All Blacks dispute Bongi's try with World Rugby

John Maytham speaks to Andre Watson, a former international rugby referee.

Former All Blacks backline duo Jeff Wilson and Mils Muiliaina have urged World Rugby to explain why one of South Africa’s tries was allowed to stand in their 31-27 victory over New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday (31 August 2024) at Ellis Park.

New Zealand took an early 7-0 lead courtesy of a Codie Taylor try but South Africa responded when fellow hooker Bongi Mbonambi crossed the whitewash in the 16th minute.

Television replays showed Mbonambi lost control of the ball while crossing the line after a tackle from Jordie Barrett but neither referee Andrew Brace nor his TMO Brian MacNeice checked on it and the try stood.

When a journalist asked All Blacks coach Scott Robertson about the incident, he replied, "You saw what I saw."

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Watson explains why it was a well-deserved try.

"The law states that one can score a try by pushing downward pressure the moment the ball touches the ground and the moment the ball touches the ground and a body part like a hand, arm, fingertip, or upper body is in touch with the ball then it is a try, provided that the ball didn't go forward in any of those actions."

- Andre Watson, Former international rugby referee

Watson also calls out the TMO system for bringing 'more problems' than solutions to the game.

"There's no way a camera can predict where a ball would've gone... so technology and this new TMO system can't always solve a problem."

- Andre Watson, Former international rugby referee

"The game is played by human beings and checked by human beings, so why should it be checked by technology? It's not fool proof."

- Andre Watson, Former international rugby referee

"What could've happened with that ball is that 99% of the time... someone is lying on that ball and cameras can't see through those bodies."

- Andre Watson, Former international rugby referee

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.