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Jonny Hill's baiting of Darcy Swain: 'That's attacking the head of a player'
Jonny Hill evading sanction for pushing opposition lock Darcy Swain in the face, minutes before the latter saw red in Australia’s tight series opening win against England in Perth, is the talk of social media.
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The England second row was seen pushing Swain square in the face, right under the nose of the referee, but received no penalty for his action.
The afters between the two continued deep into the first half and culminated in Hill pulling Swain’s hair, for which he received a yellow card, and the Australian retaliating by headbutting his aggressor which duly earnt him a red.
“That’s attacking the head of another player with both hands,” said former Wallabies lock Justin Harrison on Stan Sport in Australia. “I’d be very surprised if the independent citing commissioner didn’t have a look at this game and want to have a closer look at that one.
The fallout of the incident has set social media alight and led Pat McCarry, the rugby editor of SportsJOE, to muse on Twitter: “Jonny Hill should be on a red and a yellow by now…”
Jonny Hill should be on a red and a yellow by now… https://t.co/ntJPRpsOzY
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) July 2, 2022
PA journalist Andrew Baldock wrote that there is a strong precedent to cite the English lock: “Wouldn’t be surprised if Jonny Hill is cited. Agustin Creevy and Chris Ashton both banned for hair-pulling. Creevy on Eben Etzebeth, which can’t have been the brightest move.”
Wouldn't be surprised if Jonny Hill is cited. Agustin Creevy and Chris Ashton both banned for hair-pulling. Creevy on Eben Etzebeth, which can't have been the brightest move.
— Andrew Baldock (@balders2) July 2, 2022
Jared Wright took a less severe approach to the incident, suggesting that Swain should have kept a lid on things.
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“Darcy Swain will learn from this test. Jonny Hill targeted him and got him to react. Got to keep your cool.”
Darcy Swain will learn from this test.
Jonny Hill targeted him and got him to react.
Got to keep your cool.#AUSvENG
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 2, 2022
Rugby writer Will Owen took a more comical approach to proceedings, posting: “Never seen anyone enjoy getting yellow carded as much as Jonny Hill there. Fair play.”
Never seen anyone enjoy getting yellow carded as much as Jonny Hill there. Fair play.
— Will Owen (@will_owen9) July 2, 2022
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Former England second row Ben Kay and Australia great Matt Giteau had differing interpretations of the hairpulling and headbutting during the game, but afterwards Giteau conceded that the red was justified.
In an era of no self policing – Deliberate hair pulling should be an automatic red – a bald ref would have gone red, believe me hair don’t grow back!!!
— Ben Kay (@BenKay5) July 2, 2022
Ok, I can admit it if I call it wrong. Re watched it, not fighting the jet lag so I’m less patriotic & clear minded. It’s a silly action and warranted a red card. Hard to admit to a bunch of English that they prob called it right 😂😂 https://t.co/K72pX3e2W4
— Matt Giteau 🇦🇺 (@giteau_rugby) July 2, 2022
Popular account Rugby Inside Line chimed in by predicting that Hill will be subsequently sanctioned for his actions which warranted a red.
“There is a case for Jonny Hill to be red carded though. Chris Ashton handed a four week ban for pulling Alesana Tuilagi’s hair in 2011. The longer the hair; the more severe the penalty?”
There is a case for Jonny Hill to be red carded though.
Chris Ashton handed a four week ban for pulling Alesana Tuilagi’s hair in 2011.
The longer the hair; the more severe the penalty?
— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) July 2, 2022
“I’m not sure if it was a team plan but certainly there was provocation there,” Wallahies head coach Dave Rennie said post-match about the incident.
“Not just in that situation but earlier in the game so we’ll have a decent look at the footage and and work out how we’re going to appeal that.
“If it’s a head-butt it’s clearly a red card but I’m not sure it was his intent to head-butt but we will look at the footage and get clarity around whether we think there’s an opportunity to challenge.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Are the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
2 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
2 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to comments