Six Nations boost for England as Henry Slade red card dismissed
Henry Slade has been cleared for England Six Nations duty and he can also play for Exeter in their Heineken Champions Cup game versus Castres after the midfielder had last weekend’s red card at Bulls dismissed. Eventually beaten 28-39 in Pretoria, the Chiefs were 14-32 behind on 54 minutes when Slade chased down Bulls full-back Kurt-Lee Arendse.
Arendse ducked as Slade tackled and while his swinging arm action didn’t initially appear to be a red card incident, assistant referee Thomas Charabas, who had just taken control of the match at Loftus Versfeld as referee Mathieu Raynal limped off four minutes earlier, brandished that colour card after reviewing the footage with his TMO.
Both Conor O’Shea, the RFU performance director, and ex-England skipper Lawrence Dallaglio, who were on studio punditry duty for BT Sport, predicted that Slade would get the red card rescinded and they were proven right when an EPCR statement on the disciplinary hearing emerged on Wednesday morning.
It read: “Exeter centre Henry Slade has had the red card which was issued to him during his club’s Champions Cup round three match against the Bulls dismissed following an independent disciplinary hearing.
“An independent disciplinary committee comprising Jennifer Donovan (Ireland, chair), Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Yannick Jauzion (France) considered video imagery of the incident and heard evidence from Slade, who did not accept the red card decision, and heard submissions from the player’s legal representative, Richard Smith KC, from the Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter, and from the EPCR disciplinary officer Liam McTiernan.
“The committee decided that while Slade had committed an act of foul play, it did not warrant a sending off. The red card decision was therefore dismissed and he is free to play. EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.”
The outcome is good news for England as Slade, who featured in all four of the recent Autumn Nations Series matches at Twickenham, was named on Monday by new head coach Steve Borthwick in his Six Nations squad ahead of the February 4 opener at home to Scotland.
On BT Sport at the weekend, RFU boss O’Shea had said: “We saw some pretty clear red cards today and the official [Charabas] was in a difficult position coming on. He was about three, four minutes into it, probably not at the pace of the game. You are never going to second guess what they will do but I would imagine it is going to be looked at again.
“When you look at it from a number of different angles, the player is dipping. It hits the shoulder and rides up. It’s more seatbelt than anything for me… We have to protect the players and sometimes the wrong decision will be reached. In this case, we will find it is. ”
Fellow pundit Dallaglio added: “It’s a yellow card at best and will be reduced accordingly.”
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments