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French international punished for trying to feign injury
By Josh Raisey
A growing trend in rugby that is concerning many people is players feigning injuries to catch the attention of the referee.
This is most often seen when a ball carrier feels they have been tackled late or high and lie on the ground waiting to catch the referee’s attention.
This is often helped by members of the medical team rushing to the player’s attention, not only creating a muddle in the middle of the field but also obstructing play sometimes.
A raucous home crowd can help the acting player with a cacophony of jeers, usually forcing the referee to confer with the television match official.
This is something that is happening more and more frequently, but it was handled brilliantly by referee Thomas Charabas in La Rochelle’s contest with Montpellier in the most recent round of Top 14 action when France centre Geoffrey Doumayrou tried to pull the wool over the official’s eyes.
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After grabbing onto Montpellier hooker Bismarck du Plessis in a ruck, the former Springbok slapped his shoulder to make him let go.
The 30-year-old Doumayrou lay prone on the floor after that impact and was soon joined by the medical team, forcing the play to stop.
Upon looking at the replay, Charabas reprimanded the 13-cap international, saying (translated on Twitter): "Was it worth it to stop the game for that? I’m not sure that it is necessary to stop the game for that.”
Doumayrou was later red-carded for a tip tackle on Frans Steyn, for which he received a five-week ban on Wednesday.
He also was given a five-week suspended ban and a €1,000 fine for contesting the decision of a match official. This may be because he argued with the referee after being called out for cheating.
As simulation increases in the game, punishments may need to get sterner to prevent the problem from becoming rife.
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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