Nigel Owens has weighed in on Darcy Graham\u2019s controversial try in Scotland\u2019s narrow Six Nations victory over Wales at the Principality Stadium in round three.<\/p>\n
The Scotland winger\u2019s try came at a crucial time in the match as Wales had just opened up a 23-12 lead through the boot of replacement back Jarrod Evans.<\/p>\n
Immediately after the Welsh<\/a> back converted the penalty, Scotland<\/a> fly-half Finn Russell charged to the halfway line, executed a quick kick-off with Graham pouncing to regather the ball and score a try that put his side back within striking distance.<\/p>\n George Turner would score in the final 10 minutes to move Gregor Townsend\u2019s men into a 23-26 lead, which they maintained until the final whistle.<\/p>\n Matthew Carley reflects on his decision<\/p>\n Referee Matthew Carley, who was overseeing his 50th Test<\/a> match, awarded the try for Scotland, deeming that everything that occurred was legal and has stood by his decision when appearing on World Rugby\u2019s Whistle Watch<\/a> show with Owens and legendary Wales and Lions centre Jamie Roberts.<\/p>\n Roberts began the conversation on the try, saying: \u201cDarcy Graham\u2019s try, a moment of genius from Finn Russell after Jarrod Evans kicks the conversion. Now, some have suggested maybe the wrong ball was used, or Scotland weren\u2019t allowed to do it. Wales had to be better set. How did you see it? Were all the laws followed correctly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Darcy Graham try was so peculiar,\u201d Carley replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember thinking at the time that it was after the kick at goal had been successful from Wales that Finn Russell had run past me a little bit quicker than normal. So, then you\u2019re alerted and your senses are sort of heightened to what\u2019s going on around you.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I knew that the two main things that I needed to be aware of once the ball had been delivered to the pitch was that Wales were on side and ready to receive the kick. The law is that they are behind their own 10 line.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, it was a quick scan to ensure that was the case, and then I needed an awareness of where the Scotland players were in relation to the kick-off and ensure that they were on side when Finn Russell kicked the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n Springboks legends revisit South Africa Six Nations debate as World Rugby bigwigs discuss Rugby Championship switch<\/a><\/p>\n Carley hailed the teamwork of the match officials on the day with Karl Dickson and Adam Leal being his assistants, Ian Tempest the TMO and Eric Gauzins the Foul Play Review Officer.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really good teamwork and connection from Adam who had worked his socks off to get into as good a position as he could upfield from the kick-off so that he was quite close to where the ball landed and then he could judge any challenge or competition and then see the grounding,\u201d the English official continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember feeling at the time that everything had kind of gone into slow motion, and I think it was the same for everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cIn terms of legality, 100% happy, and then obviously you got Tempo [Tempest] and Eric in the background who did their little sweep of it, to make sure that what we\u2019d seen on the field was correct and seven points to Scotland and a try that will be replayed for years to come on highlight reels of the Six Nations.<\/p>\n \u201cNot much more to say other than it was a strange moment, but one I think we can be pleased that we identified and we\u2019re up with and aware of and allowed Scotland to score seven points in that situation. It\u2019s so easy to stop the game and be cautious, but we wanted continuity, we want flow in the game, and they ticked all the boxes they needed to be able to take their chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Six Nations: Five things we learnt from round three as Ireland \u2018expose\u2019 England flaws and who the fallow week favours most<\/a><\/p>\n Nigel Owens\u2019 verdict<\/p>\n Owens<\/a> agreed that the try was legal, adding that Wales were at fault for not being alert enough to Russell and Graham\u2019s intentions.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing wrong with it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what you\u2019ve got to do is allow the opposition to get back over their own 10m line basically. So, you just can\u2019t run up there and take it and the Welsh players are still in the Scottish half going back. So, they\u2019ve got to have time to go back to the 10 metre line.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that they got back to the 10 metre line and didn\u2019t turn around to see what was happening next, then that becomes their problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Six Nations round three: Winners and losers as Gregor Townsend saves face but for how long while England\u2019s campaign in tatters<\/a><\/p>\n Finn Russell\u2019s kick<\/p>\n While Owens and Carley believe that Scotland ticked all the boxes, the debate around the legality of the try continues to rage online after the Six Nations posted a new angle on the try, raising doubt whether Russell actually dropped the ball before kicking it.<\/p>\n The speeeeeeed of Darcy! \ud83d\ude0d#GuinnessM6N<\/a> #Since1883<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/NuUh0nxBJU<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Guinness Men\u2019s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Many have also rued the fact that the Scotland 10 did not take the kick-off from behind the halfway line and was marginally in front of the line when doing so.<\/p>\n World Rugby law 12.1 reads: \u201cAll kick-offs and restart kicks are drop kicks. Sanction: The non-kicking team has the option of the kick being retaken or a scrum.\u201d<\/p>\n And 12.2 adds: \u201cKick-offs are taken on or behind the centre of the half-way line. Sanction: The non-kicking team has the option of the kick being retaken or a scrum.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat quick thinking by Russell HOWEVER he DIDNT even drop kick the restart he actually punted the ball really poor officiating,\u201d one fan wrote in reply to the video posted on X.<\/p>\n Another added: \u201cPunt Russell! Lucky to get away with this tbh.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n While Carley and Owens addressed the legalities around the Welsh players being in position and the Scottish players being onside, they did not zone in on Russell\u2019s kick.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0Nations Championship venues confirmed for Southern Series but it comes with a twist<\/a><\/p>\n