'Game over' - Twitter explodes over Lavanini red

Reporting from Tokyo Stadium: Another Rugby World Cup pool game, another game-defining red card.

Pumas lock Tomas Lavanini received the seventh card of his test career – a high shot to the jaw of England’s Owen Farrell.

Having reviewed the hit, Nigel Owens didn’t hesitate in sending the 6’7, 120kg Argentine bruiser off the field, to the cheers of English fans in the stadium and to the derision of Argentinians.

The soon to be Leicester Tiger and the most sin-binned player in Pumas history left the field despondent.

Twitter exploded.

https://twitter.com/FOXRUGBY/status/1180399336066183169
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1180400474484137985
https://twitter.com/jimhamilton4/status/1180398569611841541
https://twitter.com/AndyGoode10/status/1180398372777320448
https://twitter.com/stuartdhawes/status/1180400418612006912
https://twitter.com/rugby_podcast/status/1180398395908751360

Definite red card for me, but strange there is no HIA required on Farrell with that much impact to the head/jaw? #ENGvARG #RWC2019

— Danielle (Nolli) Waterman (@nolli15) October 5, 2019

Argentina have lost all of their last nine encounters with England. Los Pumas’ last triumph over England took place in Salta on 13 June, 2009. Juan Manuel Leguizamon scored a second-minute try in that match.

Not all agreed with the decision however.

https://twitter.com/s_maunder/status/1180398700977250304
https://twitter.com/daraghs0/status/1180398367681241089
https://twitter.com/elcircovolador/status/1180399737834483712
https://twitter.com/pintsandscrums/status/1180400679803707392

Lavanini, 26, was first capped by the Pumas in 2013 and has since become a key member of the Argentina pack, earning 47 senior caps to date. He has previous experience of European rugby having played a season at Racing 92 in the Top 14 and is currently playing for the Jaguares in his home country.

In total, there have been 23 test encounters between England and Argentina. England have won 18, Argentina four, with one draw.

In this week’s episode Jim Hamilton discusses everything tht has been going in the opening two weeks of the Rugby World Cup.