Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'We just don't want to see these red cards': Clive Woodward weighs in on Steward's red

Freddie Steward of England leaves the field after receiving a red card from Referee Jaco Peyper ( not pictured ) during the Six Nations Rugby match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on March 18, 2023 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Sir Clive Woodward has been left impressed with England’s turnaround after being left ‘in shock’ last week and has offered his take on the red card issued to English fullback Freddie Steward.

ADVERTISEMENT

The former England coach said there were no doubts about Ireland as the championship’s best team after their 29-16 win to secure a Grand Slam, but was swelling with pride over England’s resurgent effort despite being down to 14 men for the second half.

He credited Owen Farrell, who replaced Marcus Smith in the starting side after last week’s record loss to France, with guiding the team and bringing some on-field leadership to provide some grit.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

“The best team won today and the best team won the championship, so huge congratulations to Ireland and especially to Johnny Sexton,” Woodward said on ITV’s post-game panel show.

“It is a big year for them to nail that, which was fantastic.

“I’ve got to say this time last week I was in shock, but this time today I am very proud of that England team, they really put it to the Irish team. Farrell especially, really impressed me.

“Owen Farrell took the team back to where we know what we can actually do.

“You can win games, you can lose games, but that was a big performance from him today.”

England silenced a raucous Dublin crow with an early 6-0 lead as Ireland showed jitters in the early stages, taking a while to calm the nerves and get into the game.

ADVERTISEMENT

After a Sexton penalty goal, a set-piece try to hooker Dan Sheehan ignited the home crowd as Ireland took back the lead at 10-6.

However the game’s biggest turning point occurred right on half-time as Freddie Steward clattered into his Irish opposite number Hugo Keenan trying to shield himself from the collision.

Both players were chasing a bouncing ball from an Ireland kick but Keenan won the race.

Steward’s challenge was deemed reckless with no mitigating factors, resulting in a red card that drastically tipped the match in Ireland’s favour despite a strong showing from the visitors.

Woodward said the call by Jaco Peyper was not clear cut, but stopped short of claiming it changed the end result of the game.

ADVERTISEMENT

“They lost two players, the red card was arguable, the yellow card again was arguable,” he said referring also to Jack Willis’ 75th minute sin bin.

“I think it was a tough call but did it change the game, no not really to be honest.

“England were always going to be competitive but I don’t think it would have changed the result.”

The 2003 World Cup-winning coach also had a wider take on the games rules, claiming that red cards shouldn’t be used when there is any doubt lingering about the severity of the sanction. Particularly in big games with the Rugby World Cup approaching.

“When you come to these big knock-out games, we just don’t want to see these red cards unless it’s a clear, “get him off”, but anyway well done to Ireland and to England as well.

Former England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson said that despite the red card we saw a performance from England that can be the starting block of a quick rebuild under new head coach Steve Borthwick.

“There is so much more to the guys out there, you saw they look more like themselves,” Wilkinson told the ITV panel.

“Contact area they were strong, defensively they were strong, and even with 14 men they didn’t go away.

“When you’ve got 14 men, everyone has got to share they extra man to work and things like ill discipline here and there can really hurt.

“The guy are going to tire out and then at the end there Ireland played it beautifully coming back down that shortside where England were left with big heavy forwards against some fast backs.

“I think for me, the takeaway from that game is there have been some open conversations this week, some honesty, some really deep honesty and that may have relieved a little bit.

“As those shackles have come off, more of the players are coming out. Why not? If they can build on that, you can something really special come quickly.

“You can go from being 50 points down against France to being right there with the best in the tournament.”

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Hong Kong SVNS | Day 1

Behind the Scenes with the Australian Rugby Sevens Team in Hong Kong | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 9

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

When the referee is put in an impossible position? | Whistle Watch

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Boks Office | Episode 38 | Six Nations Round 5 Review

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

3 Comments
F
Flankly 742 days ago

Nice to see a thoughtful and more or less balanced commentary from SCW.

J
Jon 742 days ago

I am fully supportive of the regulations in rugby to reduce head injuries. However I don’t think the officiating is right yet. Never underestimate the competitiveness of professional players. We now frequently see attacking players targeting head collisions with say a defender’s shoulder or even head. The defender is red carded. I think we should keep the laws as they are but include some additional mitigation. If an attacker recklessly goes head first into a tackle then that is mitigation. If an attacker targets the head of the defender, then the attacker should be red-carded. That way we will much reduce head injuries by removing any incentive for the attacking player to either put themselves at risk, or to risk others.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

G
Gilbert Jonathan 4 hours ago
Fissler Confidential: Manie Libbok to exit Stormers?

VERIFIED CRYPTOCURRENCY RESTORATION/FOLKWINEXPERTRECOVERY(at)TECH-CENTER. COM


As a designer, I’m always on the lookout for new tools to improve my workflow. So, when I saw an ad on LinkedIn for a “revolutionary” design software, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. The ad promised to streamline my design process with amazing features at an unbeatable price. Without a second thought, I clicked the link and made the purchase. But soon after buying the software, I realized it was a scam. The software never worked as promised, and when I tried to reach out for support, the company vanished without a trace. I was left feeling frustrated and powerless. 5,000 NZD, a significant amount for anyone, especially a freelancer, was gone, and there was no way to get it back… or so I thought. I was at a loss for what to do next. That’s when I discovered FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY. At first, I wasn’t sure if they could help. Could anyone actually recover money lost to online scams? But, desperate and with no other options, I decided to reach out. I contacted FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY, they explained the process in detail, reassured me that they would do everything in their power to recover my funds, and kept me updated every step of the way. To my amazement, just two days after I reached out, they successfully recovered 4,800 NZD of the 5,000 NZD I had lost. The relief I felt when I saw that money back in my account was indescribable. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Since then, I’ve made it a point to share my experience with other designers in the community. I want to raise awareness about the scams that are out there and remind others to be cautious when browsing for new software. Scammers can target anyone, even professionals like us. But I also want to let fellow designers know that if they do fall victim to fraud, they don’t have to give up. FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY is there to help. Now, I always tell others: Be skeptical of ads that seem too good to be true, especially on platforms like LinkedIn. But if you do get scammed, there’s hope. Don’t hesitate to contact FOLKWINEXPERTRECOVERY(at)TECH-CENTER. CO M, (WhatsApp): +1 (740)705-0711. They helped me get my money back in just two days, and they can help you too.

Warm greetings,

Mr. Gilbert Jonathan

0 Go to comments
S
Salazar Berlanga 7 hours ago
Super Rugby Pacific's rebirth can finally restore the missing All Blacks edge

I live in an unstable region, so I'm always ready for surprise curfews or my aunt dropping by uninvited to borrow some cooking oil. To protect my future from both, I swept $530,000 under the floor in Bitcoin- my emergency parachute.Well, things went downhill. Protesters filled the streets like a rowdy rave, with pepper spray in place of glow sticks. In the chaos, security personnel took my laptop and everything that wasn't bolted down. That's where I store the keys to my Bitcoin wallet. When I say I swallowed a brick, I am not kidding.I pictured myself telling my future self, who lived under a tarp, how I used to have half a million dollars but lost it since I had forgotten to encrypt my drive. "Great job, Past Me," I would be saying while heating canned beans over a candle.But fate, or possibly my guardian angel who was finally done laughing at me, intervened. During a hushed meeting with a journalist friend (we whispered like we were plotting an espionage thriller), he mentioned Tech Cyber Force Recovery. These folks were not just tech geniuses; they practically wore digital capes.I phoned, and the reassuring voice I received was so reassuring, I almost asked them to fix my love life too. They labored in their homes with the frenzy of an explosives specialist defusing a bomb. They constructed my wallet information from recovery fragments I barely remember creating. It was like magic shows where magicians extract bills from a hat, except the hat has been confiscated by the authorities.Thirteen days passed, and I received the call. My money had been returned. I was so relieved that I hugged my aunt, who naturally took the chance to request additional cooking oil.Tech Cyber Force Recovery did not just save my Bitcoin; they saved my future. And they gave me a newfound respect for proper backups and encryption. If you are in a tricky spot or just want to avoid awkward family requests during every political crisis, call them. They are the real deal and possibly part wizard, part therapist.CALL OR WHATSAPP THEM THOUGH+.1.5.6.1.7.2.6.3.6.9.7

19 Go to comments
D
Deneen Welch 8 hours ago
Waratahs turn to 'tough bugger' for captaincy with more history on the line

I am a business woman living in the diaspora, and my desire for affection and care mirrored that of anyone else. My search for love commenced with me signing up for an online dating app, where I encountered an Asian man. Following a period of communication, he introduced me to what she described as a popular investment platform in Asia, I trusted him so much that I failed to carry out an investigation. According to him, substantial profits were being earned there, and her presentation was so compelling that it piqued my curiosity. Unbeknownst to me, I was being catfished.  he provided evidence of his earnings and even sent me a watch as a token of her affection. Consequently, he gained my trust and affection, which marked the beginning of my financial losses in Bitcoin. I had complete faith in him and invested over a million US dollars. Upon recognizing the extent of my investment in this fraudulent scheme, I attempted to withdraw my profits from the investment program, as I had utilized my business capital. My requests were disregarded, and they continually requested additional funds. Frustration mounted, and my supposed partner became hostile after I ceased sending money. Seeking assistance, I discovered RUDER CYBER TECH SLEUTHS. They assessed my circumstances and confirmed my worst fear: I had become a victim of a pig-butchering romance scam. I was disheartened, as I genuinely believed I had found love again following a difficult divorce. Fortunately, RUDER CYBER TECH SLEUTHS specializes in recovering Bitcoin sent to fraudulent or scam wallets. After collaborating with RUDER CYBER TECH SLEUTHS, they successfully recovered my scammed Bitcoin. They are my permanent solution for cybersecurity. I strongly endorse RUDER CYBER TECH SLEUTHS for crypto tracing and recovery. If you find yourself in a similar situation or involved in a suspicious investment platform, contact RUDER CYBER TECH SLEUTHS 

0 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Leinster player ratings vs Sharks | 2024/25 URC Leinster player ratings vs Sharks | 2024/25 URC
Search