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'That high tackle on Juan Imhoff, he nearly takes his head off, that's a red card'

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Racing failed to get the job done in last Saturday’s Champions Cup final against an Exeter team that was down 14 players for the closing minutes, but Simon Zebo believes the English club should have been permanently down a man for most of the second half. 

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Exeter had prop Tomas Francis sin-binned in the 71st minute for a deliberate knock-on as Racing chased down the one-point margin that existed between the teams at that time. 

However, Zebo, who scored two tries in the final that Racing were to lose 31-27, has claimed Exeter’s Henry Slade should have been red-carded for his 42nd minute high tackle on Juan Imhoff. 

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Dylan Hartley revisits his infamous red card in the 2013 Premiership final

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Dylan Hartley revisits his infamous red card in the 2013 Premiership final

Instead of seeing red, Slade was allowed to continue as the incident was adjudged to have been a penalty offence only and salt was quickly rubbed into the Racing wound minutes later as the Exeter midfielder scored a try after Finn Russell had a pass intercepted.

“There’s just a few things that didn’t go our way, it was like it just wasn’t meant to be,” said Zebo during his co-host appearance on the RugbyPass Offload show with Dylan Hartley, the retired ex-England captain. “That high tackle on Juan Imhoff, he nearly takes his head off, that’s a red card. We just couldn’t believe it. It just wasn’t meant to be.”

It wasn’t the only incident that left Racing feeling hard done by, the French club of the belief that Exeter didn’t legally defend their line in the pressure that was built after Francis was yellow-carded. “I wasn’t in earshot of what we being said,” said Zebo, in reference to the last-minute situation regarding referee Nigel Owens and the clock.

“But it was a few decisions earlier that went against us that probably upset the forwards and the team more. There was a maul we had five metres out and it’s even harder to look at now. We’re scoring a try with five minutes left. I don’t know his name but the baldy guy for Exeter, part of the maul breaks off and he couldn’t come in the side anymore and take down out maul. 

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“It kills momentum and then after that you have the issue with Sam Hidalgo, whether Anthony Claassens goes and reaches out and they get the penalty, whether he comes in from the side or whether it’s over the line or should be a scrum to us, whatever.

“There’s loads of different interpretations but the five-metre maul where they come in from the side and collapse, that was just killer and it’s the difference – the difference between us having a star on our jersey and them having a star on their jersey. We’re just very disappointed with that but we’re not saying it’s Nigel. There is plenty of eyes there.” 

That play took place with Zebo off the pitch having been replaced by Kurtley Beale despite scoring two Racing tries. “I was cramping up a bit,” he explained. “The coach saw me stretching a few times. He saw me stretching and gave me an ‘are you okay, thumbs up, thumbs down?’ I was like I’m okay, it was just in between play I was trying to stretch out a bit. 

“Obviously it’s a final, if I have to sprint I’ll sprint. I didn’t want to come off with cramp. I felt like I could go again and get a third (try). I was feeling confident and when you’re in a good groove, in that mood, it was unfortunate. 

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“Kurtley is world class. He is such an asset to have in our team so bringing him off the bench isn’t a loss in any shape, way or form. It’s just I would have preferred to have maybe shifted to wing or for him to have come on at No12 or have gotten a few minutes playing together in the final. It would be been a bit better.”  

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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