Face stamp sees Mike Brown sent off but Marcus Smith inspires Harlequins to thrilling win
Mike Brown may have played his last game for Harlequins after he was sent off for stamping in a remarkable 48-46 Gallagher Premiership victory over Wasps that was only decided in the last play of the game.
England’s most-capped full-back was shown a red card four minutes into the second-half after stepping backwards and standing on the head of Tommy Taylor, who was holding him at a ruck.
Referee Wayne Barnes reviewed the incident on the big screen at Twickenham Stoop and gave Brown his marching orders. Earlier in the game he was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on.
Any stamp involving the head carries a minimum six-week ban, pointing to the likely end of his Harlequins career given he joins Newcastle next season.
Just four rounds of the Premiership remain and his only hope is for his team to reach the play-offs or for the disciplinary hearing to show leniency by reducing his suspension.
Red for Mike Brown and that could be the end of his Quins career. pic.twitter.com/i9UnPY1V9o
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 9, 2021
It is a savage blow for a player who made his Quins debut 16 years ago and until his moment of madness had contributed fully to a rollercoaster game that saw England fringe players Marcus Smith, Joe Marchant, Dan Robson and Paolo Odogwu shine in front of Eddie Jones.
The home side rallied manfully after the loss of Brown and against all odds engineered the critical try when man of the match Smith sprinted over just as the clock passed 80 minutes, before adding the conversion himself.
Even the loss of tighthead prop Kieran Brookes in the fourth minute to what appeared to be a significant injury failed to dent Wasps’ early exuberance as they imposed themselves with a series of determined carries.
But against the run of play Quins showed their ruthless streak to cross in the 12th minute, Smith chipping the ball to the right touchline where Marchant gathered before winning a sprint for the line.
Wasps were straight back on the offensive and exploited a defensive lapse by Danny Care beautifully when Robson drew his opposite number to send Josh Bassett over.
Robson was at the heart of a dangerous Wasps break and when Quins try to escape the stranglehold they were turned over in their own 22, allowing Tom Willis to send Odogwu through a gap and across the whitewash.
Brown was sin-binned to compound the home misery, yet it failed to dent their confidence and they were the next over as the rollercoaster first half continued.
Repeated carries stretched the visiting defence and once more it was Smith who pulled the trigger, firing a rapid pass to James Lang who completed a simple run-in.
A powerful Odogwu break that continued with Robson racing crossfield laid the platform for Wasps to score their third try with the scrum-half showing strength to force his way over.
The sixth try of the first half arrived shortly before it ended, Brown, Smith and Marchant combining brilliantly for Smith to touch down and when the England prospect then kicked a penalty, Quins led 24-22.
Brown was sent off, forcing the double blow of Luke Northmore’s try also being chalked off, and almost immediately Wasps plundered the bonus point when Malakai Fekitoa barrelled over.
When Thomas Young then scored in a similar position, the balance shifted heavily towards last season’s runners-up – only for Care to keep Quins’ hopes alive.
Remarkably given they were a player down, the 2012 champions regained the lead through an Alex Dombrandt try that was converted from the touchline by Smith.
Robson’s pinpoint grubber from a scrum enabled Bassett to score his second and with Jacob Umaga adding the conversion and a penalty, it appeared to be over.
But the final six minutes were the Smith show as the England prospect kicked a penalty, scored a try and then converted to break Wasps’ hearts.
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 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!
3 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 …
30 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
3 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.
3 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!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments