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Leicester's Jasper Wiese becomes third Premiership player red-carded this weekend for shoulder to the head shot

(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Jasper Wiese of Leicester became the third player to be red-carded for a shoulder to the headshot in this weekend’s Gallagher Premiership round ten action after he was sent off on 27 minutes in the Tigers’ home game with Wasps on Saturday. 

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Gloucester prop Val Rapava-Ruskin was red-carded in the ninth minute on Friday night at The Rec following a forearm-led challenge to Bath lock Josh Bayliss’ head. And Bath lock Mike Williams departed midway through the third quarter after a shoulder-led high hit on Gloucester full-back Kyle Moyle. 

These two Premiership sending-offs were followed the next day by the dismissal of Leicester No8 Wiese for the collision his right shoulder made with the head of Wasps’ Ben Morris who went off for a head injury assessment. The play had continued and Leicester had thought they had scored a try through Cyle Brink to move 16-3 ahead and were ready to take a conversion. 

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However, referee Craig Maxwell-Keys consulted with his TMO Claire Hodnett about the collision involving Wiese and the Leicester try was chalked off following a video review and a red card shown to the Tigers forward. Here is how the decision was reached, with the BT Sport commentary of Austin Healey interspersed with the dialogue of the two officials: 

CH: Just getting the far-side angle, Craig. We need to review that, please.

CMK: Time off. His left arm is there but you are right, that reverse angle is the one we are going to have to look at again because if that arm is tucked then he is always illegal. Let’s just check the facts, I agree. Foul play, there would be with a tucked arm, he is always illegal… and then we just need to check where the contact is before we go any further.

AH: I’m sorry but this is going to be a red card for Wiese. Watch the clear-out. Morris is over the ball. It’s shoulder, his arm is tucked under, onto the head, it’s a red card. Very similar to last night. He’s gone. 

CMK: So his arm is across his chest, do you agree Claire? 

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CH: Craig, his arm is always tucked and he is not in a position to make a tackle. 

CMK: Or he is not in a position to bind onto the player he is rucking out of the way.  

CH: No. 

CMK: So he is always illegal. We have established we have foul play. So that angle again please and let’s just pinpoint the point of contact… so it is indirect, chest riding up, or is it direct contact with that shoulder to that head/neck area?  

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CH: Point of contact is direct to the head. 

CMK: And it’s a dominant clear-out so there is no mitigation, it’s a red card. 

CH: Agreed, Craig. 

CMK: We are talking about a ticked arm so always illegal so we can’t mitigate as it is always illegal, shoulder direct to head and it’s clearly a dominant clear-out as the player goes flying out the back of the ruck. It’s a red card. 

AH: They are all right, they are all 100 per cent correct decisions. Unfortunately, particularly at the ruck, the ruck is about body height, about hitting low and getting underneath. The two last night, again the same. If you have got time to adjust your height you have got time. If you haven’t got time I understand the mitigation but there is no mitigation to that. It’s a red card. 

 

 

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Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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