1
'That's a rugby incident' - Consenus forms rapidly on Freddie Steward red
England fullback Freddie Steward was sent off with a red card during the Six Nations Grand Slam decider match against Ireland in Dublin – and Twitter is vexed.
ADVERTISEMENT
Steward was shown a red card by referee Jaco Peyper for hitting Ireland fullback Hugo Keenan in the head with his elbow during an aborted attempt to contest a ball with the Ireland fullback. The decision has sparked a debate among fans, with most believing the punishment was too severe.
Steward’s red card came just before halftime, with England captain Owen Farrell heard on the ref mic expressing his disbelief at the decision. He could be heard saying, “Oh no. A red card? He was trying to get out of the contact?”
England was already down 10-6 and Steward’s expulsion has left Steve Borthwick’s team with only 14 players on the field and a tough task in the second half.
https://twitter.com/brettruganalyst/status/1637152378511130627
Even Irish commentators Alan Quinland and Andrew Trimble admitted that the decision was harsh on Steward, who had very little options open to him to avoid Keenan.
On social media, many fans expressed their disappointment with the decision to send Steward off. Some argued that it was a harsh punishment for what appeared to be an accident, while others suggested that the referee was overreacting.
Former England prop Joe Marler was furious, writing: “Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. In fact it’s complete and utter boll***s.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. In fact it’s complete and utter bollocks.
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) March 18, 2023
Andy Goode wrote: “Awful call from Jaco Peyper, that’s a rugby incident never a red card for Steward.”
Awful call from Jaco Peyper, that’s a rugby incident never a red card for Steward
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) March 18, 2023
“Never red for Freddie Steward,” wrote Ewan MacKenna. “Can slow anything down to make it look brutal. Play in real time and it’s unfortunate and accidental collision that maybe, maybe, warrants yellow for careless recklessness. Always telling, if that was an Irish red you’d be livid.”
Never red for Freddie Steward. Can slow anything down to make it look brutal. Play in real time and it's unfortunate and accidental collision that maybe, maybe, warrants yellow for careless recklessness. Always telling, if that was an Irish red you'd be livid. #IREvENG #6nations
— Ewan MacKenna (@EwanMacKenna) March 18, 2023
“That red card for Freddie Steward a bit harsh?,” wrote Martyn Ziegler of The Times. “Grand Slam in the bag now.”
ADVERTISEMENT
That red card for Freddie Steward a bit harsh ? Grand Slam in the bag now #IREvENG
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) March 18, 2023
Rugby Youtuber Andrew Forde wrote: “I actually can’t believe that, no chance was that a red card for Steward.”
I actually can’t believe that, no chance was that a red card for Steward #IREvENG
— Andrew Forde (@andrewfrugby) March 18, 2023
There were plenty more in that vein:
Apalling red card decision. Plenty of mitigation. #ireveng
— Malcolm Knox (@malkyknox) March 18, 2023
I’m sorry, even if that’s a red within the laws – which I get – how can we give that a red??
Non-malicious collisions happen in a contact sport. Jesus Christ. #IREvENG
— Rhys J (@reezj12) March 18, 2023
Others defended the call from Peyper: “Steward’s action is reckless, dangerous and could’ve been avoided with his clear line of sight. These are elite rugby players. It gives similar vibes to CJ Stander’s red card against SA a few years ago on Pat Lambie. The players still have a duty of care.”
Steward’s action is reckless, dangerous and could’ve been avoided with his clear line of sight. These are elite rugby players. It gives similar vibes to CJ Stander’s red card against SA a few years ago on Pat Lambie. The players still have a duty of care. #IREvENG #6Nations
— Chris Donnell (@TheDentalDoctor) March 18, 2023
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 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
1 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 Crusades , you can keep going.
1 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!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 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.
27 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 commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments