Jerome Garces let Ken Owens off not once but twice
Wales and Fiji rarely disappoint at the Rugby World Cup, and the 2019 iteration of this long-standing rivalry certainly lived up to its predecessors.
An immensely physical test match saw the lead change hands four times before Warren Gatland’s side eventually pulled away in the final quarter thanks to Josh Adams’ third try and Liam Williams’ bonus-point clincher.
Experienced French official Jerome Garces was the man in charge – although at times it seemed more like the contest, which as a result took 115 minutes, was actually in the control of Kiwi TMO Ben Skeen.
Given the battering taken by the likes of Adams, Dan Biggar and Jonathan Davies, Wales’ medical staff will be working overtime between now and their likely quarter-final clash with France to give Gatland a full complement of players from which to select.
But, are the Six Nations title holders fortunate that hooker Ken Owens avoided a red card and possible absence from their last-eight tie?
Following a lengthy debate involving the three onfield officials and Skeen, the Scarlets’ No.2 was sent to the sinbin for his first-half tip tackle on outstanding Fiji No.8 Vili Mata.
But in the current climate, as World Rugby remorselessly clamps down on dangerous play, he is incredibly fortunate not to have received his marching orders.
M.Garces took Mata’s speed of travel and the fact that – after a spectacular 360-degree mid-air spin – he landed on his back as providing enough mitigation for Owens to only receive a yellow.
However, Mata’s legs went way beyond the horizontal, there was no wrap of the arms and Owens was not in control of how and on what part of his body the giant islander landed.
Had the 70-times-capped British & Irish Lion seen red, there could surely have been few complaints, and as a consequence Wales would have faced 70 minutes with 14 men.
The (admittedly all-Welsh) ITV pundit panel were broadly supportive of Garces’ call, but a number of prominent ex-players have since been less so.
While the World Cup deals with the impending landing of Typhoon Hagibis, @WelshRugbyUnion are able to regroup safe in the knowledge they've weathered a Pacific Island storm brewed in Fiji
– writes @OwainJTJones #rwc2019 https://t.co/Orfc83lYaD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 10, 2019
Former England fly half Stuart Barnes said Owens “deserved a straight red” and described the French official’s call as “without doubt the most embarrassing faux pas yet in 2019.”
Meanwhile former Fijian ace Waisale Serevi tweeted “that’s a red card if it’s (committed by someone from) Fiji, Tonga or Samoa.”
Owens and Wales also enjoyed a second stroke of good fortune 27 minutes from time when Garces awarded Fiji the penalty try which gave them a 17-15 lead, but did not show a yellow card.
Since the law book was rewritten and simplified, the referee has little latitude in this area.
A penalty try is awarded between the goal posts if foul play by the opposing team prevents a probable try from being scored, or scored in a more advantageous position. A player guilty of this must be cautioned and temporarily suspended or sent off.
The definition of foul play has also been extended to include ‘unfair play’ rather than its more traditional translation which focused on dangerous play, stamping, punching, gouging etc. A collapsed maul is clearly therefore captured within this law.
Dan Biggar to miss World Cup clash with Uruguay and possibly quarter-finals #rwc2019 https://t.co/1pQaRF4Ctb
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 9, 2019
The sole occasion on which the double whammy of a penalty try and yellow card is not used is when the team of officials is unable to single out one miscreant.
But with the bar set so low for the use of TMO Skeen, Wales were fortunate that Garces opted to move so quickly on. Had he not done so, and with James Davies already in the bin, they would have faced eight minutes with 13 men.
And if Owens was the transgressor – which seems possible but not certain from the single camera angle made available to TV viewers – this would have been followed by Gatland’s team playing the final 20 minutes one man light and with their first-choice hooker facing a possible quarter-final suspension.
Wales and Fiji rarely disappoint at the Rugby World Cup, and the 2019 iteration of this long-standing rivalry certainly lived up to its predecessors.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
45 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept 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.
45 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.
3 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
45 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
45 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.
45 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. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. 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.
45 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.
45 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.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments