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Why Michael Cheika, Will Genia and Drew Mitchell are wrong about Damian McKenzie's red card
No player, no matter how high their entertainment value, is above the laws of the game.
In case you hadn’t heard, Damian McKenzie got the permanent marching orders for the first time in his career during the Chiefs’ narrow loss to the Reds on Saturday night.
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Quite often in rugby there can be many mitigating factors in high tackles. This case doesn’t present such factors, in fact, you would think that it was all pretty clear cut.
As a result, McKenzie will face SANZAAR judiciary for the first time ever and likely receive a three week ban from action. That would rule him out of the Chiefs’ plans for the remainder of the season, but because this is the first incident for McKenzie, he has avoided a potential six-week forced rest.
The incident came in the 22nd minute, when McKenzie put in a clumsy, some might say lazy, shoulder which landed directly to the head of charging Reds’ halfback Tate McDermott. By the laws of the game, this was clearly a red card offence, the lack of any mitigating factor is clear for all to see.
But in the eyes of some, this evidence wasn’t good enough.
Former Wallabies coach Michael Chieka, halfback Will Genia, and utility back Drew Mitchell all lamented the call, suggesting that the entertainment value McKenzie brought to the Townville fixture should’ve played a part in the TMO process.
Translated this means that Damian McKenzie shouldn’t have been awarded the red card simply because he’s Damian McKenzie. That sort of thing might be passible in the NRL where star players so often get away with poor conduct, but it has no place in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
The star-studded Stan Sport panel also argued that the speed of McDermott into the tackle was the second significant factor. Rugby halfbacks be on notice, you can no longer run hard off the back of a scrum.
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Chiefs’ coach Clayton McMillan seemed to be able to apply the appropriate amount of logic to the incident when speaking to media after the match.
“You just put yourself at risk any time you go anywhere close to the head,” McMillan said. “You just need to be better but I don’t want to hang Damian out to dry because he’s pretty bloody brave for a young fella. He got it a little bit wrong there and we paid the price.”
Pay the price McKenzie will in the following days, and rightly so.
Rugby players know the rules full-well at this point, it doesn’t matter who you are or how much clout you have.
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Brad Weber’s gasp in the moment might make for some good theatre, McKenzie can smile and shake all the hands he likes after the match, but it doesn’t negate what SANZAAR will be looking at when reviewing this case.
Rugby has a commitment to protecting the head and neck area of its players. Any argument that certain players with high entertainment value should be exempt from the same duty is poor in form and needs to be signalled out.
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
121 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
1 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
5 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
121 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
36 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
5 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
121 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
36 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to commentsOwen Farrell is one of the most polarising figures in the game. His entire attitude on the field (and sometimes off of it) smacks of arrogance and he is about as brash as Donald Trump in a political debate. Yet behind that facade is a calculating, determined and powerful leader who drives any team forward with an Iron will. You are right in that he gets better in the heat of battle and in the face of overwhelming odds. He develops a narrow focus and he delivers his best in a way that few others can. He is one of Englands great performers who sacrificed alot for the team and who often bears the weight of responsibility of leadership alone on the field and in front of the media. Despite what many think of him he is a fantastic game manager with a good rugby brain. He will be sorely missed from the international stage
36 Go to commentsAlways proud of the effort, Sam. The All blacks never stop fighting, never just roll over. He didn’t get anywhere near the respect he earned, but that’s due to results, not commitment to the cause. Have fun dominating in Japan!
1 Go to commentsNot sure why Papali’i thinks Scott Robertson needs his help to select the next All Black Captain. In my view, Papali’i would be well advised to have a good hard look at his own game, and to reflect on how fortunate he is to even wear the black jersey. Rather than shouting at his team mates at every set piece, standing in the mid-field pointing and holding his arms out and flopping to the ground at the back of every second or third ruck, may I suggest he would be far better employed actually doing something on the field. Seriously, watch him for 10 minutes during a game - not much happens. When was the last time he was first to a breakdown, or actually made a turnover? If Robertson is half the Coach I think he is, Papali’i will not be anywhere near the AB’s this season.
16 Go to comments