Sunday 20 November 2016 13:05, UK
Rory Best questioned referee Jaco Peyper's decision not to refer Malakai Fekitoa's second try to the TMO in New Zealand's 21-9 victory over Ireland.
The Ireland captain suspected there had been a forward pass in the build up to what was the decisive try in the match and he confirmed he asked the referee to send it upstairs.
There was added spice to the request as Peyper had been subject to criticism by the Irish after a narrow defeat to France during the Six Nations in February.
"I went up to him and said please look at it," said Best.
"He said 'I have a team upstairs and I can't be seen to give under pressure to the captain'.
"I replied there was a lot at stake over this try. One needs to feel that we have a chance on important calls like that."
Head coach Joe Schmidt refused to comment on Peyper's performance, preferring to leave that to the match assessor.
But he felt there was controversy over Beauden Barrett's try, New Zealand's second, which the TMO awarded despite one image which seemed to show Jonathan Sexton preventing the All Blacks fly-half from grounding the ball.
"I have to compliment them on their defence as they held us up over the line several times - it is debatable whether we also held up Beauden Barrett for his try," Schmidt said.
"Still, we can take a little bit of heart from the match - we held our own against a team that destroyed their Rugby Championship rivals this year."
