Exeter Chiefs
North and South Hemispheres differing standards?
By Plympton Chief
September 8 2021
Comments are being raised about the differing standards of sanction dished out by the North and South Hemispheres’ governing bodies. Got a feeling that Paulo Odogwu will be thrilled to see this culled from the Telegraph this morning!
All Blacks full-back Jordie Barrett is free to play in the Rugby Championship after his red card for a boot to the face of Australia winger Marika Koroibete was dismissed by a judiciary panel.
The decision has highlighted the vast differences in how rugby authorities punish offences, after a similar incident in the Gallagher Premiership in 2019 resulted in a six-week ban.
Barrett was sent off after making contact with Koroibete while jumping to catch a high ball in the 38-21 win over Australia at Perth Stadium on Sunday. This year's Rugby Championship is being used to trial a new law which meant Barrett was replaced after 20 minutes by a player from the bench.
Governing body SANZAAR's judicial hearing ruled the contact was inadvertent while Barrett lost his balance in the air.
"With no intent to lash out, the hearing cleared him of wrongdoing and removed the red card from his record," SANZAAR said. “He legitimately went up in the air to collect a high ball, when in trying to regain his balance on the downward trajectory, his boot inadvertently made contact with his opponent’s head.
“The accidental nature of the incident lead the judicial committee to find that there was no intentional nor reckless act of dangerous play, with the result that the red card is expunged from the player’s record.”
As a result, the committee found Barrett not guilty of contravening Law 9.11, which states that players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others after a hearing in which the All Blacks brought in two expert biomechanists to give evidence.
Barrett's action were defended by Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll on Twitter following the match: “It is a totally natural action for the catching player to balance themselves out with an extended leg,” O'Driscoll wrote.
A different interpretation of a similar incident occurred during the Premiership in 2019, when Wasps' Paolo Odogwu saw red for making contact with the head of Sale'sRohan Janse van Rensburg while claiming a high ball. Odogwu was banned for six weeks by the RFU for "reckless" play.
Like Barrett, Odogwu claimed his outstretched leg was there to "assist his balance" but that was rejected by the independent panel even though they agreed that the contact with the face was unintentional.
"He did intend to use his outstretched leg to fend off a potential oncoming player and was reckless as to whether or not it made contact or caused injury." independent panel chair Dan White said at the time.
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08/09/2021 12:50
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"Professor Patria Hume of the Auckland University of Technology and Professor Mark Sayers of the University of Sunshine Coast provided independent biomechanical analysis of the incident." I looked them up - all their professional work is in the area of sports biomechanical.
I am not saying the decision was correct/incorrect but this rugby panel was made up of rugby folks (SA & Argentina) who came from a governance and/or legal background. It could have been a difference outcome if NZR had a lawyer arguing a case in adversarial manner.
Interesting research. As you observe the governance of the game is becoming more "expert" focused. The TMO now looks like the thinnest end of the wedge!
I can see from your previous posts that you have a very broad interest in the game and look forward to reading any further comments you post!
