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'This shouldn't even be a yellow': Ex-All Black launches defence of Scott Barrett
By Kim Ekin
Ex-All Black Jeff Wilson has come to the defence of lock Scott Barrett who was yellow carded twice, leading to a red card, in the 35-7 loss to South Africa.
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The former All Black believed that the decision to yellow card Barrett a second time was not justified, with no contact to the head apparent.
The indiscretion came from leaving his feet to clear a player out, but that alone does not constitute a yellow card.
“I’m going to go straight on the offensive here, there is no way that Scott Barrett should get any type of suspension,” Wilson claimed on Sky Sport’s The Breakdown.
“The fact that he is in front of the judicial process is ridiculous because ultimately, for me, this shouldn’t even be a yellow for going off his feet.
“The contact wasn’t direct with the head, it was on the body, it was on the shoulder. Watch where the first contact is.
“There is no doubt he’s gone off his feet, but he’s hit him in the shoulder first and then there has been a collision with the player beside him.”
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Upon review by the bunker, there was no upgrade for Barrett according head coach Ian Foster but even the All Blacks head coach said they had not got any feedback on the incident.
Barrett’s cleanout was no different to many others in the same game by some of the Springboks players according to Wilson, who highlighted instances of South African forwards launching off their feet at Dane Coles.
“The number of cleanouts that happen in the game like this, this happens all the time,” Wilson said.
“The fact that he got it wrong, he made a mistake. But there is no way we go into a Rugby World Cup and that this is going to be the standard.
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“I want to show you couple of cleanouts by the Springboks in this game.
“Watch Dane Coles here on the ball, player comes in off the ground [Vermeulen]. Watch another here, on the back of Dane Coles’ head that cleanout.
“Two guys going to ground. Now, if Dane Coles stays down, takes a knee, can I have a look at that please? Ok, shoulder on the back of the neck, what’s the outcome on that?
“That’s every collision, so for me, the margins we are talking about are small and some of the frustrations we are going to have, if we see inconsistency.”
Head coach Ian Foster was hopeful the judiciary would come to the right decision when they meet early this week to decide Barrett’s fate with two weeks until the Rugby World Cup opener against France.
“The facts are he [Barrett] got a first yellow card that wasn’t foul play, the second yellow card, was a yellow card, so it wasn’t a red card, so we’ll just have to see,” he said.
“The judiciary fortunately don’t judge things on the reaction of the opposition, they judge things on the facts.”
I wander what Jeff Wilson's reaction would be if the situation was reversed; Eben Etzebeth was dropping his shoulder into a Kiwi player on the ground.
he was given a yellow not a red, it was foul play with 'intent' on a lying player, who was away from the ball & rolling away.
The Kiwi accusations levelled at Marx is disgusting no springbok has ever acted, a complete clown dived in off his feet, the entire construct was a Barrett creation.
Marx didn't seduce him into it, saying it only subsequently 'brushed' his head is probably because his aim and intent given both's movement didn't turn out as he intended. It was a cheap shot attempt.
Big fan of JW but he is talking crap here. Barret was clearly frustrated by not getting physical ascendancy and had a brain fart. I think he will admit it as well. You just cannot dive into a player like that, whether neck/head/body/legs. I am sure all teams are going to feel the brunt of these decisions at dome stage of the tournament. Some teams will be exposed as they have no depth in certain positions - hopefully the Boks are ok in that department with all the utility players. But I hope for 15/15 at all times.
I think it's clear the bigger issue is drug cheating amongst the SA team. I'm guessing Janties is the tip of the iceberg. We'll see soon enough.
My blood is green obviously however I must agree with Rory learn the laws and you will note Scott did not do any wrong to deserve a red card. We cannot go on the past and what he did in the past. Yes he does wrong things but not on Friday there was no headfirst collusion. Anyway, the Boks was also treated unfair especially with the British & Irish Lions tour. Like Rassie stated many times refs needs to be consistent and they are not. Maybe a penalty system needs to be implemented for refs. But for now, well done Bokke not to give away one penalty and not one mistake for 80 minutes against the All Blacks is remarkable.
Why is it that a rule is stupid or ludicrous when it’s your players but ok an fair when it’s not , we all want to defend our own team but in the end the rules are there for everyone!
dropping a shoulder on a player on the ground is in my opinion stupid and dangerous and an attempt to do damage and should be banned from playing for 6 games
There’s no mitigation or remorse from the aggressor or any indication it was a mistake
And if there was show it !!
We all want to see Scott playing, but what Goldie is doing is unbearable, you cannot lobby WR defending a player presenting a case on TV by cherry picking images and contre-arguments. Completely unbearable to watch. He goes recklessly with his shoulder to the head at Marx who is out of the play in the floor, unnecessary and dangerous. Kiwis are impossible when they loose.
He made a compelling argument on the show.
My initial take was Barrett was stupid but I think Wilson may be right.
Really when you slow mo anything it gives us a negative impression. And amplifies things.
Sour grapes. Not the first time Scott B does something this STUPID. Hope he misses the World Cup Opener.
It is a yellow because the player is prone on the ground and you can't lead with a shoulder into contact. Maybe there was other stuff that could of been picked up but this got the attention of the officials so they have to make a call on it.