Koroibete farce exposes high tackle inconsistency
One of the key things that fans want is consistency in the way the game is refereed and administered. As an example, if we know with certainty what constitutes a high and dangerous tackle, then it’s hard for us to complain when one of ‘ours’ falls foul of the laws. The recent case of the Australian player, Marika Koroibete, red-carded in the Test against France, illustrates the confusion that exists.
Watching the incident live, I immediately thought red card, but then watching the slo-mo, I was slightly less sure. Part of that was caused by the reaction of the French player, Anthony Jelonch, who belatedly went down clutching his eye, rolling over in full football prima donna style, seemingly looking at the ref through his fingers! To me it was what football refers to as simulation…trying to con the referee.
On balance I thought the red card was the right call, but Jelonch should have been cited so that what appeared to be dramatic over-reaction was
subjected to the proper degree of scrutiny.
The Aussie commentators and the crowd were apoplectic, but that in itself is a worry. They’re from a nation that loves Rugby League and Aussie Rules, where high shots are commonplace and accepted. It seems to me there’s a major difference of opinion between what we’re seeing in the north, and what’s happening in the south. The Koroibete incident went to a disciplinary hearing where a panel comprised of three New Zealanders ultimate
ly rescinded the red card in a judgment that was baffling.
Apparently Koroibete ‘admitted to technically committing an act of foul play worthy of a red card’, but amazingly, despite that, the panel saw things differently. The contact was shoulder to shoulder, but then slipped up to the neck/head area, but that was ‘incidental’, and the red card decision wasn’t upheld.
The question that needs to be posed is whether this incident would have been dealt with in the same
way in different jurisdictions, and I suspect that had it happened in the Premiership Koroibete would have received a ban. Things are seemingly different in South Africa too. When the Lions played the so-called South Africa ‘A’ team, Faf de Klerk received a yellow card from Jaco Peyper for a ‘tackle’ that involved no attempt to wrap, and ultimately involved head contact. Again, had this happened playing for Sale, I suspect he’d have received a red. love the new Heineken Champions Cup format. If your team is good enough to have qualified then you’re after two things: an attractive draw that means visiting some of the great European rugby destinations, but one that also carries the possibility of reaching the knock-out stages.
This year’s format repeats the modifications made last year because of Covid, with four pool games instead of six, and a two-leg round of 16.
The most attractive away trips for English fans probably are Bath’s, who get to go to La Rochelle and Dublin – it might well be a short campaign, but those are two great destinations.
As for the best chances of getting through the pool stages, I reckon Exeter will be delighted with Montpellier and Glasgow, but Wasps fans won’t be fancying their chances against Toulouse and Munster.
The competition has been elevated by having no Italian sides qualifying – with qualification being totally on merit.
This is exactly the competition we want: the best 24 teams in Europe based on the previous season’s results meet up to slog it out, with the best 16 then meeting up head to head.