When Alun Wyn Jones was announced as part of the Virgin Media Sport punditry team for the Rugby World Cup, it was met with joyous surprise.
The world's most capped test player, and one of the most respected men to ever step on a pitch, only recently retired from international duty, to be giving his expertise on Irish TV - a game changing coup for Virgin.
So far he has not disappointed, with his insight into World Cup camps, particularly Warren Gatland's Wales, and his view on the Irish from a new perspective.
His class was on display last night when he gave a very unbiased and thoughtful take on the the refereeing during Wales - Fiji by Matthew Carley, who, despite numerous infringements and penalties close to their line, did not show a yellow card to any of the Welsh players, before giving one to Fiji down the other end of the pitch after less infringements.
What we didn't get was a team warning. That's what you usually get, whether it's offsides or infringements. He didn't even say that on the fourth.
I thought Wales definitely dodged a bullet because the amount of time cumulatively in both halves [Fiji] spent in the 22. Don't get me wrong, we get the luck of the draw sometimes or the bounce of the ball... I think we were lucky we didn't get a card at that point.
Alun Wyn Jones A Great Addition To Rugby World Cup Coverage On Virgin
🗣 "That felt...."
🗣 "Wrong!"
🗣 "Yeah."
Were the officials too lenient on Wales tonight compared to Fiji?#WALvFIJ | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/XWeR6vhTKJ
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 10, 2023
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Jones' punditry partners, Andrew Trimble and Rob Kearney, also felt that Fiji had a right to feel aggrieved.
"It did feel wrong," said Trimble.
"The nature of the penalty was different. That maul was basically hurtling towards that Fiji line. They were all cynical. Dan Biggar, when he was offside, that was the first or second one, that was pretty cynical.
"Fiji were getting quick ball and were in good shape. And then to have four of them... The warning came after the fourth penalty.
"We need to bear in mind that we didn't watch this game as neutrals. We watched this game as Fiji fans. It didn't feel right."
"I don't think Fiji get the same treatment on their line: Four penalties and on the fourth one, 'OK boys, that's your warning now'," added Kearney.
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