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Manu Tuilagi smashes Tom Williams


Top14 player imposter!


JDV smashed by Benoit August


The Northampton Saints 30m scrum!


Bastareaud huge hit on Rory Lamont


All Blacks skills - Pt 2 In the backyard


Trinh-Duc sets up Harinordoquy try


Wales vs England 1999


Greg Holmes great hit on Francois Louw



Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Mafileo Kefu straight red card for high tackle on Alexis Palisson

Toulon centre Mafileo Kefu was red carded within five minutes of kick off against Brive on the weekend as the two sides met in the Top 14, a match that ended with the big spending Toulon going down 27-9 at the Stade Amedee Domenech.

Australian Kefu was sent from the field just four minutes in after he was deemed to have made a dangerously high tackle on Brive fullback Palisson, who stayed down for some time after the tackle took place.

The ref conferred with his assistant, and then made the bold choice to send Kefu straight off, no doubt affecting the outcome of the match very early on. Palisson continued on after he recovered, and got his own back as he scored the last of three second half Brive tries.

The referee said afterwards that for him it was a clothesline, and he was supported by his touch judge who recommended that it was worth more than a yellow.

Kefu will face a disciplinary hearing on Thursday as it will be decided what his fate shall be. He has stated that he felt the tackle only warranted a yellow card, nothing more.

According to the league’s laws, he will face anything between two and fifty two weeks on the sideline.


Time: 02:26


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74 Comments:

  • straight read eh...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 07, 2010 11:23 pm  

  • Thanks.. typo, fixed now :)

    By Blogger GMC, at September 07, 2010 11:26 pm  

  • looks to me as if yellow would have been enough, hm...

    By Anonymous Ben, at September 07, 2010 11:30 pm  

  • Bit harsh.
    Seen much worse go unpunished.

    By Anonymous JamesH, at September 07, 2010 11:31 pm  

  • Looks like his teammates gave him a few knees to the head just to top it off lol.

    Like the others have said, could've been dealt with perfectly by issuing a yellow, especially for a first offence so early in the game.

    By Anonymous Philip, at September 07, 2010 11:43 pm  

  • A red for that? What a load of tosh.

    Didn't help when the tart on the floor was playing on it.

    By Blogger Promethean, at September 07, 2010 11:44 pm  

  • That was far too harsh. The player Side stepped and semi ducked into it.

    Yes, as someone already mentioned, much worse has gone unpunished, but then again, someone playing professional rugby should bloody well know better.

    If I was his coach I would definitely give him a dressing down about his tackling.

    By Anonymous EARugbyFan, at September 07, 2010 11:59 pm  

  • Despite it being a bad head high tackle, that should never have been a red card.
    Often around rucks and mauls these tackles sometimes go unnoticed.
    I think a yellow would have been fair.

    By Anonymous Craig, at September 08, 2010 12:01 am  

  • A red is consistent with the irb new emphasis on getting rid of dangerous tackles, the decision is fine be this needs to be consistent so some people don't go unpunished, and so others don't feel hard done by as a result. Many do go unpunished which is a bad message to young aspiring players.
    WH

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 12:08 am  

  • Good choice in my opinion... Maybe it wasn't malicious, but as a professional rugby player you should know where you are allowed to tackle.

    I like the hard, physical side of rugby but there must be well signalled limits to keep it safe. And this was beyond boundaries. End of story.

    Reminds me of an Andra Masi high tackle on Rob Kearney in the Six Nations, also was within the first minutes of play and only got a yellow.

    Good for Kefu for just accepting the ref's decision and walking straight out of the pitch.

    By Anonymous Juggernauter, at September 08, 2010 1:07 am  

  • I was shocked to see that is was an islander who did the high tackle!

    By Anonymous JoshMeyers, at September 08, 2010 1:31 am  

  • Jesus, what a soft red. Based on what a couple of you consider to warrant a red, that try in 1973 should've seen about three red cards during the build up.

    Come on. It's the Top 14. Cards get doled out all the time when they shouldn't (I think the crowd often intimidates referees, along with coaching staff, and the player sometimes milks it) and this is no exception.

    By Anonymous rev, at September 08, 2010 2:14 am  

  • Also, I thought for a second there that the match was going to turn into a Pro D2-style brawl. Glad it didn't.

    By Anonymous rev, at September 08, 2010 2:15 am  

  • The IRB is tripping. I wish that all this card stuff never started with rugby union. It's ruining the sport.

    In the lesser ranks ambitious referees are assessed by how many times they show colors.

    The end result is refs blowing the whistle more than ever.

    By Anonymous TB, at September 08, 2010 2:37 am  

  • This is more dangerous that a lot of similar tackles because of the pace at which the player is running.

    Not sure if that makes a difference to the rule - high is high, but high and fast is obviously more dangerous.

    Anyone know?

    By Anonymous mise, at September 08, 2010 2:46 am  

  • Nothing in it. He was wronged and stuck his arm out instinctively.

    You cannot remove that sort of thing from the game as it's not a conscious effort.

    Red is too harsh. Yellow, at best.

    By Anonymous Chris, at September 08, 2010 3:00 am  

  • Accidental head high, just a penalty, not even a yellow card.
    French refs are idiots who love carding players.
    Ridiculousl and soft, you would never see this in a SH league.
    It was an accident.

    By Anonymous Tommo, at September 08, 2010 4:29 am  

  • Yellow card at best. He stepped back into the line of defense and thats why kefu swung his arm out. Its quite a reflex thing if you have been in that position before. Nothing malicious.
    Definitely spoilt the game. Think the referee was influenced cos the guy was lying on the ground needed medical treatment.
    The offense should be viewed as a standalone and the injury caused shouldn't be a factor in decided the penalty meted out

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 6:02 am  

  • French refs are the worst refs in the world.
    They're hopeless and love, absolutley love blowing their whistles and pulling out cards.
    It ruins the league, I can't really even watch the T14 most of the time, because the refs butcher every game with their pedantry.

    By Anonymous Bill, at September 08, 2010 6:23 am  

  • Pallison made it out to be worse than it was, players in the French league do this alot.
    It's disgusting football player behaviour and brings shame on their entire league.
    Sickening how soft they act.

    By Anonymous Tommy, at September 08, 2010 6:25 am  

  • Clear yellow to me, nothing more and nothing less. The Brive coach made it look like he was a football coach. Very unsporting.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 9:29 am  

  • Red or yellow card that debate can go on and on, dangerous it was, with intent, didn't look like it, but... the comment i want to make is the coach waving his hand to say "get hime off" that is something that is far too footbally, and has no place in that game, let alone in rugby, its just not on and i dispise people trying to affect decisions by actions such as that

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 9:43 am  

  • Cynical tackle ,high & dangerous and deserved full red.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 10:02 am  

  • I reckon it was red as he made no attempt to even give a legal tackle here. The arm was high and swinging and went straight in at the neck. It may seem harsh but I'd like to see players at least attempt a legal tackle.

    By Anonymous Nick, at September 08, 2010 10:16 am  

  • 'you would never see this in a SH league.'

    Tri nations this year?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 10:18 am  

  • We are not talking of IRB rules, mentality, Toulon, etc. You just have eyes to see it :

    THIS IS NOT RUGBY

    This should be our mantra

    "Rugby is a game for barbarians played by gentlemen."

    By Anonymous Simon Cara, at September 08, 2010 10:40 am  

  • Perfect decision. Unbelievably dangerous action (I won't even use the word attempted tackle) intent only on injuring an opponent.

    Some of the comments here are disappointing to read, as anyone who's ever been caught high and at speed by a flailing arm will no doubt attest to.

    Do we need somebody to leave the field with a broken neck before we all get with the programme here?

    By Anonymous irish ref, at September 08, 2010 10:45 am  

  • poor tackle certainly deserving a binning. don't think there was any malicious intent there... the referee's gone way overboard.

    let's face it, if wilkinson had done it; or palisson on kefu, then there would never have been a red card. One rule for islanders, another for everyone else.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 10:49 am  

  • He didn't just hit him high but also held on and swung him down to the ground.

    I know it's contentious but once the player has been wrong footed he doesn't have to go through with the clothesline. If he knows he could be given a yellow or a red for a bad tackle then surely he can pull out? Player responsibility no? They are adults after all.

    Could've been a yellow nevertheless but they are trying to discourage stiff arm tackles like this. As the guy above said, it shouldn't need a really bad injury for a red to be justified. The player landed pretty badly.

    By Anonymous John F, at September 08, 2010 11:01 am  

  • He didn't just hit him high but also held on and swung him down to the ground.

    I know it's contentious but once the player has been wrong footed he doesn't have to go through with the clothesline. If he knows he could be given a yellow or a red for a bad tackle then surely he can pull out? Player responsibility no? They are adults after all.

    Could've been a yellow nevertheless but they are trying to discourage stiff arm tackles like this. As the guy above said, it shouldn't need a really bad injury for a red to be justified. The player landed pretty badly.

    By Anonymous John F, at September 08, 2010 11:01 am  

  • Referees can red card this sort of stuff as much as they like (and there are many refs who do seem to like it), but it'll never disappear from the game. Yeah, these guys are professionals and they're the leading examples of what rugby players can be, but they're still human and make human decisions/reactions.

    I'm a winger and have had many neck-high tackles thrown my way - I've also been stupid enough to give a few when I've been side-stepped. It's a reaction. That's it. Yellow card; red for repeated offenses or intentional injury/malicious behavior.

    By Anonymous fingers mcgee, at September 08, 2010 11:11 am  

  • Whats with that coach on the sideline mouthing off. Looks like a soccer coach the way he is carrying on.

    By Anonymous roundthebend, at September 08, 2010 1:23 pm  

  • Last week, in Top 14, another player (from Racing Metro) made the same tackle and was not sent off, no card at all.

    Most of the French refs are not refereing Toulon as any other team.
    And I say Toulon but also some other teams.
    That's the deal for decades now.

    By Anonymous 4LC4TR4Z, at September 08, 2010 1:32 pm  

  • Alcatraz, tu dois etre un toulonnais parano pour dire ça. Le racing a exactement le mm "statut" que toulon (cad celui de nouveau club "riche" -ce qui n'est pas pejoratif pour moi- pretendant au brennus) et tu penses que toulon est défavorisé, même par rapport au racing? Ça c'est du complot mondial!

    By Anonymous 3/4 centre, at September 08, 2010 2:17 pm  

  • @ the people who think that this tackle deserves a yellow at best (Chris, Tommo, Bill, Tommy...), I think you are wrong. Even if it's instinctive, this tackle is more than a high tackle ; the player (running fast) is stopped by kefu's arm against his neck only. The slow motion make it appear more soft than it really is. A tackle like this can hurt the player very badly. I don't think that professional players have to be more injured just only because the fans want a more and more physical game.

    By Anonymous 3/4 centre, at September 08, 2010 2:39 pm  

  • Agree with 3/4 centre. That wasn't a high tackle, that a throat tackle, wich may be the most dangerous ones in rugby. The slow motion shows that Palisson managed to twist around while being tackle avoiding its head to go backward but at real speed you just see the lower body moving forward and the upper backward. Kefu was red binned because how dangerous this could have been not how badly hurt the player has been.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 3:08 pm  

  • I don't know what people are going on about saying much worse goes unpunished a high tackle like that always gets punished from what ive seen and how 'much worse' can it get he gets the players throat for christs sake.

    As for it being a clothesline im not so sure and i dont think it was malicious either i think kefu just wanted to make sure he didnt miss and swung wildly to get him. If kefu was smaller than pallison it would not have been a high tackle.

    That said head and neck injuries are potentially career ending and must be discouraged. Maybe a yellow would have been better given that it was so early in the game and probably not a malicioius tackle.

    By Anonymous Jack, at September 08, 2010 3:08 pm  

  • @ 3/4 centre :
    Non, pas parano, juste blasé de l'arbitrage envers Toulon depuis des décennies. Ca ne date pas du statut de "nouveau riche".
    La preuve, le placage du talonneur du Racing sur JVN la semaine dernière était bien pire que celui de Kefu, et il n'a même pas été pénalisé (ni sifflé, d'ailleurs...)

    Et je ne suis pas parano car je ne dis pas qu'il n'y a QUE Toulon, a être défavorisé par les arbitres, mais il y a d'autres clubs qui le sont depuis des années.
    De même, ce sont souvent les mêmes qui sont, eux, favorisés.

    Ne me parle pas d'erreur d'arbitrage qui s'équilibrent sur une saison... J'attends encore, par exemple, l'équilibre des essais non-valables accordés à Montpellier et Montauban l'an dernier, ou du "cadeau" annuel de Matheu face au Stade Francais (match nul alors qu'une pénalité de Wilkinson passée entre les barres a été refusée).

    Et je ne parle même pas de la demifinale contre Clermont...

    Autre bizarrerie : explique moi pourquoi, lors des 3 premières journées, Toulon a eu comme arbitre de champ les 3 arbitres/juges de touches de Saint Etienne ?

    Je te renvoie à l'interview de M. Mené, qui, même lui, a reconnu des "couacs" lors de Toulon - Bayonne.

    Parano, non. Réaliste sur le triste état fédéral du siècle dernier de l'arbitrage en France : oui.

    By Anonymous 4LC4TR4Z, at September 08, 2010 3:14 pm  

  • To my opinion, the only thing which can turn this red card in a yellow is the time : it's maybe too soon for a red, but it's deserved, so...

    By Anonymous 3/4 centre, at September 08, 2010 3:23 pm  

  • Yellow.

    He went down like that because the hit was across his shoulders.. and he's a lightweight. Then the theatricals. Faark, typical Northern Hemisphere shite this.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 3:26 pm  

  • Clear Red.. It does not matter if their was no malice intended It is as dangerous a tackle as exists Carelessness lik ethis does kill players 1983 I saw a good mate taken out in exactly the same way Instant paraplegic Died 4 years later

    By Blogger The Flanker, at September 08, 2010 3:45 pm  

  • Clear Red.. It does not matter if their was no malice intended It is as dangerous a tackle as exists Carelessness lik ethis does kill players 1983 I saw a good mate taken out in exactly the same way Instant paraplegic Died 4 years later

    By Blogger The Flanker, at September 08, 2010 3:52 pm  

  • C'est clair que l'arbitrage en France est mauvais, on ne peut pas dire le contraire. Sauf qu'un supporter voit bien plus d'erreurs d'arbitrage contre son équipe que contre celle des autres, c'est logique. Explique moi comment Toulon peut finir 2è de la saison régulière en enchainant les victoires avec un arbitrage contre lui? Comment la pseudo-hiérarchie est elle bousculée à ce point si les arbitres avantagent toujours les mêmes ? Comment Biarritz et le SF sont-ils "largués" depuis 2 ans? Je ne crois pas que certains aient un traitement de faveur de la part des arbitres (au niveau des penalités sifflées surtout), mais plutôt que les meilleures équipes sont meilleures aussi grâce à leur discipline, donc moins penalisées.

    Le coup des 3 arbitres de Saint Etienne, c'est vraiment tiré par les cheveux. Premièrement, vous ne vous êtes clairement pas fait voler ce match. Un résultat inverse aurait été un "hold up" comme le disent si bien les journaleux, au vu de la domination clermontoise (je ne justifie surtout pas l'erreur d'arbitrage ici, mais je pense sincèrement que cela n'aurait rien changé, cela vaut ce que cela vaut...). Après si vous perdez 2 des 3 premiers matchs cette saison c'est parce que les mecs ne jouent pas bien, pas parce que tel ou tel a arbitré tel autre match avant... Et d'ailleurs, Toulon n'a t'il pas gagné à Biarritz (soi disant protégé de la ligue...) avec un de ces arbitres?

    Le coup de l'essai de Delasau contre vous l'an dernier était clairement un scandale, je n'en connais pas la raison mais je ne pense pas que cela soit "parce que c'était Toulon".

    Après avoir parlé d'eux, j'espère quand même que toulonnais et clermontois vont commencer à jouer au rugby cette année parce que pour l'instant, leurs matchs sont quand mêmes soporifiques...

    By Anonymous 3/4 centre, at September 08, 2010 3:54 pm  

  • AU niveau de l'arbitrage français, s'il y partialité je pense que cela peut être surtout en faveur de certains clubs ayant une grosse notoriété (clermont, toulouse principalement) qu'en défaveur d'autres. Et je pense que c'est l'image collective que donne ces clubs et leurs joueurs qui influe sur les arbitres. Si Vincent Clerc effectue le même plaquage en prenant un air désolé juste après (je n'ai rien contre Clerc)il ne prend pas un rouge..

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 4:06 pm  

  • I think the whole think was overly dramatic. It wasn't a good tackle and Kefu should have been given a yellow. I'd even go as far as to say a penalty would have been sufficient, but a red for a tackle like that at the time that it occurred is bs. Now he faces up to 52 weeks suspension for something that wasn't that bad. I've seen eye-gouging cases given less time, and that is about as bad as it gets.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 4:30 pm  

  • The tackle came across his chest, and the player milked it like it was his neck. If it had been that bad, then why did Palisson get up and continue playing without looking even remotely injured? Best Actor in a leading role goes to...?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 4:35 pm  

  • Je suis bien d' accord sur la réputation de certains joueurs quel que soit leur club : Maestri ou Fritz à Toulouse et Cudmore à Clermont, pour prendre les mêmes exemples que toi.
    En revanche je ne pense pas que les joueurs de "standing" international sont moins sifflés parce qu' ils sont internationaux, mais plutôt qu' ils sont internationaux parce qu' ils sont moins sifflés.
    Par ailleurs Jauzion a pris un jaune un peu sévère (c'est plutôt Delasau qui aurait dû l' avoir) contre le SF comme quoi tout arrive...

    By Anonymous 3/4 centre, at September 08, 2010 4:44 pm  

  • To my mind, it is really a red card. Is a dangerous tackle. It may be a reflex of Kefu, but it's a silly gesture. I think that a yellow card haven't been enough.
    Top 14 is the best competition in the world. But I agree with you, French refs are shits.


    Pour moi, ca vaut vraiment un carton rouge. C'est un plaquage dangereux. C'est peut-être un réflexe de Kefu, mais c'est un geste idiot. Palisson aurait pu avoir de gros ennuis. Sinon je suis d'accord avec une majeur partie d'entre vous, les arbitres français sont mauvais.

    By Blogger baptiste, at September 08, 2010 4:44 pm  

  • straight red imo. for those saying "yellow is enough", just look during the last replay (@ 1'55") how Palisson's feet are going up. Just imagine what his throat must feel like at that moment. Might not be intentional, but definitely worth a red card. I hope he won't get a long time ban for that.

    Les toulonnais, arrêtez de nous bassiner avec votre complot mondial contre vous. Des erreurs d'arbitrage, y en a à tous les matchs. Contre Toulon, et en faveur de Toulon. Jeu à somme nulle. Je connais un arbitre de bon niveau qui m'a dit que l'essai de Delasau était sujet à l'interprétation, mais que lui l'accorderait (pas moi par contre). Menfin je me doute que ça sert à rien que j'essaie de te convaincre.

    By Anonymous justeunfandebeaujeu, at September 08, 2010 5:41 pm  

  • Le rouge me semble la meilleure des solutions. Je pense qu'il s'agit plus d'un mauvais réflexe que de la pure méchanceté mais cela doit tout de même être sanctionné. Avec un rouge l'arbitre calme tout le monde, le public (à Brive), les entraîneurs et surtout cela dissuade les équipiers de Palisson de se venger.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 6:03 pm  

  • stop press, islander in high tackle shock!!

    oh wait...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 6:19 pm  

  • Not sure to be honest. It's one of the worse ones I've seen recently. It is certainly a yellow but due to the huge number of high tackles not penalised or not carded, I'm not sure what tackles like this deserve any more. Maybe if there was a bit more consistency when it comes to refereeing tackles like these this decision would be more clearly understood by spectators.

    -KG

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 6:37 pm  

  • "Nothing in it. He was wronged and stuck his arm out instinctively."

    Not really sure about that. Any defender who has an attacker step inside in this manner almost always tries this. I do it myself in games. It is an instinctive action, but only because players have allowed it to become one. They know it's not allowed, but they also know that a penalty or an occasional yellow is better than a probably try, so they do it whenever the occasion arises, making it habitual / instinctive.

    -KG

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 6:42 pm  

  • "Faark, typical Northern Hemisphere shite this."

    Remember Giteau's swan dive vs. England? I do.

    -KG

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 6:44 pm  

  • Clear red for me.
    We don't need to have a career ending injury to make strong decision.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 08, 2010 7:23 pm  

  • love him great player like his brother

    By Anonymous rosh, at September 08, 2010 7:28 pm  

  • A tous les frenchies...

    Les gars pour moi c'est pas une question d'arbitrage mauvais, de Toulon ou pas Toulon!
    Ce genre de geste est très dangereux et on doit essayer au mieu de les éradiquer! Donc bon c'est tombé sur Kefu, il prend son rouge mérité et basta (et même une suspension pour plusieurs matches serait souhaitable!)
    Après il faut que les instances se mettent d'accord pour appliquer cela à tous les plaquages haut, quelque soit le championnat ou la compétition!! Ca fera réfléchir les types et on ne diras plus tel ou tel club est avantagé!

    By Blogger El Mut, at September 08, 2010 10:44 pm  

  • Obvious yellow of course. BUT RED?

    That early in the game? I don't think so.

    Ref overreactiion. Ok it looked bad, but I think Kefu was something of a reflex action

    By Anonymous jpm, at September 08, 2010 11:46 pm  

  • Absolutley unbelievable, you'd think none of you had played the game.
    Head highs WILL HAPPEN.
    They are almost always accidents, like this one, it's instinctive to throw your arm out when someone cuts inside you.
    Red card this and you're killing the sport, softening it up.
    It was accidental, a penalty would be enough, yellow would be harsh.
    THIS IS NOT SOCCER.
    It's a hard sport, these things happen you can't whistle them out of the game, and if you try you will destroy the game of rugby in the process.
    HARDEN UP.

    By Anonymous Tommy, at September 09, 2010 1:14 am  

  • Only in France would this be a red.
    Accidental head high, nothing in it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 09, 2010 1:24 am  

  • Islanders are born to hurt people lol..

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 09, 2010 2:50 am  

  • KG, it can't be instinctive and intentional at the same time. That's BS.
    It's completely accidental, he threw his arm out as a guy cut inside him, it happens all the time. Most of the time it isn't high, soemtimes it is, and because they are going in different directions it creates a coathanger type effect.
    But it's compeltely accidental and ultimatley it will continue to happen from time to time as long as the game of rugby is played (or as long as it's played properly and we don't turn it into touch or, 'shudder', soccer).
    It's completely an accident though, KEfu wouldn't have intentionally head highed the guy and given away a penalty, that would be totally counter productive.
    In the old days it'd just be a penalty.
    These days, because of the wowsers, a yellow might be understnadable (it is France after all) but a red?
    Insanity.

    By Anonymous Jono, at September 09, 2010 3:43 am  

  • The IRB's attempt at stamping out these types of tackles isn't going to work, simply because this type of tackle is an instinctual reflex: someone cuts inside you so you stick out your arm immediately. There's no careful consideration of 'I might get a red if I high tackle that guy now', it's just 'SHIT he stepped me, try and grab him!'. Very difficult to stop yourself making this sort of tackle unfortunately

    By Blogger RedYeti, at September 09, 2010 3:59 am  

  • Just a yellow... IMHO.

    But is this Kefu the little brother of Toutai and Steve of the QLD Reds??

    By Anonymous Ned2or3, at September 09, 2010 6:19 am  

  • yes he is.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 09, 2010 6:47 am  

  • I just can't believe the opposing coach was waving an imaginary card.. we are not footballers!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 09, 2010 9:23 am  

  • I didn't say it was both instinctive and intentional. And it isn't completely accidental. They know that it isn't allowed but it's just more natural to stick out an arm and stop the player illegally than to let the player pass. Letting the player pass is in itself easy enough. It's knowing that you may be allowing a try which makes you stick your arm out. It's more of a mental obstacle than a reflex. I do it myself when I play even though I know it's illegal. I've had it done to me. I could stop it, but I've only ever been penalised for it, so I'd pick that over a try. I'm sure a top level player would have better discipline than I do though.

    Perhaps grabbing the throat was accidental, however, when making a tackle like that you know that you can hit anywhere from the abdomen to the face.

    I do think the player staying on the ground and the crowd may have effected the referees decision though but I do think these sort of tackles should be more harshly dealt with, with at least a yellow as the typical punishment.

    -KG

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 09, 2010 5:31 pm  

  • He got a red card beacuse of all the fuss players made after the tackle... if he wasn't sent off, as soon as he got back on the pitch, 10 minutes on and you'ld have a brawl... honestly, blame it on the french and their attitude on rugby pitch... it really ruins the TOP14 as it's usually great to watch (when you don't have all the fighting)

    By Anonymous Pedro Fleury da Rocha, at September 09, 2010 7:28 pm  

  • ^^ You don't know what you're talking about mate, there are no more brawls in T14 than in every other professional championship (premiership, S15, currie cup, etc). That's a legend this thing about the supposed violence and lack of discipline of the french. It's the same thing in every league, i recall you that rugby isn't a soft sport.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 09, 2010 8:08 pm  

  • Personally it looks like a yellow card to me - the speed at which things happen in the modern game tends to exarcebate how bad things can look!

    That said it was a very very poor tackle whether malicious or not and I think that Kefu jumped up into the tackle which indicates perhaps a level on dangerous over-exuberance! Yours a soft european....

    By Anonymous NiWiTa, at September 10, 2010 3:51 pm  

  • If Rugby is to grow around the world as a genuine sport it must get rid of all the nuissances such as this Kefu Tackle.

    I don't watch Football anymore because I hate all the crybabying and all the theater antics.

    I'd hate to see Rugby decline in worldwide participation because of unecessary aggression.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at September 10, 2010 8:12 pm  

  • I love the macho bull sh*t that goes on in these forums. How do any of you know how the player on the floor was feeling? I suppose you "got up after one of these tackles and took it like a man!!!!!" This guy is a professional rugby player and should be able to tackle better than this. I player lower end rugby for a lower end club and this sort of thing doesn't happen there. It wasn't 'accidental' if you watch as he made no attempt to tackle low. We shouldn't be saying this doesn't deserve a card because other's don't we should be saying they deserve a red!!! Just my opinion!

    By Anonymous Jimbo, at September 11, 2010 8:57 pm  

  • This shit happens in rugby.
    Jimbo if you've never seen a head high like this you must play in a very soft league, it's an accidental head high ffs! It happens all the fucking time.
    It's not bad enough to send a guy off for it, that's crazy.
    Unnessiarey aggrsssion!
    WTF? Soccer fans, stay away, your soft attitutide is atarting to rub off on rugby.

    By Anonymous Bill, at September 13, 2010 4:28 am  

  • yellow.
    only goes red if someone kicking or punching. high tackle should never been red

    By Anonymous hasif, at September 13, 2010 5:36 pm  

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