This non-score could yet prove to be absolutely vital.
Joe Schmidt was the most chilled we have ever seen him, post-match, as he basked in a win that has put his side in the championship’s pole position.
He said, ‘Even our points differential has been aided by that 10-point swing today. That’s a 20-point swing with England, which is, potentially, really important as they have two home games and could accumulate a few points and put a bit of pressure on.’
England had a try rubbed out in the final play of their 19-9 loss to Ireland. Billy Twelvetrees passed to winger Jack Nowell, who slid low to score in the left-hand corner.
It seemed like a perfectly good score but Craig Joubert’s touch judge called it forward. Had it been converted, England would have lost 19-16 and their points differential would have been +32, instead of the current +25. Ireland are now at +40 but the try concession would have made it +33.
Here is a video clip of the forward pass and (non)try.
The BBC and RTE feed are the same so both cut away as Twelvetrees releases the ball. However, check out the position of both players just before the release:
A split second after the release and Twelvetrees is 11-metres out.
When Nowell receives the ball we can see Twelvetrees, thanks to forward momentum, being ahead of him. Still, look at that line of mowed grass. Nowell is well behind it [around 11-metres].
England coach Stuart Lancaster blamed his team’s indiscipline and lack of killer instinct, post-match, but did not once mention the non-try in his media briefing.
The broadcasters opted against showing a replay as Joubert immediately blew the game up. On the BBC, co-commentator Brian Moore suggested the proper decision must have been made as the touch judge was in line with play.
As the try would only have proved a consolation, it did not merit any post-match debate.
However, with Ireland, Wales and England all still in contention for the championship, the decision to penalise Twelvetrees could yet play a crucial part in the final destination of the trophy.
