'After England's defeat, it's time refereeing caught up': Telegraph readers on the weekend of sport

Another weekend of Autumn Internationals, another controversial decision by the officials, this time to England's cost as Eddie Jones' team fell to a narrow defeat by New Zealand at Twickenham. Sam Underhill's disallowed try late on opened a wider debate around the consistency and quality of refereeing at rugby union's elite level. Should England feel short-changed by Saturday’s loss? 

In football, Manchester City further extended their dominance over United with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Jose Mourinho's side. Just how far behind now is the red half of Manchester?

And in F1, is Max Verstappen’s outburst following a collision in the Brazilian Grand Prix worthy of repercussions?

Share your opinions on the weekend's most contentious  sporting stories by commenting below.  To join the conversation, simply log in to your Telegraph account or register for free, here. 

Heartbreak for England as New Zealand hold on for victory by a point after late disallowed Sam Underhill try

England were narrowly denied victory over New Zealand at a rain soaked Twickenham on Saturday but many Telegraph readers highlighted the wealth of positives Eddie Jones’ side can take away from the encounter.

'Should have looked at other jumpers'

@Keith Butler:

''Interesting picture of the line out, where it all went wrong for England. Retallick, best forward in world rugby, in my opinion. Gets in front of Itoje and makes the steal. Itoje lifted well above Retallick and not fully extended. Not his fault but underthrown. Having said that we should have looked at other jumpers. Bad lineout management.''

'Heart for England'

@David Spencer:

''It was good news the AB's didn't look quite so invincible.

''In reality they were the dominant attacking side but there were certainly chinks in their armour.  

''If England's lineout (or the refereeing of it - what happened to a gap) were better, they may well have been looking down the barrel.

''Heart for England, worries for NZ - just hope it pisses down in Japan.''

'Ritallick destroyed the England lineout'

@David Hand:

''Writing as an All Black supporter, there would have been no complaints from me if the refs had awarded that final try for a famous England win. But I must add that it will be a long time before England go 15 points up in the first 15 min against NZ again. And Ritallick destroyed the England lineout.''

'Another disappointment'

@Michael Harvey:

''It was an entertaining game at least. A four-year wait and another disappointment though. I'd say we lost the game on those lineouts and that poor knock-on at the end.''

Manchester United suffer derby mauling as City dominance confirms growing gap between these two sides

Manchester United now sit 12 points adrift of Pep Guardiola’s side after a resounding derby day defeat at the Etihad. Telegraph readers have assessed just how far behind the red half of Manchester now is.

'Mourinho hasn’t attached himself to Manchester'

@Philip Walsh:

''Perhaps there’s something to be said for attachment and assimilation here. Mourinho is a managerial great, but he hasn’t attached himself to Manchester. He lives in a hotel for goodness’ sake. I had a job with similar arrangements once; I never threw myself into it and it didn’t last.''

'Referee's give Fernandinho a free pass'

@Peter Pickle:

''City have a great team, but why do the referee's give Fernandinho a free pass to commit fouls while other players , on both teams, get yellow cards for lesser fouls?''

'Money isn’t the only factor'

@Laurie Cole:

''City were different class and until Jose Mourinho goes they have no chance of competing with City.

''United have spent over £400 million since Mourinho has become manager, so money isn’t the only factor!''

'Third goal was beautiful'

@Ricardo Montalban:

''Great City performance. Everyone played well. Third goal was beautiful in its construction. Man of the match was David Silva.''

England's disallowed try was too tight a call and they have every right to feel aggrieved

A disallowed Sam Underhill try prevented England from late triumph over the All Blacks. While the decision has split opinions, many of our readers are in agreement that inconsistency from referees is cause for concern.

'A real World Cup prospect would not have lost the second half'

@Phil Gabriel:

''Given their substantial early lead the fact that England lost simply illustrates how it takes time for touring teams, coming here after flying around the world - in the AB case via Japan - to settle down. The truth is that a real World Cup prospect would not have lost the second half so easily.''

'It's time refereeing caught up'

@A Cook:

''Last week we got a lucky call, this week New Zealand got the luck. The problem that this highlights to me is the ongoing annoyance of 'interpretation' rather than application of the laws as they stand. Lawes was no more, or less off-side than other players from both teams at every ruck throughout the eighty minutes. If referees, and more pertinently assistant referees, aren't going to call off-side for seventy-eight minutes of the game then it is harsh to call off-side when a match winning try has been scored. There is a simple answer, apply the laws as they stand. See also forward passes, crooked scrum/lineout feeds, and the famed, 'contest for the ball' at the breakdown. The laws have been framed, let's apply them.

 ''Last week Itoje and Etzebeth were penalised for interfering with opposition line-out jumpers. This week there was no sanction for a ridiculous level of interference. If the game wants to be taken seriously it needs to get some uniformity in refereeing - insist that the laws, as written down, are applied.

''Too many international panel referees are just not even close to being good enough. Just as we have scouts to identify and encourage young players so we need the same process for referees. A distinct career path with referee academies and rich remuneration for the most important man/woman on the pitch, bar none. This is the glaring weakness in a game which is seeking world-wide growth. The money is there. The rest of rugby isn't an amateur gentlemen's club any more. It's time refereeing caught up!''

'England were superb'

@Alan Rowe:

''England played almost perfect rugby for the first 30 minutes and were deserving of their lead. I don’t think the AB were poor rather England were superb. In those conditions which negated a lot of the AB strengths it is a tall ask for any team to get back in the game. The fact the AB did shows their character and belief and they should be given credit for this.

''This seems to have been overlooked in all the controversy about the disallowed try. If I was Hansen I would be quietly satisfied. WC conditions will be totally different and England will not be playing at Twickers. So Eddie Jones may be happy with the teams progress but I think Hansen will be more than happy as well.''

Furious Max Verstappen shoves 'idiot' Esteban Ocon in angry row after Brazilian Grand Prix collision

Lewis Hamilton’s Brazilian GP victory sat in the shadows of a Max Verstappen post-race outburst. Telegraph readers have suggested that Verstappen’s angry row with Esteban Ocon was unwarranted.

'Verstappen is dangerous'

@Stuart Davies:

''With his current tactics and attitude to never concede any space I think Verstappen is dangerous.

''Verstappen's technique is consistent to both overtake and to prevent others overtaking him is to squeeze their space and push them off the track in corners. This is just another example where he didn't give the other driver anywhere to go. F1 will not work if everyone adopts that attitude, but stock car racing is a good watchable sport.''

'Arrogant and aggressive'

@Ian Dale:

''Verstappen may have exceptional talent but he’s arrogant and aggressive. If the roles were reversed he would have tried to overtake as Ocon did. I have no sympathy.''

'Dangerous and deeply unlikable'

@Paddington Brown:

''Verstappen didn't leave enough space, crashed into Ocon and lost his win as a result. Verstappen is talented but dangerous and deeply unlikable.''

Wales edge scrap with Australia to record win over Wallabies 

While Wales managed to topple Australia for the first time in a decade, not all of our readers were convinced by the display that delivered the historic victory.

'It is a necessity just to win every game'

@Paul Griffin:

''If Wales were playing Australia in the WC semi-finals ( and it is a possibility) would we care if we played like we did Yesterday I do not think so, the next seven games we have before Japan it is a necessity just to win every game regardless of the playing style.

''The two sides have excellent backrows and I thought it was an intriguing game.''

'A big psychological fillip for Wales'

@Austin Burke:

''This was an abysmal game, typical of the stuff frequently served up by Wales in November, though to be fair Australia were just as bad.

''The win is a big psychological fillip for Wales and they won't produce the same stuff in February.''

'Superb defence and commitment'

@Graham Slarke:

''Wales kicked a lot of possession away needlessly. Gareth Davies especially. Superb defence and commitment but we need to offer more of an attacking threat. Anscombe hasn't done this, like he was supposed to. Is it the players or is it Howley?''

'Officials are supposed to be clamping down on such reckless behaviour'

@James John:

''If Farrell had been lucky to escape censure for his armless tackle the week before, Kerevi's even more blatant shoulder charge to Halfpenny's head, should have had an immediate red card.

''That both these potentially dangerous tackles went unpunished with a yellow or red card is less important than the deeper message it sends out on player safety.

''The game's officials are supposed to be clamping down on such reckless behaviour.

''Will it take someone one getting seriously injured before they take action?''