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Johnny Sexton believed Ireland should have had a penalty trial early in their 35-27 loss to France when Hugo Keenan was denied and made that point to referee Wayne Barnes.
English referee and TMO Luke Pearce appeared to check for an offside in preparation for the incident in the 10th minute and then focused on whether a covering French defender was close enough to intervene.
Several replays did not match the final decision of the umpires, as it seemed the Irish wing was sure to pick up the ball and land before Anthony Bouthier first pushed Keenan and then illegally hit the ball, resulting in only one penalty and a yellow card.
“What I said [to the ref] “If the guy commits foul play, he should be removed from the equation, that was my understanding of the rule,” Ireland captain Sexton told RTÉ Sport.
“They take it out of the equation, you have to look at the photo like it’s not there.
“Hugo was stranded just under the ball, but they didn’t see it that way because there was another player from France nearby.
“A penalty test would have meant a much easier race.”
Head coach Andy Farrell said: “It didn’t happen, so it is what it is, in my opinion.
“I heard the referee arguing. I think they thought Hugo had passed the ball a bit, he pushed it a bit in the air, but that was not the reason we lost the game anyway.”
Sexton added that Les Bleus were able to play wet ball better because they led most of the clash.
“Conditions were very, very tough,” said the 35-year-old.
“You put the new balls in the movie, then as greasy as it was, the ball is like a bar of soap.
“And of course it’s easier when you’re winning the game because you don’t need the ball.
“I’m surprised we have as many set pieces as we did, but it’s easier to play in those conditions when you’re winning because you don’t need the ball.
“They capitalized on our mistakes.”
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