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“I think in hindsight now, having discussed it with some other referees… I think the general consensus would be that a penalty was probably the outcome there that should have been given,” the referee said. “I think we need to see a wrap with both arms, and I think in hindsight – although he got pinned – there wasn’t a big enough wrap from both arms, really. There was a wrap with one arm, but there wasn’t a wrap with the other arm.<\/p>\n
“Of the angles that I was shown in the stadium at the time, that seemed to me to be enough of a wrap for me to constitute a legal tackle. It was never high, and so all we were looking at was the tackle technique. The collision itself also kind of swayed my decision because it was a big rugby collision, and we see these hits in the game.”<\/p>\n
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Don’t miss… <\/strong> Gardner is widely regarded as one of the top rugby referees and his honesty will have been appreciated at the time, though South Africa were unable to get that penalty late on five years ago. His candid nature will have only endeared him further to players on the pitch, as he prepares to be the man in the middle for New Zealand\u2019s semi with Argentina.<\/p>\n “We don’t always get it right, and we understand that there are going to be decisions that are going to heavily influence the game,” Gardner added. “At this level the expectation is that we do get it right – and that’s what we’re striving to achieve – but we don’t always.<\/p>\n “I suppose that’s the best way, just to be honest about it. If I made a mistake, I’ve got to put my hand up and say I was wrong, and hopefully if I see that again then I’ll know where I’m heading.”<\/p>\n
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