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Iain Henderson's escape from suspension didn't go unnoticed on Twitter
The news that Ireland and Ulster second-row Iain Henderson has escaped a ban after being cited for an illegal clearout at a ruck has left many fans up in arms on Twitter.
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The incident saw Ospreys flanker Sam Cross land on his head, but it was adjudicated that it only warranted a yellow card and nothing more. Henderson is now free to face Italy in the Six Nations this weekend.
But this has angered a lot of fans on Twitter, who are growing tired with the inconsistencies of the citing process and refereeing in general. As player welfare increases and the laws are becoming more stringent, it has led to greater disparity in decisions made by officials, as some things are punished differently by different referees.
https://twitter.com/balders2/status/1097933040469377024
https://twitter.com/robertrayner/status/1097939303961894917
https://twitter.com/bigbev526/status/1098117341718724609
https://twitter.com/Girvla/status/1097991336827981824
https://twitter.com/DomMathias30/status/1097919295324127237
That’s disgraceful. Where’s the consistency?. How long before a neck roll with head driven into ground results in a serious injury ie broken neck?.
— lloydrimmer07 (@lloyd_rimmer) February 19, 2019
Some fans are also suggesting that Ireland’s current injury crisis may have had a part to play in this decision. With Devin Toner already out, and Tadhg Beirne a doubt (he is now fit to play), Henderson’s return to the Irish set-up would have been a welcome relief after missing the first two rounds.
The 26-year-old has now been included in Ireland’s 34-man squad to face Italy in Rome this weekend.
https://twitter.com/buck_mitchell/status/1097937198186483713
https://twitter.com/benxparker/status/1097998909169942528
Wonder if same outcome if this incident was other way around? And Henderson is now available for remaining six nations matches if selected. Funny that.
— Dan Casey (@Dman_Casey) February 19, 2019
The incident has also drawn comparisons to Bath hooker Ross Batty’s red card and three-week ban he received in January. Many fans do not see a difference between these two clearouts, and the difference in their punishments has caused a lot of confusion.
One key difference is that Batty was playing in the Premiership and Henderson was playing in the Pro 14, which has led to some suggesting that the latter is slightly more lenient than other leagues. This will not do World Rugby any favours as they hope to increase consistency in officiating across competitions.
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Of course, there are some mitigating factors here, and perhaps the fact that another Ulster player was also holding Cross’ leg may have worked in Henderson’s favour, but it is certainly understandable that the fans a growing tired with these inconsistencies in punishments in rugby at the moment.
https://twitter.com/matt_matthewman/status/1097988719796195334
https://twitter.com/seekingbestname/status/1097930451644231685
Who does the pro14 citings? Is this an opportunity to get the tinfoil hat out?
— Toby Baker (@TobyBaker2407) February 19, 2019
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Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
33 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.
33 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.
33 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.
33 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.
33 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 comments