Bledisloe Cup rugby: the world reacts to the twin red cards in the defeat of the All Blacks

The Wallabies have claimed a 24-22 win over the All Blacks in a face-saving win at Suncorp Stadium.

But while the epic comeback from last week’s 43-5 Test loss that decided the Bledisloe Cup for an 18 year, a controversial first half delivered the game’s talking points.

‘Hard’ red card

In the 22nd minute, Ofa Tu’ungafasi of the All Blacks becomes the fifth All Blacks player of all time to show a red card in a call-up that has divided the rugby community.

Social media reacted quickly to the incident in the 22nd minute in which the Wallabies’ Tom Wright stopped a kick from within the 22nd and began to surround the All Blacks players.

That was until it reached Tu’ungafasi, who smashed it to the extreme in what looked like a loud shot.

But on replay, it was clear that his shoulder touched Wright’s jaw.

On Channel 10, the discussion revolved around whether it would be a yellow or a penalty, but referee Nic Berry saw it much more in black and white.

“Well, based on those factors, the direct contact with the chin, there are no mitigating factors, so it will be a red card against three blacks. Do you all agree?” he told the TMO before showing Tu’ungafasi the red card.

The decision was consistent with the World Cup in Japan, but it has been a controversial decision since the event.

Tu’ungafasi joins Cyril Brownlee in 1925, Colin Meads in 1967, Sonny Bill Williams in 2017 and Scott Barrett in 2019 as the only All Blacks with a red card.

Social media exploded with comments and many believed it was a difficult decision, but the correct one by the rules.

Former Wallaby turned media personality Peter FitzSimons tweeted: “Very tough red card for All Black prop, yeah? No bad intentions on your part?”

Incredibly, the All Blacks were the next to score via a penalty goal to make the 8-all.

‘Ruining the game, ruining the show

But he soon became a red card in a duel when Wallabies rookie Lachlan Swinton received his marching orders for a very similar incident in the 34th minute.

Swinton hit Sam Whitelock with a big punch, crushing the great New Zealander, but he was quickly revised.

Swinton was also the fifth Wallaby to receive a red card, joining David Codey in 1987, Drew Mitchell in 2010, Tevita Kuridrani in 2013 and Sekope Kepu in 2017.

Wallabie legend Matthew Burke said he believed both were worthy of a red card.

“It’s red, absolutely. I thought it might have been yellow because of the mitigating circumstances of Wright’s fall and then in the back there’s another one and look at it, it’s a heavy shot and just a Missed Shot and they talked about that about beforehand, to control that aggression and we said it there also at the beginning ”, he said on Channel 10.

But on Fox Sports, Wallaby’s great teammates Justin Harrison and Phil Kearns pointed to the misses at halftime.

“We talked about the framework of the rule changes that safety is the intent, but both players who took direct shots to the chin were not directed to the EIS for an evaluation, so let’s talk about mitigating factors,” said Harrison .

“We know that players don’t come out with the intention of ripping people’s heads off, what they do is with the intention of hitting people as hard as they can. When you move as fast as you can with as much force as you can and have 125 kg who commit to a goal, it is very difficult to change that decision framework.

Kearns added: “There has to be a better way. For me, yellow card, put them on a report and then go to the judiciary afterwards. Ruin the game, ruin the show.”

Foul play and clumsiness

Australia were then left with 13 men when Marika Koroibete received a yellow card after the halftime siren for having her hands on the ball after a referee warning.

The All Blacks were also down to 13 men in the second half when Scott Barrett saw a yellow card after coming out of the ruck to knock the ball out of Nic White’s hands.

After the game, Harrison said that “he can’t be allowed to get away with it because of the clumsiness.”

Kearns also reiterated his comments from the first half, admitting that the red cards were correct under current rules.

“But in my opinion, it takes a lot of the game to get the red cards,” he said. “Perhaps a better option is the yellow card first, report them and deal with the judicial process later in order to maintain the integrity of the game. I think there is very little doubt in both.”

The great Wallaby Tim Horan also called for a red card upon seeing a player sent off, but was able to be replaced after 10 minutes.

‘That’s a joke’

Nine Test veteran Greg Martin added that while it might be part of the rules, passive fans would be left scratching their heads with a few calls.

“That’s a joke,” he said. “If we’re here in Australia competing in rugby league, and that’s what we are, but someone sitting in an office in Dublin throws us out and decides it’s a red card, that’s silly, we can’t win that fight.” .

All Blacks coach Ian Foster didn’t want to get involved in a discussion on the subject.

It is what it is now, “he said.” I don’t think this is a good time to discuss the accuracy of the decisions. We were probably more unhappy with some of the TMO decisions last week than this week. Both teams received the same letters, dare I say it. “