“I think in hindsight now‚ having discussed it with other referees and having had some mini-camps post that game‚ a penalty should have been the outcome there and it should have been given‚” Gardner said.
“I think we need to see a wrap with both arms and in hindsight although he got pinned‚ there wasn’t a big enough wrap from both arms. There was a wrap with one arm‚ but there wasn’t a wrap with the other arm.”
Gardner‚ who also incurred the wrath of South African rugby supporters for his handling of South Africa’s 32-19 loss against Argentina in Mendoza on August 25 during the Rugby Championship‚ said the angles available to him at Twickenham during the test influenced his decision.
Gardner also highlighted the subsequent collision between Farrell and Esterhuizen as a factor in the decision that denied the Springboks a legitimate penalty.
“The angles that I saw with the television match officials (TMO) which were the head on angles‚ showed a clear wrap of the front arm but it was the back arm that got pinned.