“I had it in my mind somewhere that there had been an incident between the official and the England coaches [Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree, for which they were later fined] in their match against Australia and I just didn’t want any of that to happen, not because I don’t understand the emotions of the moment for players and coaches, their desire for answers to questions, but just because I did not want that to become another possible incident. That was my thinking, not for myself but for the situation.”

Reasonable, plausible, if not entirely exonerating Joubert. There is another question to ask. Before I can, Joubert poses it himself. “In hindsight, would I have reconsidered that decision?” he says. “Absolutely.”

But he had no chance to reconsider that decision. Nor to explain it. For referees are not allowed to speak on any matter without approval. If anyone had reason to be enraged by the outcome of that match, it was Vern Cotter, the Scotland head coach.