Lions penalty U-turn explained: Why the referee got the decisive decision WRONG

Referee Romain Poite explains a ruling to Lions captain Sam Warburton, during the 3rd and final test match between the All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

Even the Welsh think the All Blacks were robbed ... sort of.

As New Zealand reels from the shock of a drawn series against the British & Irish Lions, most fingers are being pointed at French referee Roman Poite, who seemed to deprive the All Blacks of a last-gasp chance to win last night's decider at Eden Park.

News site "Wales Online" asked resident referee expert David Bodilly to run his eye over the incident, eventually ruled an "accidental off-side" by Lions hooker Ken Owens, and his verdict - it should have been a penalty under the letter of the law, but it's a dumb law and needs to be changed.

Bodilly, a former Pro12 official, said there were three elements to the decision that required analysis - the law, Poite changing his mind about the penalty and whether the law is right.

"The law is the law as it stands," said Bodilly. "The ball went forward off a red player (Liam Williams), was next played by another red player (Ken Owens) and that is a penalty.

"In refereeing, we are told to 'penalise the clear and obvious', advice that is really important, given how many other thought processes go on in your head during a game, particularly one of this intensity.

"From his position, his line of sight, Poite would have asked himself: 'Did that come off red? Yes. Did red play the ball next? Yes. Penalty'."

Bodilly questioned why Poite felt he needed to change his original ruling after viewing video replays, since referees are only supposed to use the TMO to check tries or acts of foul play. Once he was satisfied Williams had not been taken out in mid-air, that should have been the end of TMO involvement.

"Perhaps he should have taken a leaf out of Jerome Garces' book from the previous week in Wellington and been more firm. However, Poite wasn't and I had to smile at [All Black captain Kieran Read's] reaction to the official, almost asking it it's OK to 'have a deal'.
"Read was having none of that, hence his 'There's no such thing as accidental off-side' remark to Poite. In this particular instance, Read was right."

But Bodilly argued the law was "stupid" and needed to be rethought.

"Put yourself in Ken Owens' position - how is he supposed to know, in a split second, who has played the ball in those circumstances, Lions of New Zealand?

"We had to watch replays to be certain ourselves. Owens didn't have that luxury.

"He wasn't deliberately transgressing. He was just acting on instinct, as any other player would have done.

"Should what we saw with Owens really be penalized in the same way as a high tackle, a jumper being pulled down in a lineout or the many other clear offences on the field of play that are a lot more dangerous?"

One thing is certain - Bodilly's opinion is only one that will continue to fan this flame for years to come.