Wasps boss backs TMO over 'eye gouging' call

REACTION: Wasps coach Lee Blackett defended the television match official's decision to avoid intervening after one of his players was on the wrong end of a possible eye-gouging incident during a 20-18 win at Newcastle on Friday.

Replays indicated Falcons wing Mateo Carreras made contact with the eye of Wasps' Josh Bassett in the first half but play in the Premiership match continued without TMO Graham Hughes getting involved.

Carreras may well face disciplinary action but Blackett had sympathy for the officials dealing with an incident in real-time.

"The first time that I saw the incident was on the TV and I've not seen it again, it's been flagged as a potential citing incident," Blackett said.

"It doesn't look great though does it? I can see why the TMO might not have spotted it in 20 seconds but it might have taken five or six minutes to zoom in.

"Josh Bassett wasn't the happiest at half-time."

Wasps battled back from a 12-point interval deficit thanks to second-half tries from Brad Shields and Tom West as they ended a four-match losing streak, with Newcastle going down to 13 men after two yellow cards in quick succession.