England's David Strettle insists try against Wales was genuine
- Published
Strettle held up on line as Wales win
David Strettle criticised the match officials for failing to award his late try in England's 19-12 defeat by Wales.
The England winger insists he touched the ball down one-handed while under pressure from three Welshmen, with time up on the clock.
Television official Iain Ramage was asked to adjudicate and he ruled no try because the footage was inconclusive.
"I felt the ball touch the floor," said Strettle. "If it is inconclusive you have to go with the attacking team."
Strettle thought that touch judge Pascal Gauzere should have offered referee Steve Walsh more assistance because he was standing right next to the incident which occurred by the corner flag.
"When they showed it on the big screen it looked like it went down as well," he continued.
"The strange thing for me was that I was hoping the touch judge might have seen it because our physio was standing right next to him and he says it was grounded."
If the try had been given, Toby Flood would still have had the opportunity to level the scores with a conversion.
But once the decision went against England, Strettle suggested that referee Steve Walsh should have brought back play for a penalty because he was playing an advantage.
"I can't understand why we have not gone back for that penalty," he added.
"There were a few decisions [that went against England]. When Flood kicked the ball through and it was knocked into touch [by George North], you can't do that. He wasn't making an attempt to take possession.
"It is frustrating but we have lots of positives to take from the game. It is how the team responds now to our first defeat.
"We showed the public what we are about as a team - we are good in defence but we can take it to teams in attack as well.
"They came to physically dominate us but we stood toe-to-toe and smashed them back."
England will next play France in Paris before having the chance to avenge the defeat that denied them a Grand Slam in last year's tournament, external by finishing their Six Nations campaign against Ireland at Twickenham on 17 March.