'I reckon there was a red card and probably two yellow cards for them'
Glasgow captain Ryan Wilson has had his say following his latest fraught encounter with Munster in the PRO14 last Monday night. The Warriors were beaten 27-13 in a feisty fixture that saw the Warriors skipper yellow carded with 13 minutes remaining and just two points between the teams.
Wilson, a RugbyPass Offload co-host, had spoken recently about the rivalry that had built up in recent years between the teams, explaining that he had become something of a hate figure to some players in the Munster dressing room.
Whatever angst existed, it boiled over in the 67th minute at Scotstoun when foul play by Wilson sparked a melee that he believes should have resulted in action being taken against some Munster players.
Speaking in the company of Dylan Hartley on this week’s show, Wilson went into detail about what he felt unfolded on the night, outlining his disappointment that Munster were absolved of blame and regretting how behind closed doors games at Glasgow have seen the club dispense with the usual big screen its uses.
If that was present he reckons referee Adam Jones might have spotted something on the replay that would have piqued his interest and led to him to investigate the melee further.
Superb @Munsterrugby continued their winning start with a first win over @GlasgowWarriors at Scotstoun since 2016 ?
A cracking BP win for Johann van Graan’s men in testing conditions ? #GuinnessPRO14 match highlights ?? pic.twitter.com/VW5pv9aPEy
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) November 23, 2020
“Just a moment of madness,” said Wilson, reflecting on how the bust-up was ignited. “It’s the way rugby is starting to go. It’s a kicking game, forwards and backwards, forwards and backwards, just chasing the ball up and down the pitch in the p***ing rain, windy as ever. Just got really bored and ended up… it wasn’t even that bad. Their nine dived on a loose ball and I just dropped and stuck the shoulder in as he was on the floor.
“What was to come after was rather interesting, a couple of fingers in the eyes, an open palm to the face from the Munster guys, which none of it got looked at. There should have been a couple of more yellows. Mine was the least of the worst.
“When I did what I did, one of their props comes in and absolutely cheapshots our nine in the back who then falls to the floor. Their 12, he comes in and just does the same to me, a cheap shot in the back which then gets everyone going.
“Honestly, my fingers are bruised from the number of shirts that everyone was grabbing at and pulling… all you could do was yank shirts. It was just a bit of pushing and shoving. After all that chat, they were probably fired up as well. They probably listened to the podcast and thought, let’s go out and get him because there was a few of them going for me.
“I did what I did, it all then started pushing and shoving. I have been open-palmed in the face and I go alright, they are getting a yellow and then I have had a hand to face. I’m not going to say what he was doing but he was pushing it towards my face at a funny angle and absolutely nothing got picked up on that.
“That’s probably why we don’t have a big screen at Scotstoun. We bring this truck in with a screen. It’s like there are no fans, well we don’t need the big screen anymore. The number of times you see refs have a little look up and they see something being replayed on the big screen and they are like, hold on, let’s have a look at this.
“Whereas it was probably against us Monday because after all that kicked off I reckon there was a red card and probably two yellow cards for them. It was around 67 minutes, with two points in the game – it was a big turning point and that was pretty frustrating, not having that big screen for the ref to look at. Then you are, hold on, what’s the TMO doing in there, is he picking these up?”
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For a number of seasons these fixtures were must-see given the friction that existed https://t.co/WUVTkXexn5
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 12, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments