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'Harsh' - Zander Fagerson red card has divided opinion, splitting pundits online

Zander Fagerson. (Getty)

A red card for Scottish prop Zander Fagerson – which once again skewed a Six Nations match in favour of Wales – has split rugby opinion online.

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Unlike Peter O’Mahony’s red last week, there is considerable sympathy for the tighthead, with many suggesting that it warranted a yellow and not a red card from referee Matthew Carley.

Matthew Carley brandished the card in the 54th minute after the Scot made contact with Wales prop Wyn Jones’ head at a ruck. It left Scotland with a mountain to climb to hold on to a game in which they had held the upper hand. It ultimately proved too much for Scotland. Within 60 seconds Welsh prop Wyn Jones crashed over from close-range try to make it 20-17 and although Scotland would score back through Hogg, a late try for Wunderkind Louis Rees-Zammit sealed the deal for Wayne Pivac’s side.

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The decision proved controversial online. “Tough call on Zander Fagerson as the Welsh player moves head into the collision …yellow for me,” noted Mike Friday.

“S*** I would’ve seen allot of reds if i played today,” wrote former Saracens flanker Jacques Burger, a player renowned for his brutally physical gameplay.

Former England centre Mike Tindall wrote: “Forwards need to learn to stop tucking their arms! Would make it look better and easier to mitigate down.”

“If Fagerson doesn’t tuck his arm, is this looked at as foul play? Or does it remain a rugby incident where contact was accidental and not really avoidable?” was one response.

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Steph Brawn wrote: “Tough to take that. Ill discipline was ultimately what cost Scotland today. Along with a red which wasn’t a red. Yellow, yes. Red, nope.”

‘Harsh decision on the sending off. Last week the player was prone and couldn’t move. This week he was competing for the ball and moving about at the point of contact. Yellow at best. Think TMO was trying to push that way,’ Tweeted Pat Younge.

Others were less sympathetic to Fagerson’s cause. “Seen loads of pathetic comments saying red card for Zander Fagerson is harsh and the game has gone soft. Ask Michael Lipman or Steve Thompson if that’s the case. Bangs to the head cause life-changing health problems,” Tweeted The Rugby Paper’s Neil Fissler.

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https://twitter.com/neilfissler/status/1360653383540047873

Former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton admitted he viewed it as a red, posting: “It is a red card. Not as bad as POM last week. Zander ran in from distance at speed and contact to the head with a closed arm.”

“Bizarre logic from the TMO suggesting sudden movement would have been a mitigating factor,” wrote Irish journalist Neil Treacy. “If anything the movement prevented the tackle from being even worse. Red all day.”

“You can pretty much read Fagerson for O’Mahony here. It seems very likely that Fagerson’s Six Nations will now be over. Expect a 3-week ban.”

The debate rages on, but with the result in the bag and a likely ban on the way for Fagerson, it’s become an academic one for Scottish fans.

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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