'There's no way that is nothing': Pair of Irish Lions clash over unsuccessful captain's challenge regarding alleged foul play
Friday night’s Rainbow Cup match in Dublin featured the unusual situation of one Ireland Lions pick, Ulster skipper Iain Henderson, left furious that alleged foul play by another 2021 Gatland selection, Leinster centre Robbie Henshaw, went unpunished despite repeated reviews of the video footage by referee Mike Adamson and his TMO Olly Hodges.
Henderson and Henshaw were two of the eight Irish players chosen last week by the Lions to tour South Africa in July but they were certainly no comrades in arms at the RDS as the Ulster lock used the new Rainbow Cup rule of the captain’s challenge to try and get punishment for what he felt was a high, dangerous tackle by the Leinster back on Robert Baloucoune.
The play was halted on 30 minutes with the score tied at 7-all and a penalty for a different offence coming Ulster’s way. However, Henderson wanted referee Adamson to review a tackle that was deemed to be okay when it happened.
In the ground from the vantage point where RugbyPass was watching from, the tackle appeared to be a legitimate, arms wrapped, monster man-and-ball tackle that left the Ulster player on his back with his Leinster opponent lying on him after the juddering collision.
Henderson didn’t agree it was legal. He felt incensed that the tackle wasn’t worthy of a regular TMO review and it led to him invoking the captain’s challenge that ultimately left him furious when it was decided there was no foul play by Henshaw. “There is no way that is nothing,” he said to the referee after he was told there was nothing to see. Here is how the decision unfolded:
"It's the very definition of 'on the edge'."
HT: Leinster 7-7 Ulster.
How dangerous was this Robbie Henshaw tackle on Robert Baloucoune?
Do you agree with @TommyBowe that Henshaw was "out of control"?#LEIvULS #GuinnessPRO14RainbowCup pic.twitter.com/zzAJE2XwWK
— eir Sport (@eirSport) May 14, 2021
REFEREE ADAMSON: It’s a big tackle. Do you have any clear angles of contact to the head? We want to see if there is any clear contact… I’m not seeing the clear contact of shoulder to head. Are you seeing any different? I have got the arm coming up afterwards.
TMO HODGES: I have got a clear wrap and his head makes contact with the white shoulder. There is no contact by the blue player to the head.
ADAMSON: So we are saying there is no clear foul play? So I have got a clear wrap and I’m not seeing any clear contact from the blue shoulder on the white head. Are you seeing the same thing?
HODGES: Right shoulder of blue makes contact with the upper chest and the blue player’s head hits the white player’s shoulder so there is no head contact initiated by blue.
ADAMSON: We don’t have any clear contact from the blue shoulder to the head of the Ulster player, so there is no foul play. We will go back for the original penalty.
ADAMSON TO HENDERSON: From the replays, we don’t have any clear contact from the shoulder to the head.
HENDERSON: There is no way that is nothing. That cannot be nothing. It’s such a dangerous tackle on our player.
ADAMSON: It is upright but we are not seeing any clear contact. We are seeing a bit hit and we are seeing a shoulder to the upper chest.
With no red card materialising, which would likely have happened had there been contact to the head, Henshaw was instead taken off for a head injury assessment following the incident. He returned just before the interval and then went on to score around the hour mark in a match in which another Lions selection, Jack Conan, came off the bench to score an early second-half try in Leinster’s 21-17 win.
? Match highlights as @leinsterrugby and @UlsterRugby looked to capitalise on earlier events in Limerick
Report ?? https://t.co/8qNyf14UZ2
#?? #LEIvULS
? #GuinnessPRO14RainbowCup pic.twitter.com/iwApAd7Gm3— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) May 14, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments