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Lavanini red card was a fair call but fans question Nigel Owens' consistency with England infringements
The decision to red-card Tomas Lavanini was a fair and just decision under the letter of the law but it is the non-calls against England that have left fans questioning Nigel Owens in the wake of England’s runaway 39-10 win that all but ends Argentina’s World Cup.
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Referee Nigel Owens misjudged the initial high tackle on Owen Farrell, explaining to players ‘Play on, no foul play for me’ before it was reviewed by the TMO two minutes later at the next stoppage.
@DrJN_SportsMed Nigel Owens. Great ref but likes limelight ? Strange to shout “ no foul play “ when Farrell hit and only yards away. If he didn’t see it why shout anything ? ?
— Puresportsdoc (@burdon_mike) October 5, 2019
Following a second look, Owens judged that a red card was necessary with no mitigating factors for the high shot.
Speaking on ITV former England coach Clive Woodward was puzzled by Owens decision to let play on following the Lavanini tackle
“Nigel Owens saw it live and said ‘it’s fine, it’s fine’. So if you haven’t got the TMO everyone would have just carried on,” he said.
“I don’t think any Argentinian can complain about that. It was a red card and a very simple decision but why didn’t Owens see it in the first place?”
Continue reading below…
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The decision to send Lavanini off in the 17th minute was always going to swing the match hugely in England’s favour with Argentina fighting on with 14-men for the majority of the match.
However, the leniency shown by Owens towards England’s own infringements brings into question whether they were given preferential treatment.
As England piled on infringements early in the match, Owens explained to captain Owen Farrell each penalty including a ‘no-arms tackle by Kyle Sinckler’ on an Argentinian player. This warranted nothing more than a warning and a penalty without a review of the tackle.
Uncharacteristically bad day at office for Nigel Owens
Missed potential leg breaker by Sinkler
Missed red card initially. Thankfully TMO awake
Clearly deliberate tackle in the air waved off as just a penalty#ENGvARG— Micheál O'Flaherty (@miguelgarcia65) October 5, 2019
England should have two yellow cards in this opening 24mins #ENGvARG
— Gordon D'Arcy (@Gordonwdarcy) October 5, 2019
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Pity to see it but Nigel continues the ref issues at #RWC2019 Side expected to win getting all the decisions! ? England should have 2 yellows!! Result probably the same but #SadToSee ? #ENGvARG #RefIssues pic.twitter.com/vnlzMlAN0Q
— Shane Byrne (@shanebyrneoffic) October 5, 2019
The second non-call came moments after Lavanini’s red with Manu Tuilagi taking out Argentinan fullback Emiliano Boffelli in the air. England were penalised but many feel this warranted a yellow card with the tackler not attempting a ‘fair challenge’ for the ball.
Disappointing from Nigel Owens. Too late and high gets a red, too early and in the air gets nothing. Ruined the game. Inconsistent tournament! @RWC2019Heineken @WorldRugby @RugbyRefereeNet @eirSport
— Daniel Hatton (@Baravore) October 5, 2019
grow a pair of balls #nigelowens @Nigelrefowens lets Kyle Sinckler and Manu Tuilagi away with two borderline tackles https://t.co/clnlAc46sO via @sportsjoedotie
— Keeping It Real (@KeepRealOk) October 5, 2019
On a different note ?
England Twitter on Nigel Owens : ??
Rest of the World on Nigel Owens : ?#Sport #RWC2019 #Argentina— Tony Whelan ?? (@Tony_Whelan) October 5, 2019
Nope. They got that wrong. It wasn't a fair challenge.
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) October 5, 2019
#ENGvARG Never seen such an unfair match. This ref #NigelOwens is a pure scandal : the air tackle was perfectly illegal yet shamefull #NigelOwens did nothing to blame England for this. What a little cunt.
— N°148 (@N1482) October 5, 2019
Nigel Owens – ruining rugby as a spectacle since 2001. He should never be in charge of a test match ever again #rugbyworldcup2019 #ARGvENG
— Jonny Dickie (@KleenSnappa) October 5, 2019
Pity about possibly the worst performance I’ve seen from Nigel Owens. Couldn’t spot an offside if it slapped him in the face. Poor.
— Wogsy E (@WogsyEllis) October 5, 2019
Duality of criteria from Nigel Owens.
Correct red card to Tomas Lavanini but missed two yellow cards for English players. One of them to Mario Tuilagi for tackle an Argentinien that was still in the air.#rugbyworldcup2019japan #RugbyWorldCup #englandargentina #nigelowens— Luis Sarmento (@lgs09) October 5, 2019
England coach Clive Woodward was also critical of the non-yellow on Manu Tuilagi for his tackle in the air.
“It’s a definite yellow card. No-one from England can be complaining if he’s got one. If the Argentina player comes down on his head, you’re looking at real problems,” he said on ITV.
“It doesn’t matter how far off the ground you are, if you hit him in the air it’s a card. I think we got away with that one big time.
“In the spirit of the game, if there’s already been a red card, then Manu has to go for a yellow card.”
Mario Ledesma following Argentina’s loss to England:
Comments on RugbyPass
A 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?
11 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.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 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.
24 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
4 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 commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments