However, many claim that Pollock\u2019s try should not have been awarded, suggesting that referee Anthony Woodthorpe and his assistant reached the incorrect conclusion when reviewing the footage.<\/p>\n
Former England<\/a> utility back Austin Healey added fuel to the flames with his comments on TNT Sports as he was perplexed by the decision.<\/p>\n Commentary stumped, but not the officials<\/p>\n In the 77th minute, Sale<\/a> winger Arron Reed battered an up-and-under back in the field to avoid a kick out on the full and Saints star Tommy Freeman went charging after the loose ball.<\/p>\n The ball slipped through the grasp of Ernst Van Rhyn and looked to be on its way into touch. But Freeman kicked it diagonally in-field to an on-rushing Pollock<\/a>, who gathered it in his stride and raced away to the try line, swan diving over for the five-pointer.<\/p>\n The replay of the try showed that Freeman was beyond the touchline, out of the field of play and his right foot was grounded when he kicked the ball with his left.<\/p>\n This led Healey to believe that the try should have been disallowed as Freeman\u2019s actions should have meant that the ball was out of play.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a really good kick. Is he on the field when he kicks it, though? I\u2019m not sure. Is Freeman\u2019s right foot down when he puts boot to ball? But there is no question about Pollock\u2019s gas and pace,\u201d he said on the broadcast.<\/p>\n \u201cJust take a look at his right foot, before he kicks it with his left. Is he off the pitch? Yes, he is.\u201d<\/p>\n Sale v Northampton five takeaways: Henry Pollock \u2018gets the last laugh\u2019 as hosts struggle with \u2018fundamentals\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Tommy Freeman kicks the ball while out of the field of play.<\/p>\n That was enough evidence for the 52-year-old to rule out the try, but Woodthorpe disagreed as he discussed the events with his TMO.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it\u2019s play-on. The ball is in the field of play, he is not in possession of the ball\u2026 I\u2019m happy, play on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, play-on?\u201d a baffled Healey remarked.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they need to look at this again, his right foot is down. So the ref is happy, so everyone is happy.\u201d<\/p>\n WHO ELSE?! \ud83d\ude4b<\/p>\n Henry Pollock scores again as Saints win on the road at Sale for the first time in EIGHT years.<\/p>\n What a game! \ud83e\udd1d pic.twitter.com\/irXO5GVKSM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Woodthorpe continued, with the former England star speaking over the official, \u201cYes, his foot is out, but he is not in possession of the ball; he is able to kick the ball there.\u201d<\/p>\n Healey, still perplexed, added: \u201cIt\u2019s out! What? He is in possession when he touches it.\u201d<\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t the only one, as former Wales and Lions back-rower Andy Powell replied to a video of the try posted on social media, stating \u2018No try\u2019.<\/p>\n Fans piled in, too. \u201cThat ref is an absolute joke. Freeman is clearly in touch. Once he touches the ball he\u2019s in possession of it,\u201d one wrote.<\/p>\n Another adding: \u201cNo try. Foot in touch.\u201d<\/p>\n Rugby Transfers: Bulls swoop for Leicester star, Tigers target little-known prop on Rassie Erasmus\u2019 radar and Bath\u2019s \u2018tug-of-war\u2019 over England snub<\/a><\/p>\n The law<\/p>\n To Healey\u2019s credit, he is usually quite sharp on his laws, but ultimately, Woodthorpe and his officials got the decision spot on as per the World Rugby laws around touch or touch-in-goal.<\/p>\n Law 18.1 reads as follows: \u201cThe ball is in touch or touch-in-goal when: \u201cb.\u00a0A player, who is already touching the touchline, touch-in-goal line or anything beyond, catches or holds the ball.<\/p>\n \u201ci.\u00a0If the ball has reached the plane of touch when it is caught, the catcher is not deemed to have taken the ball into touch. And law 18.2 adds: \u201cThe ball is not in touch or touch-in-goal if: In this case, law 18.2.d is applicable.<\/p>\n England squad: Five takeaways as \u2018conveyor belt of talent\u2019 becomes clear while Steve Borthwick ready to \u2018pull trigger\u2019 on new-look attack<\/a><\/p>\n England stars \u2018within a shot\u2019 of Six Nations opener as Steve Borthwick offers update on George Furbank<\/a><\/p>\n At no point does Freeman ever take possession of the ball, as he does not catch or even attempt to catch the ball. He is in touch and provides a perfect example of the law description.<\/p>\n He does not hold the ball, and it does not reach the plane of touch (The vertical space rising immediately above the touch line or touch-in-goal line) before he kicks it.<\/p>\n Additionally, Pollock is comfortably behind Fremaan when the winger kicks the ball, meaning that he is also onside.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a rare occurrence to see law 18.2.d come into play, but fair play to the PREM Rugby officials who were on the button this time around and reached the correct decision.<\/p>\n Saints\u2019 attention now turns to next weekend\u2019s PREM Rugby Cup clash against Leicester Tigers at Franklin\u2019s Gardens, while many of their stars, including Freeman and Pollock, begin their preparations for the upcoming Six Nations campaign.<\/p>\n Planet Rugby reached out to a current elite professional match official to ensure that the technicalities and law interpretations expressed in this article were accurate \u2013 which they were.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0Henry Pollock on England\u2019s World Cup \u2018goal\u2019 and what he \u2018loves\u2019 about rugby<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Tommy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tommy-Freeman-kicks-the-ball-while-out-of-the-field-of-play-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
a.\u00a0The ball or ball-carrier touches the touchline, touch-in-goal line or anything beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cii.\u00a0If the ball has not reached the plane of touch when it is caught or picked up, the catcher is deemed to have taken the ball into touch, regardless of whether the ball was in motion or stationary.\u201d<\/p>\n
a.\u00a0The ball reaches the plane of touch but is caught, knocked or kicked by a player who is in the playing area.
b.\u00a0A player jumps, from within or outside the playing area, and catches the ball, and then lands in the playing area, regardless of whether the ball reached the plane of touch.
c.\u00a0A player jumps from the playing area and knocks (or catches and releases) the ball back into the playing area, before landing in touch or touch-in-goal, regardless of whether the ball reached the plane of touch.
d.\u00a0A player, who is in touch, kicks or knocks the ball, but does not hold it, provided it has not reached the plane of touch.\u201d<\/p>\n