So if I was the AR for the Wallabies test, from that angle and at that speed I think I would have called play on as well. It is a very close call and the way Brown does it makes him look in the field of play.
Of all the things to criticize the refs for, people are choosing this extremely borderline case that could go either way as some kind of 'good example of poor officiating'. Some of the commentators doing this should know better that's for sure.
I disagree with this in the situation we're talking about because Brown's feet were firmly planted on the ground on the touchline for some period of time.
His feet never moved whilst he was preparing to catch the ball. He was standing on the touchline the entire time.
The assistant referee was also in a perfect position (as he should have been from a penalty kick) to look where Brown's feet were.