Kurt-Lee Arendse was unfortunate to receive a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on in South Africa's win over England, according to former international referee Nigel Owens.
The speedster was adjudged to have committed an indiscretion when he extended one arm above his head to challenge for the ball, briefly halting the Springboks' momentum after they had established a 17-0 lead.
Appearing on World Rugby's Whistle Watch programme alongside former Wales international Jamie Roberts, Owens explained the criteria for judging such incidents. "Forget the one hand because players can catch the ball with one hand, we see them in the lineout, it's a great skill when players can do it," he said. "What you need to judge it on in my understanding and my view of it is, was that player in a realistic position to regather the ball?"
Owens then revealed the view of World Rugby officials. "The general consensus from World Rugby and the officials on this is that it should have remained just a knock-on, the TMO should not have come in and got involved with this and given it a yellow card," he said. "They feel that he could have regathered that ball, it was unlucky he didn't, hence it was a knock-on."
Roberts agreed with the assessment, believing Arendse had a realistic opportunity to regather possession and should not have been penalised with a sin-binning.