Nigel Owens weighs in on ‘big decision’ in All Blacks v England series
Nigel Owens has weighed in on the controversial call during the All Blacks and England game.
Former referee Nigel Owens has given his verdict on the penalty against England in the dying embers of the clash with the All Blacks at Eden Park.
With Steve Borthwick’s charges trailing 24-17 in the match’s final moments, they set up a maul inside the New Zealand 22.
The All Blacks managed to stall the Red Rose’s initial drive before hooker Jamie George broke off the maul along with centre Ollie Lawrence.
However, Beauden Barrett intervened and managed to stop the pair, holding George up over the line, denying England a try that, if converted, would have levelled the scores.
Referee Nic Berry reviewed the incident with TMO Brett Cronan, stating that his on-field call was no try as Barrett held up the England skipper.
The officiating team deemed that Lawrence obstructed All Blacks scrum-half Cortez Ratima, denying the rookie an opportunity to make a tackle on George as the England pair had broken away from the maul that had been ‘successfully defended’.
In the end, the All Blacks were awarded a penalty, and England were denied the chance of levelling the scores, a decision that caused a bit of a stir and proved quite controversial.
Ollie Lawrence’s obstruction
However, Owens has hailed the officiating team for making the “big decision” at a crucial moment in the match, as he felt that they made the right call.
“These have been two exciting games here, very close and obviously the last Test as well,” Owens stated on World Rugby’s Whistle Watch.
“Down in the dying minute that England maul… Were they going to get over and score? And then, if the conversion was successful, then it would be a drawn game.
“But it didn’t happen because there was a penalty for obstruction, and was a penalty [to New Zealand], correct?”
Dissecting the decisions, Owens explained that the England players were initially legal with their breakaway, but Lawrence’s actions proved costly.
“Well, let’s have a look at it. So very similar to what we discussed last week in the first Test between Australia and Wales. Very, very similar,” the former official explained.
“So, the ball carrier – Jamie George in this instance – he goes away from the maul, and they break away, which is fine – perfectly legal.
“But when you do break away, you’re leaving the maul, so you’re setting up basically another maul, or going to go into the defenders, you’ve got to make sure that the ball carrier is at the front – so there is no obstruction.
“On this occasion, George has some English players around him who are protecting him [and in front of him], and therefore we have the obstruction. And for that reason then we cannot allow play to continue.
“We cannot award the try. So in this instance, again, good refereeing, good teamwork by them at the end of the game.”
“It’s a big decision – getting it right – and quite rightly so penalising [England] for obstruction.”
Nigel Owens: Ireland duo ‘very, very lucky’ to avoid more cards for Malcolm Marx clear-out
Another Test in 2024
That proved to be England’s final play of their season as Borthwick’s charges now rest and prepare for the upcoming Premiership season.
As for the All Blacks, it is just the start of their international campaign and they now tackle Fiji in San Diego for their final July Test before heading into the Rugby Championship.
The two sides will face off one more time this year when they meet at Twickenham Stadium in November.
READ MORE: Scott Robertson makes ‘honest’ admission over All Blacks’ issues in tense England wins
