an invisible knock on,” one fan wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and they weren’t alone in feeling that.

Another added: “The whole world waiting for the replay of that match ending knock on” with a GIF of Mr. Bean checking his watch.

That same user wrote: “Did the ref just make up a knock on to let Ireland off the hook??”

It was a rather universal reaction to the final play of the match with one South African fan remarking: “That knock-on, did anyone see it, is there any replays of it? How many cameras are there around a rugbyfield for a test? Surely everyone will know immediately which knock-on I am referring to. Which is the telling bit.”

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Meanwhile, another onlooker was more forthright with their view.

“Where on earth is there evidence of a knock on? Rugby needs desperately to sort out its officiating and the inconsistency in interpretation of foul play and the Laws. No where near good enough for a professional sport,” they wrote.

Former Ireland hooker and respected pundit Bernard Jackman added his voice to the outcries on Saturday after a second viewing of the match.

“Just rewatch last nights test match @AVIVAStadium. Exciting test match but can’t help but feel we were let down by some of the angles we were given or weren’t given by the TV director. Not to get a second look at the last ruck for example isn’t great?” he wrote.

While Harry Jones was also left puzzled by the decision as considering the position of referee Williams and the angles provided by the broadcasters.

“I had no way to tell if it was a knee or a hand (the hand of God evening the scales after Maradona?) but I am SURE they had better angles pitch level or from above. Ref wasn’t in great spot either,” he wrote.

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