Ospreys full-back Evans sent off after just 37 seconds in defeat to Racing 92
Ospreys full-back Dan Evans received one of the quickest red cards in professional rugby union history as his team lost 40-19 against Heineken Champions Cup opponents Racing 92.
Evans was sent off by referee Frank Murphy after just 37 seconds at the Liberty Stadium when his boot made contact with Racing wing Teddy Thomas’ head as he claimed a high ball.
First-half yellow cards for Scott Williams and Aled Davies – and Wales centre Owen Watkin limping off – compounded Ospreys’ misery as they suffered a third successive Champions Cup loss this season.
European title contenders Racing – beaten finalists in 2016 and 2018 – did not require a second invitation to capitalise as Thomas’ try double, a penalty try and touchdown for hooker Teddy Baubigny secured a bonus point before half-time.
Dan Evans red card#OSPRAC pic.twitter.com/bGtPCYPhrG
— SmallClone (@Smallclone_) December 7, 2019
Davies, wing Hanno Dirksen and prop Ma’afu Fia claimed tries for the battling Ospreys, with fly-half Marty McKenzie adding two conversions, but Racing managed further scores for Yoan Tanga and captain Henry Chavancy, and Maxime Machenaud, who was sin-binned four minutes from time, kicked four conversions.
Racing’s victory keeps them firmly on course for the quarter-finals in a punishing group that also includes Champions Cup holders Saracens and twice European champions Munster.
The Ospreys, with just one win from nine starts in all competitions this season, played their first game since head coach Allen Clarke was relieved of his duties.
Wales’ 2005 Six Nations Grand Slam-winning coach Mike Ruddock has joined Ospreys on a month-long consultancy basis, but the Pool Four strugglers faced a huge task against heavyweight opponents.
The Ospreys included Wales World Cup squad members Watkin, Davies, Nicky Smith and Adam Beard, yet star-studded Racing had an imposing look about them and started as firm favourites.
And Racing immediately gained a one-man advantage as Evans was dismissed, with Murphy brandishing a red card after consulting television replays.
A yellow card quickly followed for Racing wing Juan Imhoff following a deliberate knock-on, and Ospreys struck from their next attack as Dirksen touched down and McKenzie kicked a touchline conversion.
Thomas rejoined the action after a head injury assessment, but Racing appeared more rattled than their hosts, dropping passes and lacking composure, despite full-back Simon Zebo’s exemplary attacking efforts.
The Ospreys then suffered an injury blow when Watkin departed after 17 minutes, before Williams was sin-binned for a technical infringement and Racing punished their 13-man opponents by driving a lineout and Baubigny touched down.
Machenaud converted to level the contest, ending a breathless opening quarter when the Ospreys gave as good as they got in adversity.
But the tide quickly turned, with Thomas scoring a try in the corner and Machenaud converting, before Ospreys were briefly reduced to 12 men, with Murphy yellow-carding Davies for a deliberate knock-on and awarding Racing a penalty try.
Williams returned, but only in time to see Thomas claim his second touchdown that Machenaud converted, meaning that Racing had claimed four tries in 11 minutes and secured a bonus point.
The second period was a damage-limitation exercise for Ospreys, but Racing claimed their fifth try when substitute forward Tanga powered over, although Fia’s well-worked score and Davies’ smart effort gave the home fans something to cheer.
Chavancy’s try then put the gloss on Racing’s display, though, leaving Ospreys to ponder a first-half when just about everything unravelled.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 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
3 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 comments