World Rugby has shared their stance on the contentious offside call made in yesterday's Armistice Day Test between the All Blacks and England at Twickenham.
The game's governing body told The Guardian they support referee James Garces' decision and approach to the situation despite the heavy backlash from English media following yesterday's result.
"Under World Rugby directives a new TMO trial was introduced for the most recent round of matches to give back responsibility to the on-field referee and it states that 'try scoring should be an on-field decision with the referee being responsible but the team of four [officials] can all contribute'," The Guardian reports.
"Although Garces was within a few metres of Lawes at the time of the incident, he appeared to go against the directive by consulting with Jonker.
"Allowing Jonker to make the final decision would also seem to contravene the directive which requires 'compelling evidence' for the TMO to interject with World Rugby considering Lawes to have been marginally offside.
"Ultimately however, the governing body believes a number of mitigating factors meant Garces was within his rights to defer the final decision to the TMO, chiefly the poor weather conditions which made visibility of Twickenham's big screens more difficult."
England appeared to score what was most-likely a game-winning try late in the Test after Courtney Lawes' charge-down on TJ Perenara's kick was recovered by Sam Underhill and taken to the try-line.
But the TMO ruled Lawes was offside in his actions and therefore disallowed the try with score sitting 16-15 in the All Blacks' favour.
There was no doubt in Steve Hansen’s mind the decision to overrule a likely match-winning England try was correct. (Source: Other)
"Debate has also raged as to whether Lawes was offside but World Rugby believes he was at the moment Perenara lifted the ball," The Guardian reports.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen wasn't coy about his feelings on the matter, saying after the match he felt it was the right call.
"There’s no doubt he’s offside, he’s just about in the halfback’s back pocket," Hansen said.
Hansen's opposite, Eddie Jones, respected the call as well.
"It's difficult to swallow, but you have to and you have to respect the referee. That's enormously important," Jones told BBC Radio.
"The players thought it was a try, but we are happy to follow what the TMO says... The referee is referring a difficult game and it's only getting faster and more difficult, so we have to make sure keep supporting the referees."
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