The fine finish from Bath flanker Sam Underhill was chopped off after Courtney Lawes was adjudged to be offside
Controversy as late England try against All Blacks ruled out by TMO
The debate will rage on. Sam Underhill looked to have snatched victory for England with a fine finish in the closing stages of this showdown with the All Blacks, but match TMO Marius Jonker adjudged that Courtney Lawes – who charged down New Zealand scrum-half TJ Peranara – was offside when he made contact with the ball. New Zealand went on to win 16-15.
Late drama at Twickenham!
There's another mix up from the @AllBlacks and Sam Underhill goes over, but Courtney Lawes is ruled to be offside for the charge down!
Watch the final 5 minutes live on Sky Sports Action now! pic.twitter.com/tgPxhFWQlH
— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) November 10, 2018
As England fly-half Owen Farrell waited to take the conversion, the match officials made the call that Northampton bruiser was not behind the hindmost foot of the ruck and that it would all come back to an All Blacks penalty.
Related: Sam Underhill announces his arrival on the big stage
As you can imagine, with margins so fine, there was a big split in public opinion on the match officials’ call.
It was offside.
But poor England.
Feel sorry for them there
*returns home, after Wales game, to find my house burned down*
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) November 10, 2018
Total bollocks onside all day
— Austin Healey (@IamAustinHealey) November 10, 2018
Definitely offside. Would be nice to see the All Blacks asked to keep to the same laws.
— Zelím Nel (@Zels77) November 10, 2018
Come on he’s onside!!!
— Richard Wigglesworth (@rwiggy9) November 10, 2018
HUUUUGE decision, but think the TMO has got it right ?
— ugo monye (@ugomonye) November 10, 2018
So I now think it was just about offside… JUST
As I’ve been reminded, tackle is offside line these post Italy ruck-gate days
And Lawes looked a tiny bit in front. Very marginal.
But hey – three lineouts missed and two penalties turned down the difference. #ENGvNZ
— Will Kelleher (@willgkelleher) November 10, 2018
Tough now not to think back to the Farrell conversion that hit the post, Sinckler’s fumble so close to tryline etc etc… Lawes offside ruling correct by the smallest margin…all tiny margins. NZ so tough & scrambled the hell out of Eng L/o
— Alastair Eykyn (@alastaireykyn) November 10, 2018
So there you go clear as mud, as we all weigh in on the big decision…
After the match Eddie Jones diplomatically said: “Sometimes the game loves you and sometimes it doesn’t” of the decision – eluding to last week when match officials ruled that a contentious, match-saving tackle by Farrell at the very end of the match was not illegal.
Related: Farrell tackle divides opinion
If you’re quick you can let us go know what you think of the final decision through this Twitter poll on our page.
New Zealand won at Twickenham 16-15, but what about that final decision on Courtney Lawes's charge-down? We want your view:
— Rugby World (@Rugbyworldmag) November 10, 2018