Nigel Owens explains why ref got huge Italy call wrong vs Ireland

It was a big moment.

However, following a discussion with the TMO, the try was disallowed after the officials deemed that Tommaso Menoncello's pass to Louis Lynagh was forward.

Former referee Nigel Owens gave his verdict, disagreeing with the call from referee Hollie Davidson and her decision to back the TMO.

He said: “So I would have liked Hollie to stick with that decision to say ‘No, this is not clear and obvious for me from what I’m seeing on the screen. We’re sticking with the on-field decision.

He added: “Even if you’re going to say it’s marginal, it certainly was not clear and obvious enough for the referee to overrule the on-field decision, but they went with the TMO because obviously, he has better views of things. But the try should have stood.”

With Owens was former Wales winger Alex Cuthbert, who agreed with his fellow countryman.

He said: “So in this instance here, the ball leaves his hands fine.

“For me, I’m scoring that corner, and for me it’s a try.

“I’d say Menoncello is going be running 20 to 25kp/h at least.

“So when you’re running at 25kp/h and throwing a pass out to a guy who is maybe 10, 15, 20m away, that ball is travelling the same speed as you. So, as long as that ball leaves your hands flat or backwards – it’s not passed forward – whatever happens, that ball is going to land further forward than where you passed it.

“So what you’ve got to be careful of is that you don’t judge forward passes on the lines on the field because they can really give you an incorrect outcome to the decision-making process.”