Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Jimmy Cowan red card for hit on Jimmy Goperth

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Jimmy Cowan red card for hit on Jimmy Goperth

All Black Jimmy Cowan was red carded on the weekend as his side, the Highlanders, went down 26-6 to the Blues in their Super 14 meeting at Eden Park.

Cowan, known to be a bit more hot-headed than most, smashed Blues flyhalf Jimmy Gopperth after he cleared the ball from his own in-goal area.

Cowan had been in referee Stu Dickinson’s face all night, so when this late and dangerous looking hit came in, Dickinson had no hesitation in sending off the Highlanders scrum half.

A red card offence warrants a disciplinary hearing, and Cowan has since been cleared of further punishment, with Sanzar judicial officer Bruce Squire ruling that he should have been given a yellow card at most.

Squire said that despite the referees view of it, the tackle was not late, as the footage revealed that it was made less than a second after Gopperth had kicked the ball.

In addition the point of contact was at chest level, so the only issue Squire found was Cowan’s failure to use his arms when making the tackle.

Gopperth said he’d already moved on from the incident, with no ill feelings towards his namesake.

"I hit my head on the ground pretty hard and was a bit dazed," he said. "But that's rugby. It's a physical game."

What's your take on it? Should it have just been just a yellow, or was it more malicious as Cowan could clearly see that Gopperth would kick, yet followed through anyway?

Time: 02:19

Clearly a shoulder charge, arm was straight, no intention in going for the ball

By Rugby fan, at April 22, 2009 11:45 am
it was shoulder and it could have been dangerous

But,i think it's a bit harsh, i'm not sure it was malicious. a yellow was a good call

By Flooz, at April 22, 2009 11:56 am
Definate Red in my opinion.

If he was just late, or just no arms then only a yellow.

But he was late and pure shoulder.

Plus hes a C£$T as well, so he deserves to go.

By Fridge, at April 22, 2009 11:59 am
Ye i agree with the first comment. There no intent to wrap the arms, He just wanted to smash him.

By Matt, at April 22, 2009 12:01 pm
Ouch. Red is well deserved there.

By Nathan, at April 22, 2009 12:07 pm
it was a straight yellow, the ref was influenced by goperth in pain on the ground. doesn't seem like there was a discussion between the ref and the touch judges, emotional reaction, poor refereeing

By piaruskov, at April 22, 2009 12:20 pm
Yellow, he's a good guy, he didn't want this.

By Flow, at April 22, 2009 12:22 pm
does anyone know what the actual law is?

how much discretion does the referee have whether to give a red or a yellow?

brutal hit though + a cheap shot too considering Gopperth had all his weight on one leg at the time!

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 12:30 pm
Im guessing the referee decided to give him a red because Cowan was up in his face the entire game!! Even i was geting pissed off... one of the tried denied you can hear cowan say "if you cant see the try being made you cant award it!"... give the ref a break!

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 12:41 pm
its obviously different hemispheres, but theres seems to be a lack of continuity. julien whites punch on andrew sheridan i would say is worse than this, yet it only recieved a yellow. if the ref binned him because, as the commentators state he was in his ear, thats just poor refereeing. well done to gopperth for not making it out to be somethin bad after

By caucau's no.1 fan, at April 22, 2009 12:52 pm
" a cheap shot too considering Gopperth had all his weight on one leg at the time!"

Irrelevant - where does it say you can't tackle a player who has his weight on one leg, is the tackler supposed to stop and figure out the guy's weight distribution before making an ethical decision about tackling him?
But it was a little late and not technically great so a yellow would've been right, as the Sanzar guy later ruled.

By jeff, at April 22, 2009 12:57 pm
To caucau's no.1 fan
White was sent off for that punch on Sheridan

Bad tackle though. I reckon it would only have been a yellow had Cowan not been in the ref's face all night

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 1:12 pm
Actually Julian White received a RED card for his punch on Andrew Sheridan, clearly deserved. A yellow would have sufficed here though. On the point of Cowan being in the referee's ear all game, arguably, as captain this is his prerogative? One of the roles of the captain is to provide a link between the players and the referee, even if Cowan isn't the most tactful man around.

By Dave, at April 22, 2009 1:16 pm
He looks like a right mug as he was walking off the field. Not a bad effort from a scrum half though!

By samitarugby, at April 22, 2009 1:20 pm
Red is ridiculous. It was only a fraction late and wasn't high. Sure, there was minimal arm usage in the tackle, but at least Cowan can be seen trying to help him right after the hit.

But then Stuart Dickinson has a tendency to make poor referring decisions.

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 1:23 pm
Red is the right call if you consider both points:

1°) Late tackle (+Cowan knows he's going to kick the ball away. It would be foolish to beleive that a pro rugby player doesn't know exactly that the flyhalf is going to do clear the ball away in such a position....I don't beleive an instant Cowan thought he would play open side... If it would have been Sella or Blanco then maybe :-)

2°) Technically it's a dangerous tackle. Arm is straight along the body. Only the shoulder is throuwn.

Red Card. One day, someone will suffer a real bad neck injury and these stupid hits will be banned for ever.

By David, at April 22, 2009 2:02 pm
1st thing you are thought when u start playing rugby is tackle with ur shoulder and follow through with ur arms....he cant follow through with his arms because Gopperth flew away from him!! not deserving of a red!!

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 2:30 pm
Probably didn't warrant a red but it doesn't matter either way because he wasn't going to get cited and charged, hes a Kiwi, they have immunity from all foul play right?

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 2:46 pm
It warrants at least a yellow, and the red in itself is not shocking, harsh maybe but not unwarranted. And personnally, if the player has had a poor attitude all game and has been warned before by the referee to change his attitude, if have no problem with the ref being particularly harsh with him... Red is fine.

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 2:53 pm
BOSCH!!!!

By EATDEEZ, at April 22, 2009 2:56 pm
Man! ref was a bit harsh here! that was a dangerous play,but it wasn't late and tackle was not on the neck....ref use too much of his emotion! Poor refereeing! Unlucky Jimmy

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 3:07 pm
wasnt late , wasnt high, wasnt a straight arm, player wasnt taken out while jumping...therfore not a red.
He lead with hi shoulder and hit Goperth in the chest...nothing wrong with that.

emotional reaction from cowan protesting to the ref earlier, which is his job as captain.

looked worse as Goperth was off his feet from kicking (shows it wasnt late, as he would have landed if it was late)

I am saying this as a neutral, I dont support any NZ team

By dr, at April 22, 2009 3:08 pm
anonymous -hes a Kiwi, they have immunity from all foul play right?

pathetic comment

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 3:30 pm
Anyone else think the ref did well to stop it all from boiling over??

By Freddie, at April 22, 2009 3:42 pm
I'm sorry but this is only a red if you're a homo.

Stop killing our game with your softness. Go play tag rugby boys. Rugby is not a sport for you.

This is in NO way a red, EVER. Get a bloody grip of yourselfs.

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 3:43 pm
RE: anonymous -hes a Kiwi, they have immunity from all foul play right?

pathetic comment

Ref: http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2007/06/brian-odriscoll-spear-tackle-2005.html

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 3:44 pm
id call it a solid hit with a hint of shoulder charge lol looks bad cos he hit him in th air, not a red imo

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 3:46 pm
i think that if this was after a pass a yellow would have been given but just because the guys kicking, meaning his arms are away and ribs exposed but whichever way you look at it not exactly a captains example is it?

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 3:46 pm
i dont think it was late the slowmo makes it look late but real time (which is what we actually work in) shows it was a split second!

i have put in some tackles of similar timing and some have been pinged some not.

'was it more malicious as Cowan could clearly see that Gopperth would kick' i say definately not, everyone knows when a player is going to kick the ball, hence why you put pressure on them, this is so that they either scuff the kick or you charge it down....or hammer the guy....(in this case)...if you thought, "ah he is going to kick, ill stop and let him" then half of these awesome kickers would have you on your own 5 metre line!!

i did notice on the screen it said "returning from the sin bin" now does that mean he already had a yellow?

anyway after all of that, it was a awful technique tackle, no look of using the arms, which would have helped the ref in his decision.

if he had come on from the sin bin then yes, its a red, if not id have said yellow...

By No.7, at April 22, 2009 3:50 pm
Anyone rember Brad Thorn spear tackling Jhon Smit? Not even a car there and here he gives a red? nah man yellow

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 3:50 pm
ALL I KNOW THAT WAS A HIT !!! LMAO

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 4:05 pm
boom he didnt see that coming

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 4:13 pm
Like how people say poor refereeing, like you could do better. You guys wouldn't last 5 mins in there, before the players would jump all over you. Give the ref a break. You know they volunteer for this job. If you think you could do better. Get you butt in there, and do it.

By Hendrick, at April 22, 2009 4:26 pm
not that bad. Unlucky for the head bounce and there was no wrap, but other than that it IS rugby and not gay assed baseball or something like that. Could have gone either way, yellow or red. Maybe the ref should have just turned his back and let the Blues' hooker smack him a couple of times.

Texas rugger

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 4:27 pm
Yellow Card and a strong talking to, but a red seemed harsh.

I don't like Cowan really, but in fairness to him you can see him bend over after the tackle to check on Gopperth.

He caught Gopperth off balance so the hit/impact was worse than it should have been really. Add to that Gopperth's head bounced and so it looks pretty nasty.

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 4:53 pm
should've been yellow.

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 5:20 pm
Is it relevant that there was only 20 minutes left? Could argue because there was no citing that this was an 'orange' card. I don't like hits on exposed players, but kicker probably should have gotten rid of it a bit quicker too.

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 5:40 pm
my immediate reaction is red is harsh as it wasn't that late. But the more i watch the more i realise that the tackler knew the ball was going to be gone and he made no attempt to charge down.

Red still a little harsh though but the ref is always RIGHT.

By andy, at April 22, 2009 5:58 pm
Yellow sounds about right - he had no obligation to anticipate what was going to happen (which I think refs forget when carding players who tackle high when the opposition duck into the tackle, or tackle in the air after a late jump).

Who's the Blues' 9 at the end of the clip, he's fucking huge.

By HamishM, at April 22, 2009 6:21 pm
Penalty only for not wrapping. The comment, "he cant follow through with his arms because Gopperth flew away from him!!" is ridiculous. He loaded the shoulder with no intention of wrapping. Had he brought the arm, no penalty at all. Was not late or high.

As for the notion that "One of the roles of the captain is to provide a link between the players and the referee," that does not give you the right to have constant commentary running at the ref. Besides, every player knows it just pisses the ref off. It's bad business.

By Boz, at April 22, 2009 6:43 pm
Red for intent. It was a cowardly cheap shot. He saw an opportunity to unfairly damage an opposition player in no position to defend himself and took it. Pathetic. If all players played the game that way it would be a farce. Had to go.

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 6:44 pm
although I admire Cowan and rate him as the best defensive scrumhalf this was dangerous and malicious

By minstrel boy, at April 22, 2009 7:00 pm
Good call with the red

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 8:44 pm
TSRB 11 :)?

By BD, at April 22, 2009 9:01 pm
In my playing days as a 7, I use to try and start every game with a hit like this on the opposing 10, and I was encouraged to do so by my coaches. And I am an idiot for it. The most important aspect of this tackle is the possible outcome of it, severe injury, even if the victim doesn't recognize this (but the culture of rugby wouldn't allow that anyway). It doesn't matter if the offender is a "good guy" and the tackle was reactionary, the other player was vulnerable and unable to protect himself and therefore must be protected by the laws of the game. Especially nowadays with all the advances in training which have only increased player's abilities to inflict damage on each other. A few year's back, head shots were legal in the NFL. Here in Canada, there is a discussion on making them illegal in hockey. Although this was not a head shot, it could have a similar effect, with the victim striking his head on the ground. Shoulder charges are creeping more and more into rugby, and the administrators of the game are the only ones who will keep them out. Red card.

By Canadian Content, at April 22, 2009 9:23 pm
the ref wasent influenced he saw it clearly almost imediatly after the hit he stoped play red maby its the border line between red and yellow tough call

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 9:28 pm
Anyone who said it was a yellow:

You probably would of give a red too if you had Cowan barking in your ear all night.

By T, at April 22, 2009 9:30 pm
Canadians are puffs - except DEADMAU5

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 9:55 pm
Clearly a dirty player. Did anyone else notice the blatant elbow drop he tried to do on Masaga just after he'd scored in the highlanders chiefs game last month?

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 10:04 pm
clearly a charge good call ref

By Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 10:09 pm
Late tackle/ Cheapshot on a kicker= Yellow card in my eyes
No wrapping of the arms in a hit of this force= Yellow card in my eyes again

Therefore late tackle and no wrapping of the arms on a kicker in a vulnerable position= red card.
He knew right well what he wass doing and player cannot be allowed to be getting away with that sort of dirty play.

Kickers just after kicking the ball are in the most vulnerable position of any player on the pitch and if we allowed them to be hit like this, late and with no harms then we would be seeing alot of serious injuries.

By themull, at April 22, 2009 10:32 pm
Cowan's a little bastard, when you read the blurb it says 'He was in the refs face all nite'. Some people are saying 'Oh be sympathetic it's his job as captain'
He wasn't communicating positively with Dickinson, he ws just moaning about decisiions he felt were wrong (which they weren't), i saw it and felt like I ws watching a soccer match.

As for the red, questionable, but Dickinson just wanted the little prick off the field. Fair enough i say.

PS. I know I'm hating on Cowan big time there but I actually think he is a class player, just a cunt to go along with it.

By jej, at April 22, 2009 10:35 pm
that was a collosal hit by Cowan absolutely huge. I think it probably deserved a red, although he was committed was he not?

By 212, at April 23, 2009 12:03 am
Hah, you're right about kickers being in vulnerable conditions. A player on my team had his forearm broken when some cock charged him down after the kick and slammed his arm into the uprights.

...but shit happens. The guy in the game happened to walk away without so much as a penalty being called because the ref judged it as a fair hit.

I'd say this is a yellow, but then again, I'm not sure what is deserving of a red other than malicious and clear, though out violations of sportsmanship...that and two yellows.

By Apple, at April 23, 2009 12:31 am
*thought out

By apple, at April 23, 2009 12:32 am
Cowan was cleared, and the judiciary said it should have been a yellow.

Tackle was at chest level, he was committed and he made some attempt to wrap though it wasn't possible.

If Gopperth had his feet planted it would have been no big deal.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10567647

By People, at April 23, 2009 1:21 am
^ um, yes? read the write up on here 'People'?

heh.. oddball.

Sweet looking hit I have to say. A tiny bit harsh, BUT, other circumstances involved I guess.. and if you saw a few mins before the hit, Cowan was yappin away at Dickinson then too.

It was malicious imo... so, a red like this doesnt hurt the game every now and then. Keep the nutters under control. :P

By FrankyH, at April 23, 2009 2:15 am
Advocating pernicious tackles is going to result in serious injuries which is going to result in stricter rules. Stricter rules results in the referees deciding the outcome of a game instead of the players.

'Get a grip of yourselves' (sp.).

Cheap shots don't belong in Rugby.

By Zunzan, at April 23, 2009 2:18 am
anonymous @ 3.44

So your theory that "Kiwis have immunity" is based on a single incident where most people, including myself, think they got off lightly. But I forget that it's a provable fact that no other national side in the history of rugby has ever been involved in an incident they were lucky to get away with .. don't make me laugh.

By Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 2:41 am
poor cowen looks taped together!

By Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 2:42 am
yellow i believe to lazy to argue it

By Joe, at April 23, 2009 2:46 am
I don't think there was anything wrong with that tackle. You can see how fast hes running at the guy before the hit, and when he does put the hit in the kicker is only on one leg.

He couldn't wrap his arms around because he came at the guy so fast and the angle at which the kicker fell back at made it harder for him to wrap his arms around.

A couple of weeks ago a mate of mine got penalized in a match for not wrapping in the tackle but there was nothing he could do. He hit the bloke catching the ball so hard that he'd hit the floor before my mate could wrap his arms around.

By Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 2:57 am
if they can shoulder charge in league why not in union?

By Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 4:04 am
Cowan's a class player - needs to refocus his 'passion' if he wants to keep wearing the black shirt tho

By boomshanka, at April 23, 2009 4:23 am
Red. Easy red, especially with the further misconduct towards the official -- which should've been noted in the report -- and should've warranted a red and a ban.

By Starcade, at April 23, 2009 6:53 am
rugby is strange a second sooner and it is a brilliant hit, he is the hero.
when a forward smashes another forward like this no one cares, but when its a half back then its a discraceful cheap shot.
just some perspective for you.

By Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 10:28 am
It wasn't even close to a shoulder charge! I'm not his biggest fan but he clearly had his arm out, the arm is not out on a shoulder charge.
It looked worse because Gopperth hit his head on the ground and was KO'd.
Yellow card, late hit. End of.

By DOS, at April 23, 2009 11:46 am
It's not that bad, not a red. I'd honestly rate that as a simple penalty, though I'd understand a yellow, simply because the guy was out on the canvas. The guy getting hurt isn't technically supposed to matter that much in terms of whether or not it's a penalty, but in reality it does matter.
I have no problem with the hit itself, how the hell is he supposed to wrap the guy up in that situation, he knocked him clean off his feet.
He was just late, so it's a reckless tackle.
The ref got it wrong.

By Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 11:49 am
Clearly rugby has been hijacked by soft cocks.

I will smash all of you if i ever got the chance to play you. Man the fuck up.

By Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 12:04 pm
Red, no debate.

By Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 1:05 pm
He'd probably have got a yellow if he hadn't been so mouthy. He's fairly hot headed player, but he's got to realise that's what's going to happen.

By nick_s, at April 23, 2009 1:05 pm
red is a bit too harsh...yellow should do

By adrian, at April 23, 2009 5:53 pm
No arms, yellow card. It wasnt late as you can see from the real time footage. Poor decision, the ref let personal feelings affect his decision.

By Giggady, at April 23, 2009 6:42 pm
Straight Red & good call by ref - no arms (recognised as dangerous), 'tackled' player off the ground.

Tackle made intending to injure or being reckless as to whether injury caused - particular risk of 'tackled' player taking serious contact to the head when hitting the ground.

By Eoghan, at April 23, 2009 7:07 pm
RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED RED
i got yellowed for the same thing in U16 so its got to be RED for profesionnals

By scot-luxo, at April 23, 2009 9:59 pm
I think the fact that it was blatantly deliberate means it deserved the red. As a player I've been in his position and we all know it's possible to twist out of the way so we don't smash some poor guy with a cheap-shot. Of course at the judicial hearing they said it should be a yellow because you can't prove it was deliberate, but we all know it was - you don't see him complaing when he's sent off, he knows what he did.

By Chris G, at April 23, 2009 10:09 pm
clearly a late shoulder charge, but i think the way that goperth hit the ground was a factor in the decision that it was red... I would have said yellow.

By Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 11:53 pm
I was at this game, Cowan should have been given a yellow earlier for stomping. Probably should have been given a yellow for this as well. Would have made it a red anyway. Goo call. Cowan was reckless.

By Ben, at April 24, 2009 1:04 am
Soft as shite. Yellow at most. LAt ehit, who cares if he 'wrapped up with his arms', i's a gay rule anyway.

By Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 2:10 am
I'm a Blues fan and I was at this game. Cowan was committed to the tackle and was trying to charge the kick down. The charging down motion is different from a tackling motion. Plus he hit Gopperth as the ball left his boot.

By Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 4:23 am
Also that stomping was just good old-fashioned rucking which would've been good if they didn't get rid of that rule.

By Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 4:29 am
Jimmy Cowan.. my god.. most overrated player in the southern hemisphere.. He's just plain shit. Lucky to be playing rugby, considering the amount of off field trouble hes been in. Got what he deserved here, late,no arm,no intention to charge down the ball. To me its just showing his short fused temper.

By Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 4:41 am
Hahaha
Its too funny reading these Kiwi's biased opinions. Even if they say "anonymous" you can tell. Classic example
"Red is ridiculous. It was only a fraction late and wasn't high. Sure, there was minimal arm usage in the tackle"

By Tom, at April 24, 2009 4:44 am
Tom said...
Hahaha Its too funny reading these Kiwi's biased opinions.

Yes it's obvious that nobody else's opinion on here is biased in any way ... now that is funny!

By Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 11:15 am
'I'm a Blues fan and I was at this game. Cowan was committed to the tackle and was trying to charge the kick down. The charging down motion is different from a tackling motion. Plus he hit Gopperth as the ball left his boot.'
Did you see his arms in the air to try and charge down the kick? NO
all you see is his shoulder smashing gopperth
>>>definate red

By scot-luxo, at April 24, 2009 6:55 pm
He just came to destroy, not to play... and he's a professional player. Red is logical.

By Dalma, at April 24, 2009 10:31 pm
what a cheat !!

By brian odriscoll, at April 25, 2009 12:49 am
What is wrong with you guys, its not a fucking cheap shot, do any of you guys play the game, its not fucking tiddlywinks, if anyone gets an opportunity to put a big hit on you they'll take it, it boosts a player and his team if he puts in a big hit, and what better than to ruin the night for the opposition 10! Personally i dont see anything wrong with the tackle other than he didnt wrap the arms, there is nothing in the laws saying you cant tackle a player who is kicking the ball, you have to options, or three, charge it down, make the most of him being off balance from the kick and hammer him, or leave him alone and give him all the time in the world to pin you back in your own 22.

If you can make the 10 a little bit hesitant over whether he wants the ball next time then you are one step closer to winning.....granted the game was nearly over!!

because of lack of arms id say yellow not red!!

but whatever the colour its not a F*CKING CHEAP SHOT!

By Irritated No.7, at April 25, 2009 3:36 pm
If a player is continually on a referee's back, and then as captain sets that example of a cheap shot tackle, then a red should be considered. A player is entitled to communicate with the referee, but not constantly harass and criticise the decisions.

And as for the anti-homosexual comments being made, get a grip you losers, its the 21st century

By Anonymous, at April 25, 2009 3:37 pm
wow thats some tackle for a scrum half! still tough!

By Unknown, at April 25, 2009 4:49 pm
Irritated Number 7, re-read what you wrote. Can't you see how that's bad reasoning? Simply saying that everyone likes to put in big hits, and then saying that what you see isn't a cheap shot, is not a coherent argument. We are saying it's a cheap shot because if you watch it at full speed, you can see Cowan had just enough time to twist out the of the way after Goperth had already kicked the ball. And yes, I play every weekend, I know it aint tiddlywinks - I'm covered in scabs and bruises this evening. I've charged down plenty of kicks, and I know you can make an effort after the ball has gone not to clobber the kicker - Jimmy made NO effort, because he wanted to niggle the 10

By Chris G, at April 25, 2009 10:09 pm
Well, fantastic news on you charging down lots of kicks....

if cowen had charged that down it would end up in touch.....

personally i dont see how anyone can judge the amount of time he had to pull out. goperth held onto that ball and kicked it at the last second, he spent all day setting up that kick.

By Irritated No.7, at April 26, 2009 3:50 am
red is a bit harsh in my opinion. yellow for the shoulder and lateness of the hit, but to assume he's going to kick it is stupid, yes he was behind the try line but you still have to make your tackles otherwise you get made to look like a fool if he dummies you.

By Raw Lions Roar!, at April 26, 2009 11:35 pm
Reading all these comments i think its fair to say Rugby is now dead.

Most people commenting have got to be upperclass English posh boys.

A shame really, because i used to argue Union was the toughest sport in the world. Now i'm not even sure it's tougher than the armour wearing NFL homos, let alone rugby league.

By BringBackTehRugby, at April 27, 2009 11:15 am
it looks ugly from all angles and considering how off balance you are having just kicked makes this look really bad. the problem is that there was no attempt to wrap an arm and it just ends up lookinng like a nasty cheap shot.

the ref was in a good position and probably by the letter of the law made a pretty good call.

By Anonymous, at April 27, 2009 12:45 pm
pfft, soft. Yellow was probably too harsh. I'd be happy with a penalty.

By Anonymous, at April 28, 2009 1:50 pm
I hardly think this is even a yellow. He's just gone to tackle him but pulled out of the tackle cause he's seen the kick, but he's already commited. There is some attempt to use arms, but he's just unsure at the last minute.
I'd have given a yellow.
Never should have been a red.

By Anonymous, at April 29, 2009 10:47 pm
obvious red. he knew he had no chance of tackling the 10 before he got the ball away, and made no attempt at the chargedown. a cynical and dangerous hit.

By Anonymous, at May 01, 2009 2:27 am
seriously, if you frame by frame from 50" to 55" you can see what an awful bit of rugby it is.

annihilating the opposition 10 is obviously a v important part of the game, but if you can only manage that by resorting to ridiculously late shoulder charges you're a common thug, not a rugby player.

By Anonymous, at May 01, 2009 2:39 am
Soft, this would be just a penalty in rugby league.
Too many cards in the modern game.
Cards were very rare, not so long ago, and that was a good thing.

By Anonymous, at May 01, 2009 3:47 am
This comment has been removed by the author.

By RJS_Cleckheaton, at January 09, 2010 6:53 pm
just a quick word to point out that the question asked by RD is a little bit stupid :
" What's your take on it? Should it have just been just a yellow, or was it more malicious as Cowan could clearly see that Gopperth would kick, yet followed through anyway? "

thats a red,
but even if it had been a yellow, cowan was returning from the sin bin, so would have been sent off anyway (2yellows=red)
so the ref gave the red just to show he was in control and wouldnt tolerate any more stuff of the same kind

By Luxi, at May 24, 2010 1:50 pm