World Rugby has reportedly conceded that Aaron Smith's disallowed try in the World Cup final between New Zealand and eventual champs, the Springboks, should have stood.
World Rugby concedes All Blacks' disallowed try in Rugby World Cup final should have stood
The television match official (TMO) Tom Foley picked up the knock-on four phases before Aaron Smith's 54th minute try. This exceeded the two-phase limit which states the TMO only has the authority to look back two phases for any knock-on in the buildup to a try.
World Rugby updated its protocol in 2022, stating that TMO referrals were permitted for "all clear and obvious knock-on or throw forward infringements within two phases leading to a possible try".
This would have taken the All-Blacks within one point of the Springboks prior to the conversion being taken.
According to New Zealand's news outlet Stuff, the controversial decision has been acknowledged privately by World Rugby as a breach of the laws, yet it remains unacknowledged publicly.
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