The fine finish from Bath flanker Sam Underhill was chopped off after Courtney Lawes was adjudged to be offside
The key moment: Courtney Lawes charges down TJ Perenara
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!
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.
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
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.
This all comes at a time when World Rugby have passed down a directive for referees to use TMOs less. So you know this incident will generate a lot of chatter for days to come. Hey, there have certainly been no dull moments with this England team so far in November!
England face Eddie Jones’s former charges Japan at Twickenham next week, with kick-off at 3pm.
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