Dickinson 'happy' with RWC Final call

Australian Test referee Stuart Dickinson has no regrets over his highly-scrutinised Television Match Official decision in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final.

According to an AAP report, Dickinson, in his book, The Rugby World Cup Diaries - A Referee's Inside View, revealed that he "was happy with that and I can live with myself" after denying England winger Mark Cueto a second-half try.

Dickinson ruled, and rightly so, that Cueto's foot had clipped the touchline in a desperate last-ditch tackle from Springbok number eight Danie Rossouw. At that stage the score was 9-3 in South Africa's favour; at worst, England would have been in touching distance had the score been allowed.

AAP reports that Dickinson says he watched around 10 replays of the incident before making his decision, much to the displeasure of a host of England fans - including Prince William and his brother Harry.

"I was aware because of the fact there was no slow motion replay or no freeze frame that I knew that the English people would be upset ," wrote Dickinson in his book, which is launched this week.

"The first face that came up on the screen was Prince William, so I had a bit of a chuckle to myself with that.

"But I knew in my own mind I could sleep straight in bed at night and that I'd made the right decision and that was fine. I was happy with that and I can live with myself."

Dickinson also said that he was pleased to have been given the support of IRB referees boss Paddy O'Brien, as well as the backing of England's 2003 World Cup-winning skipper, Martin Johnson.

"In his position he (Johnson) could have easily fallen in line and sort of said 'I don't know', but that's the quality of the bloke he just calls it as it is," said Dickinson.

In his book, Dickinson also speaks about his role in the Wales v Fiji pool match - a game that saw the Welsh crash out in the pool stages - whilst he also touches on his tumultuous relationship with French coach Bernard Laporte.

 

Had the try been awarded and the conversion successful England would have taken the lead.

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