Renowned former rugby referee Nigel Owens has weighed in on the ongoing conjecture surrounding Mathieu Raynal's decision to punish Bernard Foley for time-wasting in the final moments of the Bledisloe Cup test at Melbourne.
With seconds remaining in regulation time, the Wallabies first-five had what seemed a straightforward kick to touch from a penalty to seal a famous comeback win.
But repeated warnings by referee Raynal eventually culminated in a free-kick to the All Blacks, handing them the scrum from which Jordie Barrett scored the matchwinning try, locking the Bledisloe Cup up for a 19th consecutive year.
The incident has caused an outcry from across the Tasman and beyond, with most of public opinion sympathetic to the Australian cause.
But according to Welsh veteran Owens - who oversaw 100 tests through a 17-year career, as one of the world's best referees - Raynal was well within his rights to make his controversial call.
Owens, 51, believes the incident should - above anything else - serve as an overdue lesson for players.
"As so many of you have been in touch to ask," Owens tweeted. "Clear communication and warning to the player to get on with it.
"A fair and strong refereeing call [by] Raynal I feel. Learning here is not for the referee, but the players to get on with it when [the] ref asks."
Video replays have emerged showing Raynal giving Foley several warnings, while Wallabies teammates can be seen urging Foley to put his kick into touch.
Former Wallaby-turned-author Peter FitzSimons has told Newshub he believes the decision may have been technically correct, but went against the spirit of the game.
"It should've been decided by the 30 men and I don't say this nastily about the French ref," he said. "Even when I was playing, I was never much whining at the ref, the refs have got to do their best.
"But it was such a pity, if we take who's a Kiwi and who's an Australian out of it, and look at that wonderful game, with the lead changing hands, nearly 80 points scored, for it to be decided by whistle and you've taken one second too long.
"Foley was in the process of kicking the ball, I mean, give it one second."
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie says Raynal's call showed a "lack of feel for the occasion", while All Blacks counterpart Ian Foster describes it as "clearcut".
Join us on September 24 for live updates of the second All Blacks v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test
