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Ever-shrinking tackle zone questioned as defender gets yellow after Stockdale dips into tackle
The cards keep coming in this year’s World Cup with Samoa and Ireland both adding to the tallies in their fixture on Saturday with Samoan hooker Seilala Lam yellow-carded and Irish midfielder Bundee Aki red-carded.
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The heavily scrutinised tackle area has become the hottest talking point, outside of Typhoon Hagibis, and contention continues for confused spectators after Samoa hooker Seilala Lam was yellow-carded for a textbook tackle on Jacob Stockdale after contact with the head was spotted.
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What made this incident such a debated topic is Lam has a solid case to argue that he did nothing wrong as Stockdale lowered his upper body into the contact looking to forcefully bump the defender off. With Stockdale’s leading knee and dropped forearm, Lam’s target for a safe tackle was extremely limited.
Fans were left confused as Lam ‘couldn’t go any lower or he would have been underground’ calling the yellow card ‘a joke’ that is turning the sport into a farce.
https://twitter.com/JamesDo11574407/status/1182975421723369474
If Seilala Lam had been any lower going into that tackle he'd have been underground.
— The Burgh Watch (@theburghwatch) October 12, 2019
I have no idea how Seilala Lam can go any lower into that challenge, yet he still picks up a yellow.
Saw how frustrated the Manu guys have been after SCO and JAP games – this one likely to be no different.
Expecting shots fired post-match#RWC2019 #IREvSAM
— Dewi Preece (@DewiPreece1) October 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/_danmatthews/status/1182974781538390016
What on earth is Seilala Lam supposed to do there? Stockdale nearly on his knees, he’s gone low and tried to put in a legal tackle. How long before ball carriers are deliberately ducking before contact to try and coax a penalty? #RWC2019 #IREvSAM
— Charles Richardson (@CRichardsonTel) October 12, 2019
The refereeing in this @rugbyworldcup has been awful! How the first yellow card was a yellow card I don’t know, the Irish player ducked into the tackle! #RWC #IREvSAM
— Thomas Clark (@ClarkyT68) October 13, 2019
The ref explaining yellow card for Samoa in #IREvSAM shows the problem at #RWC2019 World Cup. If the ball carrier deemed to have dropped, why card at all? If defender not at fault, may as well go full tag rugby rather than unfairly penalize / ruin games.
— Barbosa de Bossa (@FootOfDavros) October 12, 2019
#IrishRugby 7-0 #SamoaRugby 6mins Seilala Lam absolutely correctly comes in really low to tackle Jacob Stockdale; Stockdale drops his knee and of course Lam is going to hit him on the chin; Seilala L is sent to the bin for 10 minutes #RWC2019 #IREvSAM #Rugby
— RugbyUnplugged.com (@RugbyUnplugged) October 12, 2019
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I think Seilala Lam’s yellow card against Ireland is the worst of all of these decisions on high tackles so far in the tournament. Something has to give here. All teams are affected.
— The Pits (@JohnPitsonis) October 12, 2019
Samoa’s World Cup campaign has been blighted by yellow cards, picking up seven in four matches that left them playing every match with 14-men for extended periods.
Despite being one of the most penalised teams at the World Cup, the side is throwing their support around Ireland’s centre Bundee Aki who was red-carded in the match for a high shot following a loose ball competition.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3i4JScAiFL/
“Again, as we’ve seen if there is any contact with the head, people have been penalised. We lost a couple of players but I hope no further sanction comes to him because I hope he can go further in this tournament and play,” head coach Steve Jackson said following the game.
“We’ll do everything we possibly can from a Samoan perspective to make sure that he gets on that field next week.”
Samoa will be left to review their campaign in search of bigger and better things next time. Jackson hopes his side’s efforts will inspire the next generation of Samoans to represent the blue and red.
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“We just have to make sure players want to play for Samoa. Guys came over here and put the jersey before a piece of paper (club contract).
“We have to change a lot of minds and persuade players this is the route to go down, especially the people in European clubs. I don’t have to talk about eligibility and availability but hopefully, some common sense in the next four years will change a few things.
“But we also have to look in our own backyard and at our development and ensure we capture them to play for us.”
Former Chiefs fullback Tim Nanai-Williams also shared a similar sentiment, encouraging any up and coming players to stick with the country they are passionate about.
“To be honest, I just want to just leave a legacy, to really push the kids that are coming through to really stick with the country they are passionate about.
“If it is Samoa or whatever country it is, just go with it because that’s what I did.
“I was very happy to pick Samoa because of the heritage and my upbringing.”
RugbyPass World Cup city guide – Kumamoto:
Comments on RugbyPass
Now if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
4 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
35 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
4 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
4 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to comments