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Zach Mercer red 'wrecks' Champions Cup thriller
By Ian Cameron
Montpellier's Zach Mercer was shown a red card by referee Andrew Brace for a tackle on Exeter Chiefs' forward Christ Tshiunza in today's Heineken Champions Cup match at Sandy Park.
Mercer made fleeting contact with the head of the Chief's lock in the 49th minute and it was enough for the call to be sent 'upstairs' for TMO Joy Neville to review.
Brace determined that there was "no mitigation" for the tackle, despite Mercer's protests that Tshiunza had already dropped his height.
The decision has caused a stir on social media, with many fans and pundits questioning the call. Some argue that there was a lack of force in the hit, and that Tshiunza appeared to be lowering his height as a result of an initial tackle, with Mercer being a secondary collision.
Sunday Times columnist Stephen Jones wrote: "Red card for Zach Mercer at Exeter reveals the silly side of new framework. At time of contact Mercer hardly moving. Way more of a graze than an impact."
One, more reasonable, Tweeter wrote: "Personally thought the red card from Mercer was VERY unlucky . Thought Serfontein tackled the player first causing a slight dip making it high, was not with a lot of force so I was thinking penalty if he was lucky or yellow at most," while another wrote: "Sorry but that is not a red. Tackler is passive, doesn’t accelerate into him, secondary tackler. Bad bad call."
Rugby journalist Jon Cardinelli wrote: "I don't see any mitigation," says the ref. But Mercer isn't the initial tackler, and yhe ball carrier is brought down lower before making contact with Mercer..."
Another account queried why a HIA wasn't mandatory in the situation given the decision implied there was significant force in the head contact. "Another great game, wrecked by another needless red card," wrote lineout nause. "Zach Mercer very unlucky for me. There wasn’t a high level of danger. And if there was, why isn’t a HIA mandatory?"
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Latest Comments
Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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