Boyle lucky not to see red, insists ex-Wales ace
EXWALES forward Gareth Delve branded Connacht’s Paul Boyle “a lucky man” after the No. 8 escaped a sending off for an illegal challenge on Scarlets lock Tom Price in Friday’s United Rugby Championship clash at The Sportsground.
And fellow Wales international James Hook also felt the incident warranted a red card, saying Boyle had dropped Price on his head “like The Undertaker” during Connacht’s 36-14 victory.
The Irish side were leading 16-11 and on the attack when the episode unfolded in the 48th minute.
Attempting to clear out Price at a ruck, Boyle lifted the Scarlet and deposited him on to the new synthetic turf.
Another home player’s shoulders appeared to lever Price’s legs upwards as Boyle swung into action, but the episode looked dangerous, even if Price was close to the ground.
The officials, however, decided against dismissing the Connacht forward, with referee Marius van der Westhuizen instead just showing him a yellow card.
Scarlets captain Jonathan Davies seemed unimpressed with the decision but was dismissed by van der Westhuizen, who told him: “It’s not a debate. He’s very low to the ground, so it’s not a high level of danger.”
Such a view didn’t align with the opinions of both Delve and Hook, who were working for BBC’s Scrum V.
Delve immediately felt a sending off was imminent, saying: “You are talking about a high level of danger, he’s dropped him straight on top of his head.”
And after the call had been made only to send Boyle to the bin, the former No. 8 raised memories of the infamous tackle on Brian O’Driscoll on the Lions tour of New Zealand in 2005, with Tana Umaga and Kevan Mealamu the perpetrators, although the incident of 17 years ago was much more overtly dangerous.
Of Boyle, Delve said: “I think he’s a lucky man, because that’s reminiscent, to me, of the O’Driscoll challenge that brought in a new level of safety. Obviously, going back to that tour of New Zealand, there was a far bigger danger element.
“It doesn’t get more dangerous than being upside down and out of control.”
Hook also took issue with the referee’s decision, saying: “He’s lifted him upside down, he’s dropped him on his head like The Undertaker. I think that’s dangerous and that’s a red in my opinion.”