Nigel Owens: Former Test Referee Analyses 2 Key Calls That Went Springboks’ Way Against All Blacks

• Former Test referee Nigel Owens analysed two second-half decisions that went in the Springboks' favour during their 43-28 victory over the All Blacks at M&T Bank Stadium
• The first controversy involved All Blacks scrumhalf Cam Roigard being tackled without the ball, before officials penalised Roigard himself for an offside infringement at the ruck
• The second flashpoint centred on whether Cameron Hanekom made contact with Josh Moorby before the pass arrived, with the try to Kurt-Lee Arendse ultimately allowed to stand

Former Test referee Nigel Owens has weighed in on two contentious second-half decisions during the Springboks' series-clinching 43-28 victory over the All Blacks at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on 18 September 2026.

Speaking alongside former Wales centre Jamie Roberts on *Whistle Watch*, Owens broke down both incidents and offered his verdict on whether the match officials got the calls right.

Roigard offside call explained

The first flashpoint arrived with South Africa leading 29-14. All Blacks scrumhalf Cam Roigard broke from a ruck along the right touchline and kicked ahead, only to be brought down by Springbok scrumhalf Morné van den Berg without the ball. Initially, Van den Berg appeared to face a yellow card and New Zealand a penalty, but officials reversed course and penalised Roigard for being offside at the preceding ruck.

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Owens confirmed that, had Roigard not been offside, a penalty against the Springboks would have been warranted. "He's never in possession of the ball. He kicks and chases," Owens said. "But here he was never in possession of the ball, so you cannot take him out. So you have a penalty here."

On the possibility of a penalty try, Owens was clear it would never have reached that threshold. "The South Africa 10 is chasing inside, so there's cover there. So it's never a penalty try."

However, Owens backed the officials' decision to reverse the call entirely. "The New Zealand nine is in an offside position when he plays that ball at the ruck," he said. "He's offside and then, in an offside position, he plays the ball. So the first offence is him being offside. Everything else that happens after that now becomes irrelevant."

Hanekom tackle decision under the microscope

The second major call proved even more critical, arriving with the Springboks' lead trimmed to 29-21. Replacement loose forward Cameron Hanekom brought down All Blacks wing Josh Moorby, who lost the ball in the tackle. Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse collected the loose ball and ran 65 metres to score, pushing the lead back out to 15 points.

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Officials reviewed whether Hanekom had made contact with Moorby before he secured the pass. The try was allowed to stand.

Owens acknowledged the decision was exceptionally fine. "When I saw this, I thought, 'He's just got the ball in his possession when he's actually tackled.' It's really, really tight," he said.

Applying the clear-and-obvious standard used in top-level officiating, Owens concluded the referees made the correct call. "I think they've got it right here. I don't think it's certainly clear, so you can't really argue with that decision. I would say, based on what's obvious, you play on."

Source: Briefly News