Ross offers thoughts on controversial scrum call

Ireland tighthead Mike Ross has given his two cents on that crucial 74th minute scrum in last weekend’s contest in Christchurch.

With the scores tied on 19 points apiece, New Zealand were awarded a scrum after a questionable knock-on from Ross. The Leinster prop and his pack appeared to have the upper hand at the resulting scrum only for referee Nigel Owens to penalise Declan Kidney’s men for “wheeling” illegally.

“I could see it both ways,” said Ross on Owens’ crucial call which led to Dan Carter’s late drop-goal.

“Some refs might have given it as a turnover; other refs may decide it was a walk around. It is a difficult one.

“You could see a slight sideward motion from the back row, which may have given Nigel that perception, but, at the same time, when you are wheeling, the tighthead is stepping back, the loosehead is going forward.

“We just stayed in the same spot and Cian (Healy) just chased it up.”