Nigel Owens: Why Barrett yellow didn't lead to England penalty try
Nigel Owens has reviewed the yellow card brandished last Saturday at Twickenham to All Blacks full-back Beauden Barrett and explained why his foul play didn’t result in the award of a penalty try to England. The Autumn Nations Series match in London was in its 72nd minute with the All Blacks leading by 19 points when Barrett tackled the ball-carrying Marcus Smith near the try line.
There was nothing wrong with that intervention but the New Zealander stepped out of line by not releasing the England out-half after the tackle. This breakdown chicanery was punished by referee Mathieu Raynal showing Barrett a yellow card when the play was stopped, but the question was asked at the time by England skipper Owen Farrell why a penalty try was not awarded.
Hosting the latest episode of Whistle Watch, his weekly Test rugby video series, Owens began by reviewing the Barrett yellow card which happened at a time when the All Blacks were dominating on the scoreboard. “Let’s start at HQ, England against New Zealand, great game. New Zealand up 25-6 at the time when Marcus Smith cuts through and then Beauden Barrett makes a tackle, gets to his feet but he never releases the player.
“You have to show a clear release before you go back to try and regather the ball. Because there is no clear release here, the referee gives a very, very good yellow card for an offence which some have asked, Owen Farrell was asking as well, why wasn’t it a penalty try? Well, the reason why it wasn’t a penalty try was too many defenders were there.
“So what the referee needs to think of is if Beauden Barrett hadn’t done the illegal action, would England have probably scored? That is the key thing. Not possibly. Not definitely. Probably. And looking at the defenders there you couldn’t say that England were probably going to score so the correct decision – yellow card but no penalty try.”
"I've always got time for #WhistleWatch!"@Nigelrefowens took time out from a ???? busy week on the farm to analyse some big moments and answer a few of your key questions
Presented by @Emirates pic.twitter.com/tiuW0now1P
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 23, 2022
In hindsight, it was a crucial decision not to give England the penalty try. Instead, when they did score a try through Will Stuart seconds later after play resumed, Smith was wide with the conversion from out on the left and that ultimately proved to be a costly miss as the two converted tries that did follow with Barrett still in the sin bin were only good enough to seal a 25-all draw.
If a penalty try had been awarded, it would have been an automatic seven-point score and it would instead have meant that Smith’s 79th-minute conversion of the second Stuart try would have been the match-winning kick for a 27-25 triumph rather than a tie-making 25-all kick.
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments