CrapRefs.com

Wales captain Sam Warburton was sent off by Irish referee Allain Rolland in the first world cup semi-final. From that moment, it felt like France would win because only 20 minutes had passed in the match and good teams tend to beat opponents when they have a numeric playing advantage.

But it went to the wire and despite being a man down, Wales dominated possession, scored a try and could have won the match in the dying minutes.

South African rugby fans are claiming the most hard done by moniker at this world cup after having been tipped out by Australia in what they see as controversial circumstances but Wales may have a stronger case.

Wales were denied 3 points (and hence lost by 2) when a penalty that looked to have gone over was ruled out by Referee Wayne Barnes and his linesmen in their first round match against South Africa. Then captain Warburton was sent off after 20 minutes for a tackle that did not appear to have been made with malice.

My Points on the incident

• Sam Warburton had been playing very well in this World Cup and had not been involved in serious indiscretions
• France had played well against England the week before but had failed to impress outside of that game and in this one also
  [The French loose trio were in great form]
• Rules are severe on players when they lift another player in a tackle and don’t put them down safely
• Referees have discretion to apply the rules how they see fit
• Warburton did not drive VIncent Clerc into the ground after having lifted him in the tackle; but
• He also did not let him down easy – he let Clerc go (to fall to the ground on a potentially dangerous angle on his upper back, lower neck area)
• The game went to the wire and Wales had opportunities to win [missed penalty and enough possession in attacking third]

The general concensus seems to be that a yellow card was all that was needed and that a red card effectively ruined the contest but Wales rallied and the match was a nail-biter.

I guess you’ve got to go back through every potentially suspicious tackle of this nature during the world cup to assess whether Rolland was consistent with his application of the law.

Bottom Line: Lifting a player in the tackle is a very risky thing to do, especially when the legs are higher than the torso.

It’s a bit like touching a player when they are in the air at re-starts, lineouts and kick reception – penalties are given more often than not, regardless of the intent or force of contact.

However rulings are not so consistent with lifted tackles and Warburton has paid the price of being the example.

It’s the second controversial world cup match in a row after South Africa’s exit at the hands of Australia.

All the pressure is now on South Africa’s Craig Joubert when he adjudicates New Zealand v Australia tonight.

Joubert has been the pick of the refs up to this point and is in line for the final so let’s hope he has a good match.

Tags: Allain Rolland, Sam Warburton
Posted in Rugby World Cup 2011 | No Comments »