I’d letl Garbisi retake his kick
Our f or mer elit e of f icial looks back on a hear t br eaker f or It aly in Fr ance
AFTER THE late drama of France and Italy drawing 13-13 in the Six Nations, Paolo Garbisi was very mature and fronted up in his TV interview. “I take full responsibility for that,” he said of his missed penalty to win the match. However, many fans were left asking if the fly-half should have been allowed to retake the kick.
Many took to social media to discuss the moment when the shot clock was running down and Garbisi hastily replaced the ball after it fell off the tee and took a snapshot kick that hit the As well as Harrow lifting the Continental Tyres
Schools U18 Cup (see P26), Hove-based Newman College won the Plate at the StoneX
Stadium and Richard Hale School, from Hertford, bagged the Bowl.
In the U15s game, Radley College won the Cup, Cranleigh got the Plate, Beechen Cliff collected the Vase and Reading Blue Coat won the Bowl.
Hartpury College defeated Exeter College 41-5, with Abigail Pritchard post – all while French players were in motion. Some people were bemoaning shot clocks, some consoled Garbisi about his misfortune, and others queried if he was hard done by.
There was so much going on here that unpicking it is quite a challenge… But for me there are two clear French issues that required looking at.
The first is that there are water-carriers on the field, which is not allowed at a penalty, and they’re clearly moving in the eyeline of the kicker.
Secondly, there are two occasions where players charge the kicker – which
scoring a hat-trick, in the U18 girls colleges cup final. Also played at Twickenham was the girls’ U12 Love Rugby Showcase Festival, with 30 teams involved. Blackrock College defeated St Michael’s College 28-12 at the RDS to win the Leinster Schools Senior Cup for a remarkable 71st time. Presentation Brothers College sealed back-to-back Munster Schools Senior Cup final wins, while Sligo Grammar won their third Connacht Senior Cup title in a row. is also not allowed, especially when held back by the referee.
Christophe Ridley had a good game as referee but he should had stopped the whole thing – the clock, everything – and settled everyone down. He should have sent the water-carriers from the field and allowed Garbisi to kick without the unfair pressure.
Some refs would have allowed him to take the kick again but to do that in your first Six Nations game at 13-13 and the clock beyond 80 would be huge! So
I get why Ridley didn’t order a retake – but it was rough on Garbisi and Italy.
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