Fans laud Nigel Owens for bold call in favour of Saracens during Heineken Cup semi

Fans have jumped on Twitter to praise referee Nigel Owens for calling out the Racing 92 scrum half for not using the ball at a breakdown.

The legendary referee gave Teddy Iribaren the call to “use it” and after five seconds awarded a scrum to Saracens early on the Champions Cup semi-final at Paris La Défense Arena.

Fans and pundits expressed sheer delight that Owens had turned over possession for a rule which many feel has been neglected for years.

REACTION

21 | Nigel Owens awards Sarries a scrum as Iribaren refuses to use the ball having been warned twice.

5m out from the Racing line, a big moment coming up.

🔵 3 ⚫️ 0

— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) September 26, 2020

Well done Nigel Owens for finally calling the 9 for taking more than 5 seconds

— Sam Rowe (@Samo4Rowe) September 26, 2020

Nigel Owens clamping down on go-slow caterpillar rucks will be hard to beat as a highlight of this Euro semi-final weekend. #useit

— Chris Foy (@FoyChris) September 26, 2020

Well done nigel owens!! Calls use it,gets ignored,blows the whistle.scrum to other team pic.twitter.com/ilM2e1E294

— Nigel Smith (@NigelSmith2482) September 26, 2020

In love with that from Nigel Owens.
Asked to use it 3 times.

Rightfully turned over.

Down with Caterpillars!!!#R92VSAR pic.twitter.com/rlAVDXRhG6

— Murray Wilson (@thetagcoach) September 26, 2020

There was a ref who did London and SE games 5/6 years ago – he still might – who used to give a feeding free-kick at the first scrum of *every* game no matter how straight the put-in was. That ‘use it’ call felt a bit like that.

— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) September 26, 2020

Great reffing from Nigel Owens there. He asked the Racing No 9 to use it twice, they were too slow and he awarded a scrum to Sarries. About time refs started enforcing this, speed up play. #RACvSAR #ChampionsCup #goodreffing

— Graeme Peacock (@graemepeacock05) September 26, 2020

You just love to see the “use it” call followed up on. Well done Nigel Owens.

— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) September 26, 2020

Always feel better about life when Nigel Owens is reffing a game

— Jack Duncan🔻 (@JackDunc1) September 26, 2020

Nigel Owens, you legend! Correct, (brave) call at that ridiculously slow Racing breakdown.

— Jonathan Griffin PhD (@griffperftrain) September 26, 2020

Massive shout out to Nigel Owens for calling and applying the « use it ». Miracles do happen 😆

— Lise Georgeson (@lisecarey) September 26, 2020