2 years ago
34
ARTICLE AD BOX
England's Will Homer waited under the posts before eventually grounding the ballEngland and Argentina have been criticised after a long delay before scoring a try helped both sides progress from their World Rugby Sevens men's group in Toulouse.
England's Will Homer ran down the clock by more than two minutes before being challenged and grounding the ball.
Argentina won the game 19-7, with the result meaning both sides progressed at Canada's expense on points difference.
Former referee Nigel Owens said it was "against the spirit of the game".
"When I was refereeing on the WR 7s circuit we would tell the player to ground the ball in this situation. I'm amazed the referee hasn't told him too," added Owens.
In a post on social media about the incident, World Rugby Sevens said: "Unique. Bizarre. Controversial."
It added: "Time seems to stand still in Toulouse as England deliberately delay scoring the try that takes them through to the quarter-finals - and Argentina, down to six men and also going through, let them."
The controversial score occurred when England's Homer received the ball a couple of metres from his own line, dummied his way through the Argentina defensive line and raced clear.
With no Argentina defenders chasing him he first slowed to a trot and then stood in the Argentina in-goal area holding the ball and looked to the England bench for advice on what to do.
He was advised to run down the clock and proceeded to stand there for over two minutes, with no Argentine defender approaching him, despite encouragement - but not insistence - from the referee for either Homer to put the ball down or a defender to force him to do so.
He finally dotted the ball down with the clock having been run down for over two minutes.
The result meant Argentina, England and Canada were all tied on seven points at the end of their Pool A games in the latest round of the World Rugby Sevens series.
It ensured Argentina finished top and second-placed England went through to the quarter-finals with them, as their points difference was four better than that of third-placed Canada.
In the last eight, England were beaten by Samoa and Argentina lost to Ireland.
English (US)