Jenkins seeing red after critics slam early bath
ELLIS Jenkins says Wales should not be criticised for beating teams who have players sent off.
Six players have been sent off against Wales in 12 fixtures, a statistic often used as a stick to beat Wayne Pivac’s side.
However, stand-in skipper Jenkins believes the focus should be more on the sides losing players to indiscipline, rather than Wales.
“I am not sure you can force anyone to make a high tackle on a guy who is 6ft 8in,” he said when asked about Australian Rob Valentini’s red card after the 29-28 victory on Saturday.
“I am not sure we can take any credit for that. “It’s part of the game at the moment, it is a redhot topic, and people are perhaps struggling to make the shift.
“As soon as you saw the one today, there was no doubt it was going to be a red card. We have got to get better playing against 14 men, because we seem to struggle a little bit.”
Speaking on the yellow card Kurtley Beale received, Jenkins added: “Anyone who has been in Kurtley Beale’s position, he knows he has gone to slap the ball.
“It’s reaction. Whether he has gone to catch it or not, but you go with one hand – he has gone for the tackle – but he knows that pass is being made. And anyone who has been in that situation would say the same thing.”
Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony branded opponent Tomas Lavanini a ‘scumbag’ during his side’s win over Argentina on Sunday.
The Los Pumas second row received the third red card of his Test career for a dangerous clearout on a defenceless Cian Healy at a second half ruck.
Spotting the foul play, O’Mahony immediately launched a scathing assessment of the situation.
“That’s scumbag stuff!” He exclaimed. “You know exactly what you’re doing.
“Hard man, hard man.... unlike you, isn’t it? That’s very unlike you.”
The Irishman was warned by referee Matt Carley about his outburst before the official reviewed the incident and sent Lavanini off.
Speaking after the match, O’Mahony was far more measured.
“Ah look, it’s heat of the moment stuff,” said O’Mahony, who was sent off for a similar incident against Wales in this year’s Six Nations.
“That’s what I thought at the time and you’re trying to look after your buddies, looking after your mates and the last thing you want is for them to get injured.
“From his point of view, it’s tough as well. It’s literally fractions of a second and at the time I was p***ed off but I’ve been on the other side of it and you’re talking about hundredths of seconds where pictures change and, you know, red card.
“The disappointment of getting a red card for your country is nothing you can experience, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”