1
'Where's the game going?' - Beauden Barrett
By Online Editors
All Blacks and Hurricanes first-five Beauden Barrett has weighed in after another pair of red cards were dished out on Friday night.
Referee Ben O'Keeffe changed the complexion of last night's Reds-Sunwolves clash when he handed Ed Quirk a red card after ruling the Sunwolves flanker punched Reds first-five Hamish Stewart in the face at the bottom of a ruck.
"It was a joke in my opinion," Barrett told Newstalk ZB.
"They've [the referees] got to use common sense and there was certainly no force in that.
"Where's the game going when we award red cards for little things like that?"
O'Keeffe's ruling is justified by the lawbook, with World Rugby Law 10.4 stating that players must not strike an opponent.
Despite Quirk's strike described by Reds coach Brad Thorn as nothing more than a love tap, the contact made, by the letter of the law, was illegal.
The red card Chiefs midfielder Johnny Fa'auli received for a no-arms tackle against the Hurricanes last night left less to the imagination.
The 22-year-old's high, no-arms tackle on Hurricanes midfielder Wes Goosen rattled the Hurricanes' social meda account and head coach Chris Boyd, who called the act "deliberate".
"It was pretty reckless … it's a shame because Goose [Goosen] might be out for a few weeks, he was pretty sore after that," Barrett said.
The Chiefs and Hurricanes will meet against next weekend, where they will likely be without both Fa'auli and Goosen through suspension and injury.
Fa'auli and Quirk are set to have their judicial hearings Sunday night.
In other news:
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Scott Robertson responds about handling errors
5
Latest Comments
The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.
Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.
Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.
The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
Go to comments