Originally Posted by Finny Skeleta:
“I think that part of the problem is that referees are reluctant to give out red cards. A red card in rugby tends to ruin the game as a contest and referees seem reluctant to spoil it for the people who have paid a lot of money to see the game. They'd rather give a player ten minutes and then leave it up to the citing commissioner to punish the player after the game.”
Yeah I agree with that, referees would definitely rather give a yellow than a red.
But that leads to another point - should the referees really give a flying f*ck about the fans? They are there to referee the game, not pander to the fans. I understand tickets aren't cheap, but I would rather see a definitive red card being given, than the ref pussy out and leave the decision to the citing commissioner.
Plus, in a game as tight as Saturday's, red cards need to be given out properly, if it had cost the Wales team the game then it might give players cause to think again. As it is it gives the impression that they can commit a red-card-worthy foul, and get to stay on the pitch for the majority of the game, then run the risk of a ban. The RFU has proven itself to be pretty lenient with bans in the last couple of years (Mealamu two weeks for a headbutt, Tuilagi 5 weeks for 3 unprovoked punches, Burger 8 weeks for gouging) so it's worth taking the risk.
Quote:
“I can understand that way of thinking. Two games I can think of off the top of my head where a player was sent off early are the semi last year and Wales vs Scotland in 2006 where Scott Murray saw red for kicking Ian Gough. Both games turned sour and unsatisfying after the sendings off and even when Wales were the beneficiaries of the decision and the eventually winners I didn't enjoy the match at all.”
I'm not a fan of Steve Walsh but he couldn't do anything other than send off Scott Murray, he kicked gough in the face right in front of the ref. a yellow would have bought the game into disrepute.
I'll always remember England/New Zealand when Stuart Dickinson advised the ref to send off Simon Shaw after ten minutes. Admittedly Shaw dropped his shin into the NZ player, but he was lying all over the wrong side of the ruck. Terrible decision that ruined the game. But that was a bad decision, if it's a right decision that results in a red card then why shouldn't they be given after 10 minutes? If it ruins the game it's the player who should be culpable, not the referees.
Quote:
“The effect of losing one player for a rugby team is devastating and when you consider that red card offences are usually impulsive, spur of the moment and often provoked incidences the thought of punishing a whole team just for one individual moment of lunacy doesn't sit well with me.
Show them yellow, get on with the game and then throw the book at them afterwards, that's how I'd prefer it done. I hope BD enjoyed the last five minutes of that game because it's probably the last he'll see until September.
On the other hand I'm all in favour of reds for persistent infringement. If a player is lying all over the ball at every ruck then they should get a warning, then a yellow and a clear message that one more and he won't be coming back on the pitch.”
I'm the complete opposite of this. If someone commits a spur-of-the-moment act that is dangerous/reckless/careless etc, then h should be sent off. That's it. If it spoils the game, ruins the teams dynamics or changes the flow of the game then maybe the culprit should think about not doing it again.
They're professional players, they should be able to play 80 minutes without committing a red card offence. There are very few ways to get sent off in rugby, you've got to be an absolute moron if you manage to actually do it.
that's my 2 cents anyway.