'Excessive': Pundits angry as Umaga red-carded again for Wasps
Boos rang around the Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday after Jacob Umaga was controversially red-carded six minutes before the interval in Wasps’ Heineken Champions Cup match versus defending champions Toulouse. The one-cap England prospect had only just completed a suspension for the Gallagher Premiership red card he received on Boxing Day for a dangerous tackle on Ollie Hassell-Collins of London Irish.
Umaga was given a three-match ban following that sending-off and was set to sit out the European game versus Toulouse. However, the successful completion of a World Rugby tackle school intervention shaved the last week off that suspension, freeing the 23-year-old to be chosen at full-back by Wasps boss Lee Blackett.
He was unfortunately left wishing that he hadn’t had his ban cut from three games to two as his return for his club was abruptly ended on 34 minutes by a red card from Irish referee Chris Busby, who was taking charge of his first-ever Champions Cup match.
The incident unfolded at a time when Wasps were 14-7 up but trying to negate an attack where Toulouse were offloading and attacking the space. Scrum-half Martin Page-Relo, chosen to start in place of Antoine Dupont, raced towards the home side’s 22 where he was tackled around the legs by Charlie Atkinson. Umaga then intervened higher up and there was head-to-head contact with the visiting French player.
BT Sport pundits Lawrence Dallaglio and Austin Healey were adamant that it was a yellow card offence at worst for Umaga but referee Bushy reached a different conclusion about the Wasps player with his TMO Brian McNeice.
Carton rouge pour Jacob Umaga après ce plaquage sur Martin Page-Relo.#WASPSST #WASvTOU #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/pJlqiVVQ2o
— Gauthier Baudin (@GauthierBaudin) January 15, 2022
“There is foul play here,” said Busby. “For me, the tackler’s tackle height is too high, he is upright and we clearly have direct head-to-head contact. What I want to look at is whether we have any potential mitigation. There is a second tackler but I am not sure that changes the dynamic of the situation or caused a change of direction.”
After another review of the footage, Busby concluded: “So, as we have discussed it, is a clear act of foul play. The tackle height is too high, he is upright, it’s clear head-to-head contact. I see this as a high degree of danger. I don’t see any reason to mitigate so for me it is a red card.”
Busby then ran back to the other half of the pitch and flashed the red card at Umaga, explaining: “It’s an upright tackle, it’s a clear head-to-head contact. There is no mitigation. For me, it’s a red card.”
A chorus of boos immediately rang out at the ground as Wasps supporters reacted incredulously to the sending off. It also exercised the pundits in the TV commentary booth. “That is excessive,” bemoaned Healey. “I don’t think it is a red card.
“At worst, he has received a red card here for poor tackle technique, not for the head-on-head. Well obviously for the head-on-head but that is a byproduct of hitting with the wrong shoulder. He hasn’t intentionally gone high on the head for me. It’s an accidental collision.”
Dallaglio added: “The (Toulouse) player going into contact has jumped into Umaga. It is the wrong technique. He [Umaga] has got his head in the wrong position but in trying to free himself from Atkinson’s tackle, he [Page-Relo] has jumped into Umaga so there is mitigation and that is a yellow at best. The referee has got that wrong.”
Wasps went on to beat Toulouse 30-22 with a three-try performance despite being a man down for 46 minutes, but they will surely fight the corner for Umaga as it wasn’t the first time they received a controversial Champions Cup red card this season. Skipper Brad Shields was sent off versus Munster for a tackle on Dave Kilcoyne and after he was subsequently banned, he appealed and had the suspension successfully overturned.
The debate surrounding the Umaga red was further inflamed in the second half when Toulouse’s Anthony Jelonch was only given a yellow card for his crunching high tackle on Wasps’ Alfie Barbeary. “For me, the tackle height is too high by No8 red,” reckoned referee Busby.
“We do have head contact but I do see this situation is different than the one in the first half and we do have a significant drop by the ball carrier just prior to contact. He [Jelonch] is attempting to make a legal tackle so I am seeing mitigation there… all that being said it is still dangerous. Yellow card.”
TV pundit Healey commented: “I think the first tackle is very, very similar because it is a really big drop in height in the very last seconds because there are two (Wasps) people in both tackles.”
Dallaglio added: “I don’t disagree with this [Jelonch] decision and I do understand what he [the referee] has done but I don’t agree with the Umaga sending off because there was mitigation in that as well.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ah, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
22 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
22 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
22 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
22 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
22 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
17 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to comments