9:45pm, 08 July 2017

The final moments of the third test were clouded in controversy, but who ultimately influenced the crucial decision that left players and pundits scratching their head?

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78th minute. 15-15. Penalty All Blacks. The game & series lie in the balance. Step forward inspector Poite and his trusted sidekick, Jérôme Garcès. The final call rests with Poite, but as the video below shows, his consultation with the TMO and initial decision were overturned during a very short stroll back to award an All Black penalty.

Regardless of where you stand on the call, it’s interesting that Poite appears to have been swayed by a quick chat with the linesman on the wrong side of the pitch. Jérôme Garcès.

Following a lengthy consultation with his TMO, Poite decides that the correct course of action is to award a penalty against Owens for accidental offside. Right or wrong, his conclusion is that a potentially match deciding penalty should be awarded against the Lions.

He begins to explain the decision to Read and Warburton, before he is interrupted by Garces on his headset. “Oui Jerome?” which I believe loosely translates to “Yes Jerome?” We can’t hear the short conversation, but it’s one sided. The outcome of the intervention is a reversal of Poite’s initial decision to award a penalty.

What did Garces say and why did it influence Poite’s decision? The “deal” as Poite describes it, leaves Read and the commentators bemused, while Warburton seems relieved as he signals a scrum.

Everyone will have their opinion, and there’s a case for Read being offside from the kick off or impeding Williams in the air. These are beside the point. The question I would love answered is what did Garces say to Poite and why did it influence his decision?



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