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Warburton missed the second half of last Sunday's game through injury. David Jones/PA Wire/Press Association Images
conjecture

Ref right to penalise Ferris, insists Warburton

The Wales captain has claimed his side deserved the last-minute penalty that led to their victory.

THE CONTROVERSIAL DECISION that ultimately decided the outcome of last Sunday’s game between Wales and Ireland was correct, according to Wales captain Sam Warburton.

Referee Wayne Barnes awarded Wales a last-minute penalty in the game, which allowed Leigh Halfpenny to put his side 23-21 ahead, however many Irish players and fans disputed Barnes’ decision.

In a column for The Daily Telegraph, Warburton conceded that the decision to send Ferris to the sin bin was unnecessary, but insisted the awarding of the penalty was correct.

In relation to the incident, he wrote:

“Ferris’s yellow was harsh, in my opinion. But I do think the penalty was fair, and I do think we deserved to win.”

He also praised the performance of Wales’ rising young star George North, adding:

“We have a Dutch sprint coach, Frans Bosch, who comes over to work with us and he says George’s acceleration over 10 metres is as good as the top sprinters, but what he can’t understand is that those sprinters weigh 80-90kg, while George is 110kg and still shifts as quickly.”

Wales host Scotland this Sunday, while Ireland meet France in Paris on Saturday.

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