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
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments