'Are you having a laugh?': Penny cops ban for Newcastle red card
Newcastle full-back Tom Penny has been banned for two matches after appearing at a disciplinary hearing following his 49th-minute red card from referee Anthony Woodthorpe in last Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership win over Wasps at Kingston Park. Penny was sent packing for contact with the eye area of Jimmy Gopperth, contrary to World Rugby law 9.12.
Falcons boss Dean Richards defended his player post-game, claiming: “Tom is distraught in the changing room because he didn’t think anything was deliberate. His leg was trapped in by Jimmy Gopperth, and you have got to look at who the instigator of the whole thing was.
“Tom tried to release his leg three times and couldn’t. As he was stumbling away and breaking free, he pushes his face and catches I think his eye. Jimmy makes a meal of it and if there is contact with the eye then so be it. It wasn’t deliberate and you have to look at who the protagonist is. It’s clearly Jimmy Gopperth, and why should our boy get penalised for being held in at a ruck?”
At the resulting disciplinary hearing, Newcastle back Penny accepted the charge and was given a two-match suspension by a panel comprising James Dingemans with Mitch Read and Leon Lloyd. He is free to play again on October 19. In addition, Penny was given a reprimand in relation to a separate charge brought under RFU rule 5.12 for disrespecting the authority of the match official by questioning, “Are you having a laugh?”
The full judgment from the hearing stated: “The player did not intend to make contact with the eye, but the action was reckless because he made contact with the face of the Wasps player close to the eye. The comments made to the match official were intentionally made because the player made the remark.”
“It was a big story last season and we were totally surprised (he was appointed) and you have to beg the question why did the RFU do that?” #NEWvWAS
– reports @chrisjonespress ???https://t.co/b5M3cInAgG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 3, 2021
Penny explained in his defence: “As I tried to release myself, Wasps No12 then gripped me harder pulling my left leg closer to the ruck, refusing to allow me to leave. His grip on my leg, neck and shoulder area was becoming dangerous as I tried more and more to release myself, my left leg was unsteady and ineffective as he had held on to it and all my weight because other people had joined the ruck was starting to move onto that left leg.
“Without looking at him I pushed him with an open hand around the shoulder area to force him to release me. Panicking, I pushed him once more on the shoulder and once again on the top side of his head area, both with an open palm and was just about to move away when his left leg swung through and hit my supporting outside knee causing it to jolt sideways about three feet. It wasn’t an insignificant blow from his knee, it caught my knee in which I have had an ACL repair and the initial pain caused me to react by leaning back to push him on his head once more.
“As I pushed his head while still unsteady having been knocked sideways, I now believe my little finger caught him in the eye. I wasn’t aware that I had caught him in the eye at the time and it certainly wasn’t my intention and totally felt that I was never going to be anywhere near it, but had I not been off-balance I know I certainly wouldn’t have been as I am not that type of person.
“I was looking at him at the time so I was surprised when I was told by the referee that I had made contact with the eye. I spoke to the player post-match and apologised to him. He seemed fine about it, saying it was just rugby. I am not happy about making contact with the eye and am angry that the whole incident happened in the first place.”
A four-week entry point was determined for sanction which was subsequently halved, meaning Penny will miss the Newcastle matches versus Saracens and Bristol. “We have provided the maximum mitigation in this case because the player admitted the breaches; the player has a good disciplinary record; and the player has cooperated with the disciplinary process,” read the panel’s summary.
“Although the player’s comment to the referee in relation to the first offence and the red card was disrespectful, the player is being separately sanctioned for that and it would not be appropriate to penalise the player twice for the same conduct.”
"This seems to me another case of rugby union’s former greats judging a 2021 incident through a 20th century lens" https://t.co/3Ocz1rSdhO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 4, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments