Player welfare issues sully elite rugby showcase weekend
This is written by Progressive Rugby
Saturday, 18th June, 2022 should have been a glorious showcase of elite rugby, but again controversy over player welfare unwelcomely sucked an element of joy from the occasions.
Social media exploded (again) after Wayne Barnes chose to yellow card Aled Davies for a upright shoulder to the head of Leicester’s meaty Argentinian hooker Julián Montoya.
The challenge bore all the hallmarks of a red card, but referee Wayne Barnes, arguably the best in the business, quickly deemed the sin bin sufficient punishment.
Had the wiry Davies, coming in around 25kg lighter, been the ball carrier and Montoya the aggressor…..would we have seen the same outcome?
In fairness to Barnes, any accusations that he bottled the big occasion, seem unjustified given he sent Dylan Hartley off in a final in 2013 for swearing – a decision that, had it gone unpunished, it’s likely viewers would have been none the wiser.
The decision yesterday did however support our concerns that as the season enters the business end it can become – even subliminally - increasingly difficult to reach for the red.
Elsewhere, reports came in from Canterbury’s win over Auckland Blues, that clear foul play was again going unpunished or punished with extreme leniency.
We have sympathy here too with the referees. How many of us, when our decisions are constantly undermined by the judicial committee, wouldn’t start second guessing ourselves?
As for Andy McGeady’s @andymcgeady remark, following these two finals, that he wonders if someone has to smuggle a weapon onto the field to get a ban, let alone a red card – let’s hope not.
And lastly, and by no means least as it has caused us the most consternation, was concerns that Stormers hooker JJ Kotze was allowed to play on having suffered a brain injury.
It brought back horrible memories of Lyon winger Davit Niniashvili staggering aimlessly around the Marseille after a thunderous hit from South Africa colossus Eben Etzebeth.
The very real dangers of continuing with a brain injury cannot be understated and it’s crucial medics and spotters have no other focus than detecting players at risk.
For the future of this great game – Let’s. Get. This. Sorted.
“Had the wiry Davies, coming in around 25kg lighter, been the ball carrier and Montoya the aggressor…..would we have seen the same outcome?’”