Retired Test referee Nigel Owens has delivered his assessment of the Springbok lift that led to Evan Roos’ try against Scotland on Saturday, insisting the spectacular feat of strength from prop Boan Venter should have resulted in a penalty against South Africa rather than five points on the scoreboard.
The incident saw Venter hold lock Cobus Wiese above his head from a kick-off before taking several steps forward and placing him down, allowing Wiese to burst through the Scottish defence. Roos subsequently crossed the line, extending the Springbok advantage to 14-0 in what appeared a moment of brilliance but which Owens believes constituted an illegal prevention of defence.
Scottish defenders rendered helpless
Speaking on World Rugby’s Whistle Watch, the legendary Welsh official explained that Scottish players were powerless to tackle Wiese legally whilst he remained airborne, creating an unfair advantage that should have been penalised immediately.
“This is not obstruction; what this is, is a player in the air with a ball,” Owens stated. “You cannot touch him, and you can’t touch the guys who are supporting him in the air. Even though technically this is not obstruction, it is an action that prevents the defence from defending this because the player with the ball is in the air and being walked or carried forward.”
Owens emphasised that the initial lift posed no problem, such actions occur regularly in rugby without controversy. The offence occurred when Venter walked forward with Wiese elevated, denying Scotland legitimate defensive opportunities.
The crucial distinction
“When he lifts him up momentarily to catch the ball and bring him straight down, that’s fine, that’s allowed, and there’s no offence taking place,” Owens explained. “Whilst that is happening, you have to let the player come back down, that’s all perfectly legal.
“But once you hold him up there, or you start moving forward, then the trigger should be, are you now preventing a defender from defending that? If the answer is yes, then that action is not allowed.”
The distinction is critical. Rugby laws permit supporting players in the air during kick reception, but carrying them forward crosses the line from legal support to illegal prevention of defence. Scottish players faced an impossible choice, attempt a tackle and risk penalisation for dangerous play against an airborne opponent, or allow Wiese free passage knowing they couldn’t legally intervene.
Owens delivers verdict
Owens left no doubt about his assessment of the incident. “I would say in this instance here the Scottish player is going, ‘I can’t defend this’, and therefore that should have been a penalty.”
For Scotland, Owens’ retrospective vindication offers cold comfort. The try stood, the points counted, and the result is recorded in history. But his analysis provides ammunition for those who believe the Springboks received favourable officiating in a moment that shaped the contest’s narrative.
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