Yes, that was the opening line in the BBC’s report of England’s match against the All Blacks.
Personally speaking I switched off when New Zealand scored their two tries in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. The first try (in the second half) was scored after a forward pass. If someone passes the ball a yard before the 22 yard line and the receiver takes that ball two yards in front of said line, then chances are it was forward. The linesman was in direct line the referee was there but yet no not one person questioned the try, not even the commentators.
The second try was a result of an England fumble but seconds previous, the ball was knocked forward, by a New Zealander, thanks to a Charlie Hodgson tackle. While the England players stopped, expecting the referee to call a scrum in their favour, the All Blacks scored.
So the final score of 37-20 with 14 points removed makes it 23-20 - hardly put to the sword for a young inexperienced England team.
The English pack, I thought, were amazing and outshone the New Zealand pack (although perhaps only just) but I freely admit that the better team on the day won, but put to the sword - hardly.
I now find the rules of Rugby Union so complicated and the ability of so many people to have different interpretations of these rules that the game now holds little interest for me.
Ask your Rugby mates to explain certain decisions during a match and they will fail to do this or at best will have a completely different view to the next bloke. Once the Rugby Union fraternity (players, coaches, officials and commentators) admit they don’t know the rules we will have a chance to clean up the game for everyone but I am afraid to admit the obvious would be just too embarrassing.