Mike Tindall has given his take on two controversial moments in Wales’ Six Nations defeat to Scotland (Image: The Good, The Bad & The Rugby)
Former England star Mike Tindall has given his view on two controversial incidents from Wales’ Six Nations loss to Scotland, dramatically labelling the Welsh ball boy at the heart of one of them as “idiotic”. Steve Tandy’s team narrowly missed out on halting their disappointing losing streak in the championship, falling 26-23 to Saturday’s visitors to Cardiff.
Despite tries from Rhys Carre and Josh Adams giving Wales a 17-5 lead at half-time, a second-half resurgence from Scotland saw them shatter the hosts’ hopes with George Turner’s late try securing victory. Whilst it was a significantly improved performance from Tandy’s squad, there was justifiable disappointment among fans after their side was denied victory, with several second-half events sparking discussion among supporters and pundits following the final whistle.
One such incident was the Darcy Graham try that shifted momentum in Scotland’s favour just before the hour mark, with Finn Russell quickly taking the restart after Jarrod Evans extended Wales’ lead from the tee.
The hosts were caught off guard, with several players having their backs to the action, as Graham reached the bouncing ball first and sprinted over to score in the corner.
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Like many spectators in the stadium, 2003 Rugby World Cup champion Tindall was taken aback by the try and questioned its validity, admitting that he had contacted “an influential power broker” for a definitive ruling.
However, after being informed that the move was technically within the rules, the 47-year-old criticised the ball boy’s “idiotic” decision to quickly bring the ball to the centre of the field, enabling Russell to swiftly take the restart.
During a discussion about the match with co-hosts Alex Payne and James Haskell on The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast, Tindall said: “Scotland made a lot of errors in that first half and Wales punished them.
“They came out, their breakdown work… their back row was outstanding. I think they deserved to win. They’ll kick themselves at that restart. I wasn’t sure that restart was legal, but there is no reason why it’s not.”
Payne interjected by saying: “You actually messaged an influential power broker about that,” to which Tindall responded: “Yeah, because I always thought it was very similar to a quick line out, in that you have to use the same ball that was kicked for the penalty and the ball that is kicked for the penalty goes into the crowd.
“So obviously a ball boy, an idiotic Welsh ball boy, has run on and put the ball down on the centre half. They’ve run back and Wales aren’t back in their half.
The prompt delivery of the ball meant Finn Russell was able to take a quick restart (Image: BBC)
“Now, that the only law I could find that would have them hanging is if you’re not behind your 10 metre line, they can’t take the restart. So if they were a bit lazier, it would have been fine. Someone must have been facing them, not to scream that they were going to hit that or face up or [whatever].
“The influential person I messaged said it’s not in the spirit of the game to do that after a converted score, but it’s not illegal.”
Haskell added: “It’s a bit like when a bowler in cricket pretends to dummy you and takes your stumps off. It’s not ideal, but if it wins you a World Cup, you do it. You’d be hated for life, but….”
Yet Tindall suggested it was actually another incident that Wales could feel hard done by, with Tomos Williams allegedly executing an illegal ‘croc roll’ on Scotland’s Rory Darge in the 65th minute. With the score at 23-19 in Wales’ favour, the hosts had secured a penalty on the Scottish 22, giving Jarrod Evans the chance to extend his side’s advantage to seven points.
However, referee Matthew Carley was informed of the alleged croc roll by his TMO and determined that foul play had taken place, with the penalty overturned in Scotland’s favour. The decision has already been challenged by figures such as refereeing legend Nigel Owens, who labelled it “harsh”, and Tindall was left incensed as he suggested it may have “cost Wales the game”.
Tindall said: “Can we please talk about croc rolls? Because that has cost Wales the game. They’d have hit another three, they’d have been seven points up, it might not have cost them the game, but..
“Tomos Williams, even whilst they were playing advantage, if the referee knows that much about the game, as soon as you see him wrap his arm around his waist, tell him. Just blow the whistle if he’s over the ball.
“If he hadn’t moved him – which, by the way, there was no danger to the player he moved – it would have been a penalty for Wales if he’d stolen the ball.
“The fact that he just lifted him up and rolled him over – but he didn’t roll onto his leg, he didn’t do any of that, so it was never dangerous – now apparently takes over because it’s foul play. It takes over the fact they had penalty advantage.”
After Haskell asked, “I thought a croc roll was only if you use their head, you just can’t roll them full stop?” Tindall added: “No, he rolled them by the body. Now, you can’t do anything.
“But it’s supposed to protect the guys who are jackling the ball’s knees, so you don’t roll into their knee. So if you don’t roll into their knee, what does it matter? If their legs aren’t there to roll?
“Also, it’s a nine trying to clear out a back row. What is he supposed to do? Otherwise all you’ve got to do is just grab their shorts, pull them over and make them do a forward roll.”
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