Laws are there to be pushed: Best exonerates Rees in 'ballgate' win

Rory Best today exonerated Matthew Rees of blame for Wales’ ’ballgate’ victory against Ireland in the 2011 RBS 6 Nations by claiming the rules are only a “loose guide” to be followed.

Ireland were fuming after officials failed to spot that Rees had taken an unlawful quick line-out – he had used a different ball that had also been handed to him by a ball boy – from which scrum-half Mike Phillips scored the crucial try.