'It will now be trial by jury on social media... and it's wrong'
Friday night’s controversy about Saracens No10 Owen Farrell made for riveting live TV viewing on BT Sport as former England internationals Austin Healey and Lawrence Dallaglio were left bemused by referee Karl Dickson’s decision not to review the potential red card tackle.
There was 74:22 gone on the Gallagher Premiership clock when the right shoulder of recent England skipper Farrell collided with the head of the ball-carrying Jack Clement on the Gloucester ten-metre line.
After the ball carrier went to ground, the play was only stopped six phases later by the referee with the ball having gone into touch inside the Saracens 22 with 76:18 now on the clock.
With Farrell going down injured for some treatment, the stoppage allowed BT to show a replay of the Saracens skipper’s tackle on Clement and it was only after this piece of footage was broadcast that TMO Claire Hodnett alerted referee Karl Dickson to what had taken place. Here is how the audio unfolded on TV:
Healey: “How have they not looked at that?”
We probably haven't heard the last of this one ?#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/7DIsJiwCp8
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 6, 2023
Dallaglio: “Well, I think they will. They have to.”
Healey: “They have to look at that.”
Hodnett: “Karl, foul play by Owen Farrell.”
Dickson: “Is it in the same phase of play? If you are not sure it is in the same phase of play we can’t look at that. If it is in the same phase of play we can look at it. If it’s not we can’t.”
Hodnett: “It was back on the Gloucester 22.”
Dickson: “Was it in the same phase of play? If you can’t say we are going to play on.
Hodnett: I can’t tell you definitely.”
With play allowed to restart without any review of the suggested foul play, the match eventually culminated with Farrell landing the drop goal winner to seal Saracens’ 19-16 win. However, the post-match TV debate insisted the England out-half should not have been on the pitch to score the winning points and he now faces a likely citing and a ban that could threaten his availability for the opening match of the Six Nations versus Scotland on February 4.
Healey: “He will be cited, it’s a definite red card. That type of tackle we are trying to eradicate from the game. He wouldn’t have been on the field if it had been spotted earlier. It’s foul play, there is force. I don’t think there is much mitigation. There is not much dip in the tackle so for me, it’s a red card.”
?? INJURY TIME DROP GOAL WINNER ??
One of the best @premrugby games this season is settled by a late kick from @Saracens captain Owen Farrell!#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/pVLegqI6tG
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 6, 2023
Dallaglio: “It is foul play, that is a red card. Where we need clarification – and I am embarrassed to say – is we don’t know whether you can go back for foul play after a number of phases and that is the problem. I thought with foul play it doesn’t matter how many phases happen.”
Healey: “When Hodnett called it in, Karl said it wasn’t in the same phase which I don’t think is entirely right. I’m sure that the officials will look at it, how they adjudicated on it.”
Dallaglio: “There will be a lot of controversy around this. An outstanding player, no doubt. He is all smiles but he may not be all smiles when James Hall, the citing commissioner, has another look at it and probably cites him.”
Healey: “My thoughts were… if there is a clear indication of foul play and it’s a red card I think you can go back… There are new directives now trying to keep the pace of the game up and the interruptions of the TMO slightly down. Maybe there is some confusion over that because for me that is something they should have gone back to.”
It was at this point in the broadcast, with Gloucester supporters in the background chanting ‘Same old Sarries, always cheating’, that the coverage broke away to an interview with George Skivington. The Gloucester coach opted not to comment directly on the Farrell incident but he instead referenced a sin-binning last week for his team which resulted in a two-game ban for Albert Tuisue as it was the No8’s third foul play yellow card this season.
Skivington: “Do you know what, I’m not allowed to comment on things like that but I do know we got a yellow card last week for something much lower level than that and frustrating probably is the word.”
It was when the broadcast now went back to the presenter Craig Doyle that a law clarification was provided, outlining that there was nothing to stop referee Dickson from reviewing the Farrell incident with his TMO as the play had not restarted since the ball went into touch.
Healey: “Hodnett got it absolutely right. As I said before, my belief was you could carry on playing and go back as many phases as you want until the game got started again. Claire called it in and Karl said was it in the last phase? She said no it wasn’t and he said well I can’t go back to it then, which was actually wrong.”
Dallaglio: “Had the game been restarted since it happened? No. It doesn’t matter how many phases, the game hadn’t been restarted. It was still in the same phase of play and really it should have been looked at. We all know what the outcome would have been and it might have been a better outcome for Owen Farrell and for the game because if he gets red-carded during the game, that is a sanction in itself and that carries a certain amount of weeks off.
“Now he is going to be cited for that because I am pretty sure the citing officer will have to step in and do something and it could be consequential not only for the individual who has been outstanding but also for England and the start of the Six Nations.”
"We wanted to fight and scrap for everything and we did that."@Saracens DOR Mark McCall was pleased with the determination shown by his team at Gloucester.#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/fZ5MGiFRH9
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 6, 2023
The coverage now switched to an interview with Saracens boss Mark McCall, who insisted he wasn’t aware Farrell had put in a tackle that could have been red-carded.
McCall: “That’s news to me, actually… What you have said to me is completely news to me as you can see from my reaction.”
The programme next reverted to the BT pundits again, who wrapped up the commentary on the Farrell controversy that had dominated their commentary on the Saracens win.
Healey: “It seems such a shame that we are talking about this so much after what was an absolutely brilliant game.”
Dallaglio: “Also, Owen Farrell is a player we all think incredibly highly of. We were all waxing lyrically about him last week. By not dealing with the situation during the game it will now be trial by jury on social media and there are a lot of not England fans that love to have an attack and have a go at Owen Farrell.
“If the referee sanctions him on the field that doesn’t happen. Now it hasn’t happened, you watch this space, you watch what will happen this week and Owen Farrell will end up getting worse off and it is wrong. The player is an outstanding player who has made a bad misjudgement in his tackle and we all do that.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ireland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
43 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
43 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
43 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
43 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
43 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
43 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
43 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
43 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
43 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
43 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to comments