'That is Angus Bell's hand' - Whitelock try leaves fans irate

A contentious try by veteran second row Sam Whitelock has left many fans scratching their heads after the All Blacks defeated the Wallabies in Auckland on Saturday.

In a big turnaround from last week’s epic Bledisloe drama in Melbourne, the men in black romped to a relatively easy 40-14 victory at Eden Park.

Yet Whitelock’s try still rankled as many believe it was a Wallaby that grounded the ball and not the 6’8 All Black. Irish referee Andrew Brace on-field decision was that the try was good and he referred it to Welsh TMO Ben Whitehouse, who made the call that there was no reason not to award it.

However many fans watching at home believe that it was in fact Wallaby No.8 Angus Bell’s hand that grounded the ball.

Some are even calling it the ‘first own try’ in rugby. Below is a video of the contentious touchdown.

Angus Bell's maiden Wallabies try probably wasn't quite what he had envisaged ?#NZLvAUS | #RugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/990K7sWEF1

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 24, 2022

The counter-argument being made by others is that both players were holding the ball, although from the footage it’s hard to determine who was in control of the ball when it was grounded, although Bell seemed to be getting the better of it.

Whitehouse said that they were in ‘simultaneous control’ but that the All Blacks had had possession of the ball first and that he had no ‘clear evidence’ that a try had not been scored.

Others didn’t see it that way.

Fox Sports’ journalist Christy Doran wrote: “That is Angus Bell’s hand. Surely, the TMO can see this”

That is Angus Bell’s hand.

Surely, the TMO can see this?????

— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) September 24, 2022

Australian commentator Sean Maloney Tweeted: “Best team wins no doubt, would just love for a referee on here to talk me through the law ruling around Whitelock try. Someone. Anyone. Please.”

Best team wins no doubt, would just love for a referee on here to talk me through the law ruling around Whitelock try. Someone. Anyone. Please. #NZLvAUS

— Sean Maloney (@seanny202) September 24, 2022

One Wallabies fan wrote: “Angus Bell scores for NZ. That will do me. He’s a Wallaby. I’m done.”

Angus Bell scores for NZ. That will do me. He's a Wallaby. I'm done. #NZLvAUS

— Deng Nguyen (@deng_nguyen) September 24, 2022

South African rugby account Jared Wright proclaimed it the sport’s first ever own try. “Angus Bell, the first player to score an own try in test rugby?”

Angus Bell, the first player to score an own try in test rugby?#NZLvAUS #RugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/I2uCmSGv0n

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 24, 2022

EK Analysis saw merit in the argument that both players were holding the ball, arguing Whitelock should get the try as he never lost control.

Don't think I've ever seen a situation like this. Two players holding the ball at the same time as it's grounded.

Guess it should be a try if Whitelock's deemed to have always held it anyway?#NZLvAUS pic.twitter.com/nrRNLYcFoB

— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) September 24, 2022

While it might hard to argue that the try was the difference between the sides, even if Ian Foster’s side kicked on after it, it did mean helped the garner some precious points difference for New Zealand and that could be what decides this year’s Rugby Championship.