Let’s quickly recap on what has happened around the head injuries/concussion issue in rugby over the last year or so:
- Rugby found out it had a serious problem with head traumas and concussions causing life changing changes to players’ physical and mental health
- World Rugby carried out studies to look at how to best combat dangerous tackles and came out with revised guidelines on acceptable tackles
- At first players struggled with the changes and the “game’s gone soft crowd” shoved their heads in the sand and pretended concussion wasn’t a big issue
- Referees and disciplinary committees started to get to a sensible and consistent application of the high tackle guidelines
- Along came the 2018 Autumn internationals and the “norms” established over the last 18 months seem to have been thrown out of the window
In December 2016 World Rugby announced the latest high tackle guidelines with the bullish phrase, that they had “……strengthened its [World Rugby’s] commitment to injury prevention by announcing details of a zero-tolerance approach to reckless and accidental head contact in the sport”.
Just consider this phrase as we work through the examples from this Autumn.
It’s not just around high tackles that we have seen a complete change in the approach from referee and disciplinary bodies; tackles in the air, the use of the TMO and even cynical rugby offences, all seem to have been treated far more leniently than they were just a few weeks ago when we were watching domestic rugby.
Here are the main incidents from the 4 weeks of Autumn internationals.
Owen Farrell tackle (England v South Africa)
This was in the last minute of the game and a South African penalty would have given them the chance to win the match. Referee Angus Gardener did refer the incident to the TMO but it was judged that Farrell had attempted to wrap his arm.
Pre-Autumn test judgement: If this occurred in a domestic fixture in October Farrell would have received at least a penalty against him and arguably a yellow card.
It is interesting to note that World Rugby’s own guidelines on illegal high tackles include an example very similar to Farrell’s.
Samu Kerevi collision with Leigh Halfpenny (Wales v Australia)
Kerevi was supposed to be charging the ball down as Halfpenny attempted a clearing kick but not only was he extremely late but his shoulder also seemed to make direct contact with Halfpenny’s head.
Referee Ben O’Keefe didn’t refer the matter to the TMO, telling the Welsh captain that it wasn’t deliberate.
Did the fact O’Keefe not use the TMO arise because he felt under pressure from World Rugby’s recent announcement on reducing the amount of TMO input? This was a crucial moment at a key point in the game – exactly what the TMO should be used for.
To add to the confusion O’Keefe’s statement that the collision wasn’t “deliberate” is pretty irrelevant, given World Rugby’s own guidelines allow red cards to be issued for reckless challenges.
Pre-Autumn test judgement: A red card for Kerevi for reckless, direct contact to the head with force (Halfpenny is still suffering the adverse effects, nearly two weeks after the incident)
Alun-Wyn Jones high arm on Bernard Foley (Wales v Australia)
As Jones goes in to contact he raises his arm and makes contact with the tackler at the top of the chest/neck.
This wasn’t looked at by the TMO and Jones wasn’t cited.
Compare this incident with another from a Women’s Autumn test (below).
In the Women’s example, the USA’s Megan Rom was shown a red card during the game and subsequently banned for 3 games. Is there much difference with the Jones’ example?
Pre-Autumn test judgement: Jones’ arm does move straight to the top of the chest/neck area, but it is more of a push than a strike. Yellow card but a case for a red if it is considered a strike with force.
Dan Faleafa drives his shoulder in to Aaron Wainwright (Wales v Tonga)
Tongan flanker Faleafa ignores the ball and drives his shoulder in to the upper chest and then head of Wales’ Wainwright. Faleafa wasn’t cited after the game with just a penalty awarded during the game.
Pre-Autumn test judgement: Red card
Cheslin Kolbe is high tackled by Wenceslas Lauret as he reaches for the try line (France v South Africa)
Referee Nigel Owens got this one badly wrong. Instead of awarding South Africa a penalty try and giving a yellow card to Lauret for the high arm that makes contact with the head, Owens gives a knock on against South Africa.
This was looked at the by the TMO, but bizarrely neither the TMO nor the referee thought the tackle was high. Ball watching?
Pre-Autumn test judgement: Yellow card and penalty try
Siya Kolisi headbutt on Rob Horne (Scotland v South Africa)
Another great example of the “zero-tolerance” approach to head strikes. In this incident Rob Horne was holding down the South African captain, who responded with a back head butt which appears to make contact with Horne’s head.
This incident was looked at by the citing commissioner who deemed it not to be worthy of a red card because of two mitigating factors; the player was held by Horne and that the strike was of moderate force.
Pre-Autumn test judgement: Red card
Sam Whitelock cynical block, while on the floor (Ireland v New Zealand)
Ever since the yellow card was introduced in to rugby, truly cynical offences have always warranted a yellow card…until the Autumn tests, when New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock got away with just a penalty for this.
Pre-Autumn test judgement: Yellow card
Sam Whitelock “clearout” on Cian Healy (Ireland v New Zealand)
Just a few minutes in to the game and with New Zealand attacking, Healy finds himself on the wrong side of the ruck and receives what looks like a shoulder to the head/neck from the clearing All Black Sam Whitelock.
Wayne Barnes seemed to see the incident because he immediately said “clear out is legal”. Whitelock wasn’t cited.
Pre-Autumn test judgement: Red card
Rob Kearney air challenge
Kearney got lucky in the Ireland v New Zealand fixture after clattering in to Rieko Ioane. Barnes just gives a penalty.
Pre-Autumn test judgement: We see this sort of challenge pretty often, with both players attempting to play the ball but the receiver jumping higher and earlier than the player from the kicking team. Rightly or wrongly, the tackling player is always penalised and will receive a yellow card or a red of the tackled player lands on his upper shoulders/head.
It was interesting to read on Twitter a number of people congratulate Wayne Barnes on a strong refereeing performance, but if a strong display means getting the big decisions right, Barnes’ fell well short.
Fraser Brown high tackle (Scotland v Argentina)
Paul Williams from New Zealand got this one badly wrong as Fraser Brown swings an arm in to the tackle and makes direct contact with the head.
Yes, the fact the carrier was falling is some mitigation but that should mean it was a yellow card and not a red (a direct hit to the head with force), rather than it being a penalty offence.
Pre-Autumn test judgement: Yellow card. Not a red because player is falling.
Owen Farrell no-arms tackle on Izack Rodda (England v Australia)
Farrell’s famous “no-arms” league style tackle was back in the spotlight as his effort saved a certain Australia try. As Australia’s 2nd row Rodda charged to the line, Farrell failed to use his arms and sort of jumped in front of the big Aussie.
It wasn’t a particularly dangerous tackle but it was certainly illegal and given the location of the offence, a penalty try should have followed.
Not for the first time in a big game Jaco Peyper was reticent about penalising foul play. judging it a fair tackle.
Pre-Autumn test judgement: Penalty try.
Izack Rodda “spear” tackle on Elliot Daly (England v Australia)
As Daly takes the ball in to contact he is tackled, lifted through the horizontal and appears to land on at least his back (if not his upper back/shoulders). Jaco Peyper is again keen to keep the cards in his pocket and only awards a penalty.
Pre-Autumn test judgement: Yellow card
What happen’s next?
Who knows. We have to assume that it was no coincidence that we had so many incidents in these three weeks that were dealt with more leniently than they would have been in October.
We know that the approach has caused more confusion in supporters’ and players’ minds over the way laws are applied, and it has undermined the campaign to make rugby a safer sport at all levels.
Will we see a return to the “norm” when the domestic rugby returns or was the approach to the internationals tests the “new” approach going forward? Brett Gosper has suggested that more cards should have been shown, but why is there such a disconnect between the boss of World Rugby and the elite referees on the pitch?
To follow theblitzdefence on Facebook like and follow us here.
To follow us on Twitter go to rugby@theblitzdefence.
theblitzdefence 
Pingback: Autumn Internationals Disciplinary Review - Rugby And The Law