ITV’s broadcast at the final whistle suggested the final score was 29-13, when in fact a missed conversion meant it was 27-13
Confusion reigned over the final score of the Rugby World Cup’s opening match after one assistant referee raised his flag for the conversion of Melyn Jaminet’s try while the other kept it down.
ITV’s broadcast of France’s historic win over New Zealand had the final score as 29-13, which was also the case for a number of other outlets around the world.
The confusion arose after Jaminet’s conversion of his own 77th minute try. The ball appeared to be heading in between the posts but veered right at the last second, sending it directly over the top of the right post. This led the English assistant referee duo of Karl Dickson, the former Harlequins scrum-half, and Christophe Ridley to initially disagree. Dickson raised his flag, but Ridley did not.
On the pitch, the decision was immediately clarified that the conversion had in fact gone wide despite the initial difference of opinion, but the sight of one raised flag led a number of broadcasters to ‘award’ France two extra points.