Double yellow card in Hurricanes v Highlanders clash leaves everyone gobsmacked
While a double yellow card isn’t unheard of in top-level professional rugby encounters, normally the dual sin-binning is a result of a fairly comprehensive stoush between two players. That wasn’t exactly the case in Friday night’s Super Rugby Aotearoa bout between the Hurricanes and Highlanders, however.
With both sides having somewhat disappointing seasons to date and playing for nothing but pride after the competitors for the tournament final were decided in last weekend’s matches, it’s no surprise that tempers were flaring early in the match.
Things started boiling over in the 8th minute when an attempted pass from Highlanders No 10 Mitch Hunt eventually found its way into Hurricanes captain Dane Coles’ arms and the hooker quickly punted the ball off downfield. Hunt made a nuisance of himself as Coles tried to chase the kick and the Hurricane threw his opposition to the ground.
Both players eventually got to their feet and continued with the game but evidently held a grudge, because the stoush resumed just 10 minutes later when Hunt hit centre Billy Proctor with a high shot. In the ensuing ruck, Coles cleared Hunt out and shoved him to the ground before pressing the side of his elbow into the first five’s face.
Hunt wasn’t happy with the contact and once both players were back on their feet, shoved Coles in the face.
Referee Ben O’Keeffe quickly blew a stop to play and referred the decision upstairs, with the refereeing team collectively deciding that both players needed to spend some time on the sidelines.
Both Hunt and Coles were incredulous with the decision, with Coles suggesting that the pair were “just having a bit of fun” – but O’Keeffe had no qualms sending the pair to the sin bin.
It appeared that no one on social media was happy, with some suggesting that neither player deserved a card, some suggesting it was a classic Dane Coles “grub” move, and some questioning how the hooker didn’t receive a harsher penalty.
#HURvHIG rugby is soft. At this rate it won't be relevant in 10 years. @NZRugby should take the money because the sport is dying out.
— Millie (@Millie___7) April 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/jtstewartsc/status/1388031921750347776
Ridiculous yellow cards. It's not tiddlywinks #HURvHIG #SuperRugbyAotearoa @SuperRugbyNZ @Highlanders
— Graham Farmer (@gravyonsports) April 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/theweekdaez/status/1388031627813548036
That very very very very very harsh on Hunt!! Very unfair. #HURvHIG
— Éanna (@eanna_jpg) April 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/jrmeager/status/1388031559463149570
Dane Coles backchatting the ref after finally getting penalised for dirty play is very on brand #HURvHIG
— Jack Norton (@JackNorton8064) April 30, 2021
Coles fully deserves to be in the bin, needs to stop being a grub and just play the great rugby he can #HURvHIG
— Paul from New Zealand Sport Radio (@DrivingMaul) April 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/MacGman3/status/1388031449865940996
Come half time, Dane Coles had the last laugh upon the pair’s return to the field.
The Highlanders used their captain’s referral late in the half, claiming that Coles had intentionally stepped on Highlanders flanker Billy Harmon’s face. The Highlanders ended up penalised for the incident, however, with Harmon tripping up Coles after the supposed stamp – which was ruled accidental.
From the ensuing lineout, Coles crashed over for the score and moments later, Jordie Barrett added a simple penalty.
The teams entered the sheds with the visiting Highlanders up 17-15.
Comments on RugbyPass
The more direct approach to your past time this time I see Ben. Look, it doesn’t need to be said, anyone watching the match knows the ABs played better and just got robbed by the officiating, but lets face it, their dominance in the match was only because South Africa choked and forgot how to play rugby with the ball. South Africa were still the better side. Of course Ireland and France were also better sides that New Zealand. Possibly even England on WC performances.
1 Go to commentsGreat mythology - no surprises Ox didn't talk about being driven backwards by Laulala in the RWC final!
4 Go to commentsJust shows how a hand up can help as long as the invitation is accepted. Good story.
1 Go to commentsKarma is a powerful force
21 Go to commentsFrench players said the same thing to the All Blacks after their pool match in 2011. But the French can back up their s**t talk with action.
67 Go to commentsThe problem is the officiating & changing rulings,& TMOs.Last weekend I saw a 9 penalized for a crooked scrum feed! the last time I saw that rule applied was In about 1975!!!!!!!!.Late or not the incident is history & Australians alleging that Kiwi rugby supporters wear eye patches is a bit rich.Try listening to Australian Commentators.Every new player who has an above average game is suddenly the next great sensation.
21 Go to commentsEvery Irish fan in the stadium celebrated like they had won the tournament after the SA and Scotland games so yeah, the way Etzebeth tells it stacks up. It was definitely ‘In Their Heads’!
67 Go to commentsEtsebeth is right about 1 thing. Boks after winning a RWC have been crap. Only in 2009 did they reach the heights of what a RWC Champion should look like but that was only after 3rd/last in the TriN 2008. Lost a home series in 1996 (vs ABs); didnt win even 1 x Rugby Championship after 2019. ABs and Wallabies and England at least played like Champions after winning RWC.
67 Go to commentsCrusaders will knock one of the top seeds out in the first round, hope it’s not my Chiefs
28 Go to commentsEben really seems like just a deeply unpleasant man.
67 Go to commentsDMac. BB crabs too much at 10.
4 Go to commentsIt is every boys dream to be a Springbok. I managed it in a discipline other than rugby…But rugby, I have always engaged with passion. It does my old heart good to see the mix of people in the team and this displays the possibilities for this wonderful country. The logo “stronger together” says it all. This current edition of the Boks is nothing short of inspirational.
4 Go to commentsIrish people about the best damn people on the planet. OK, in the NH. Fijians are the World’s best happiest friendliest people. But as far as European cultures producing good people, Ireland stands alone. But on the rugby pitch there is a creeping arrogance that has detached from humility. eg Sexton abusing a match referee, and not for the 1st time. He was extremely lucky to make it to the RWC, strings were pulled. And O’Mahoneys sledge to Cane was lowballing, attacking an opposition Captain seems opportunistic and gutter talk. Cane is a real gentleman. Have never seen ABs unleash after the whistle like they did on O’Mahoney after QterF, it was well deserved. Unlike Bok supporters, the Bok players understand history. Massive amount of respect between Boks and ABs is evident, they get on well and have throughout history. Even Pinetree Meads best mate (except his old cobber Kel Tremain) were Springboks, friendships forged after tours. And Meads was always targetted given his star status (he even played 2 x Tests with a broken arm). On the contrary, ABs and Wallabies famously dont get on, bad blood after Aussies not taking offer of beersies postmatch.
67 Go to commentsHaha god NZ journalism is so crap listen to this guy “We’ll be proven in a few weeks if our baseless bs can stick” lol Everywhere else uses experts to write stuff but here they’re just career guys that don’t care about what they write, NOT CONCEDED A TRY IN YEARS lol > “Naturally, you’re looking for performance, sometimes that means you can’t think logically or use evidence to arrive at any sort of clarity of decision. Pretty much sums it up to a tee Paul ignores the articles in here about then runs off each team this year, that Penney is just a yearly stop gap until, who, Ellison is released by ABs, the huge imbalance of the injury front between teams at each end of the table, or who it was that _should_ have been coach. But of course if they actually do evidence and investigative work theyre shy of their article not hitting that sensationalism boundary and lose revenue. Leaving us non the wiser. They look like they would have been best with a geeup coach this year to turn around the razorless depression the clubs obviously going through. Hard to think of someone fitting the Bill to have been chosen instead, the clown Cheika? Id have been tempted to double play and entice O’Gara down. Hell maybe that is who they are waiting for, he wants a international gig and it could be after Scmidt or razor
28 Go to comments_Dan Carter weighs in on who should be Scott Robertson's All Black 10_ Dan: “It’s a toss up between Beudy and Dmac, although Mounga would be nice - but he can’t… so…” The Rugby Public: “Thanks Dan. For nuthin!”
4 Go to commentsEngland did this way back for the Croke Park match in the 2000’s. The shame actually seemed to weigh on them during the match. It will not be easy for Northhampton players to rationalize how their army went into a stadium of a major city of the then United Kingdom and opened fire indiscriminantly into terraces killed 14 and wounding scores. I am sure with a pro setup they will get this balance right. I live beside the stadium. A very old woman on the street remembers as a very young girl the crowds of people filling the street to escape the massacre. A lot of water under the bridge and the match has really little historical relevance for Irish/Leinster supporters any more. Those ghosts were freed in the trashing of England in the 2000’s match. Sure, it will motivate Leinster but Northhampton should not overly consider it or weigh on it in my opinion. Dowson is right to learn the historical importance and Northhampton are indeed giving the occasion due respect. It is important to show respect. But that’s enough for Northhampton. Fair play to them. On to the rugby now.
15 Go to commentsDouble World Cup Champions ? Wow since when did 4 become 2!
215 Go to comments“See you in the final” from a winning (Irish) team is just away of wishing a team well for the rest of the tournament. It’s actually saying I hope we both make it to the final. Etzebeth was the only player who PUBLICLY said that his team would make the final after that match. Does anyone honestly think Ireland who took 100 years to beat NZ and got hammerred by them in 2019 would for the slightest moment not take the perilous threat as seriously as it should be taken? Getting sick of Boks and Kiwis who spend all year every year trying boasting about how great and humble they are and then accusing others of arrogance. Respect people by trying to understand them before hitting a pretty humble people with this crap.
67 Go to commentsThe feelings of gratitude I feel when thinking about the Boks is difficult to describe. It really means a lot to people here. I would flat out ask Ox for a big hug if I met him in person. And then probably pass out after the squeeze. Totally worth it.
4 Go to commentsFarrell seems to be an outstanding coach and Ireland a very well prepared team. But they looked like they had no plan B against NZ. Maybe they really were looking past them, as Eben says.
67 Go to comments