Europe Head High

[voice of the crumbie]

[ The game is being brought into disrepute by the inconsistency.

There were a couple of head high tackles by scarlets that were missed or ignored by the ref last night yet he gave a ridiculous one against us.

[Big Dai]

Regarding Cipriani, he stands, braced for impact but maybe not quite ready and because of s previous impact the Irishman's face collided with his shoulder.
Later on in the game there is a clear swinging arm to the head of a Gloucester chap. Horrible mistimed and illegal challenge, bordering on the clothes line tackle, made illegal years since.
If Cipriani's effort is a red then Darren Garforth is a ballet dancer. The other one........ straight red. Why were punishments given in opposite severity? Legislation.
You can't put down a cast iron set of rules for each situation based on outcome. Input, circumstances and intent have to be interpreted. For that you need empathy and intelligence.
We are not getting anywhere near consistent refereeing hence I have an opinion developing on referees and the law makers.

IMHO.....Etc. Etc. And all the usual caveats.

[Big Dai]

......... Additional! You can yellow card all those whingeing coves lying on the ground going "Sir, Sir, look at that, he hit me high."

First rule of first aid, if they are making a lot of (coherent) noise they are more than likely to be fine. It's the ones lying spark out and the quiet ones you need to worry about.

[loretta]

Got to say, I was surprised by Nigel Owen’s leniency regarding Ulster’s double spear tackle on a Racing player at a ruck yesterday. One yellow card and a penalty! Couldn’t help think of what that move did to BOD.

[CitizenSmiff]

Another one just now, Burrows for Falcons, big meaty arm around the shoulder and neck and only a penalty given!

[westwinds31]

Regarding Cipriani, he stands, braced for impact but maybe not quite ready and because of s previous impact the Irishman's face collided with his shoulder.
Later on in the game there is a clear swinging arm to the head of a Gloucester chap. Horrible mistimed and illegal challenge, bordering on the clothes line tackle, made illegal years since.
If Cipriani's effort is a red then Darren Garforth is a ballet dancer. The other one........ straight red. Why were punishments given in opposite severity? Legislation.
You can't put down a cast iron set of rules for each situation based on outcome. Input, circumstances and intent have to be interpreted. For that you need empathy and intelligence.
We are not getting anywhere near consistent refereeing hence I have an opinion developing on referees and the law makers.

IMHO.....Etc. Etc. And all the usual caveats.

That’s an image that may take a while to get rid of....Garforth....TuTu....Royal Ballet....

[4071]

Cipriani red card for Shoulder upper arm to head against Munster letter of the law absolutely correct.
Very well explained by Flatman player safety is paramount

In the same game, Billy 12T got smacked in the face by a high tackle from the Munster 8 and no card was forthcoming.

It's the inconsistency that's maddening.

[Mark62]

Cipriani red card for Shoulder upper arm to head against Munster letter of the law absolutely correct.
Very well explained by Flatman player safety is paramount

In the same game, Billy 12T got smacked in the face by a high tackle from the Munster 8 and no card was forthcoming.

It's the inconsistency that's maddening.

Agreed

[westwinds31]

3 weeks for Cipriani...how nice, he’s available when we go to Kingsholm ! Run down his channel I say...see if he fancies it.

It’s basically 0 weeks because he wouldn’t have played in any of the Premiership Cup games...so pointless exercise all round.

[WhitecapTiger]

3 weeks for Cipriani...how nice, he’s available when we go to Kingsholm ! Run down his channel I say...see if he fancies it.

It’s basically 0 weeks because he wouldn’t have played in any of the Premiership Cup games...so pointless exercise all round.

Couldn't agree more, pointless indeed - an exercise in futility. But, how could they prove otherwise, Glaws would simply have said they'd select him for those games so it's a genuine ban and hardship.... as would any club, while the powers that be can say they've acted appropriately. (That's not a dig at you westwinds31)

Makes me think once more that players should be banned for matches in the competition your conduct has attracted the punishment, except for offences such as drug or outright violence with intent charges for which long bans would cover most tournaments anyway. Probably be difficult to administer and enforce and be considered harsh by some though.

Fair play to him for taking it on the chin though, if you'll pardon the pun, he accepted it with good grace and appeared to genuinely apologise on pitch right from the word go hence the reduction for admission/acceptance of guilt. Reduction for disciplinary record though hmmmm....lucky that's on field record....

With further consideration, when other 'worse' or at least as bad tackles in the same match went by without equal punishment it's probably panned out about right.