'It's a disgrace' - ex-Ireland flanker sickened by southern hemisphere's reaction to controversial red cards
Former Ireland and Munster back row Alan Quinlan has lashed out at the negative reactions to the red cards handed over the weekend as New Zealand battled it out with Australia in Bledisloe IV.
Wallabies forward Lachie Swinton, who was making his debut, and All Blacks prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi both received first-half red cards for high tackles, yet instead of endorsing the referee’s decision, the reaction on both sides of the Tasman has been for the most part highly critical.
Pundits in both Australia and New Zealand claimed the cards ruined the game, with many even suggesting that red cards should be done away with in their entirety.
“For me it should be a yellow card and put them on report and get on with the game,” loudmouth Aussie pundit Phil Kearns said on Fox Sports. “It is ruining the game and ruining the spectacle.”
Across the ditch in New Zealand, John Kirwan made similar comments on Sky Sports NZ. “I don’t think we should have red cards in rugby. I think we should have a yellow card and [you go] on report and you suffer later.”
“I’m with JK. I don’t agree with red cards at all. Ten minutes off, put it on report, someone else can come in,” said ex-All Black Christian Cullen. “It just ruins the game, seriously.”
While the majority of the southern hemisphere reaction has been critical there have also been those that defended the punishment handed down by referee Nic Berry. Scotty Stevenson tweeted: ““The amount of people calling these cards ‘soft’ who would never have the ability to play pro rugby for a living…
“It’s okay for referees to protect people’s livelihoods/brains while still letting superior athletes entertain you, sitting on your ass, drinking beers.”
Now Quinlan, who himself has turned his hand to media duties after a career as an abrasive forward, has said that he was left dumbfounded by the reaction to the red cards.
“What really bemuses me and frustrates me is the reaction of some of the legends of the game,” said Quinlan on Off the Ball. “You have John Kirwan, Christian Cullen, two former All-Black greats, two great fellas as well, it has to be said. And then you have Tim Horan and Phil Kearns – two Australian legends.
“You have four stalwarts of the game who have achieved so much in the game, and the four of them were saying neither was a red card. And I’m just bemused looking at this. It’s getting to the point where people are looking for mitigating factors, saying it’s going to ruin the game…
“What’s going to ruin the game for me is one of these injuries is going to really seriously hurt somebody, the force that they’re putting into it.
“Every time I watch a rugby game I think there’s possibly going to be a red card for someone going high. Of course there’s going to be accidental stuff. But I judge this stuff by the force the player puts into the tackle. You’ve got to reduce the level of force, to not put yourself in a position to potentially get a card and hurt your team.”
“When John Kirwan, Christian Cullen, Phil Kearns, Tim Horan are talking about this stuff, it’s not just in their own countries where people are looking at this. It’s kids all over the world. This is on Sky Sports on Saturday morning. People can go onto YouTube and see it.
“I just think it’s a disgrace, and I’m really sick of these type of tackles and people making excuses, saying it’s going to ruin the game. What’s going to ruin the game is someone getting seriously injures.
“I would say to any professional players throughout the world, take the force out of the tackle. Shoulders can slip up a chest, players can dip, all that stuff, but if the force is taken out of it, that will be looked at as a mitigating factor.
“I think they’re two red cards, and the reaction afterwards is disgraceful from the four players (Horan, Kearns, Cullen, Kirwan) who I have great time for.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets 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?
13 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.
10 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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 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.
25 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
6 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.
10 Go to comments