International referee Nigel Owens admits, looking back, he is 'disappointed' that he allowed himself to be duped by Harlequins with regard to the 'bloodgate' scandal during last years Heineken Cup quarterfinal match.
Owens was the man in the middle during the clash between Quins and Leinster and was the one who allowed the late blood substitution which saw Nick Evans return to the pitch in the place of 'the injured' Tom Williams.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the experienced Welshman said he had his suspicions at the time that something was not right but, in the heat of the moment, had not acted on those suspicions.
"Maybe looking back now I am a bit disappointed that I didn't [do more], but you didn't expect this sort of thing to happen, even though I had my suspicions as he [Evans] had been warming up.
"If the same thing happens again, I will certainly be more aware what we as officials need to do now.
"If there is any doubt, then we will have a look at the wound. At the time, though, I didn't and that is probably my one regret.
"I could see there was blood in Williams' mouth. It wasn't pouring out like you saw when he came off the field. I asked the physio if it was blood and he said 'yes it is, he has got a cut'.
"If I had seen what the footage showed, of Williams spitting blood out and winking, that would have aroused my suspicions even more and I would have done something then.
"I probably would have asked to have a look at it and asked Williams to wash his mouth out with water so I could see where the cut was. I would have stopped him and asked for further medical advice.
"But if the medical guy had said to me the cut was behind his teeth, then I would have taken his word because I am not medically trained."
The aftermath of the incident has of course seen both, former Quins Director of Rugby, Dean Richards and, physio, Steph Brennan banned from the sport - leaving a very ugly mark on rugby in the process.
Despite all of that though Owens insists he remains as passionate as ever about what he does.
"It hasn't put me off the game because it has been dealt with," he said.
"Looking back now, everyone involved in the game is probably pleased that the dropped-goal attempt by Evans didn’t go over, because if it had done it would have been a total mess.
"People who were behind it were found guilty of it, and they had to take the consequences.
"If it was orchestrated by Dean Richards, as has been reported, then he has got to take the consequences. If you live by the sword, you have to die by the sword."