Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Ronan O'Gara yellow carded for scuffle with Pierre Mignoni

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Ronan O'Gara yellow carded for scuffle with Pierre Mignoni

Munster had a nightmare of a day in Toulon on the weekend as they not only took a 32-16 hiding, but had to deal with a controversial call as kingpin flyhalf Ronan O'Gara was yellow carded for his part in a tussle with Pierre Mignoni.

Mignoni, who will be retiring at the end of this season, was fantastic on the day and the fighting spirit he showed typified the Toulon performance, knocking the much fancied Irish side out of the competition for the first time in many years.

The decision made following this incident wasn't as clear cut as the Munster loss though, as referee Dave Pearson took a hard-line approach to assistant ref Sean Davies' recommendation.

While O'Gara and fiery scrumhalf Mignoni were no doubt the instigators of the scuffle, if anything it was former Leinster man Felipe Contepomi and Munster captain Denis Leamy who accelerated matters. It led to mass chaos, and O'Gara was the only one to be picked up.

The score was 29-9 at the time of the carding, and by the time O'Gara came back the score hadn't changed, so it didn't have a massive bearing on the outcome of the game. However it looked like the wrong call, and I know some of you wanted to see it again.

If you were referee on the day, what would your call have been?

Time: 03:52

boom

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 6:41 pm
O'Gara's interview after the match was incredible, just for his honesty and frankness I'll defend him to the end, when all sportsmen give bland cliched answers, ROG stands above them all.

He also described the tussle as 2 heavy weights. Nice. I just can't believe he got the better of someone (even though Mignoni is nearly smaller than Stringer).

I thought the 3rd man in gets carded unless there's been a blatant foul. It had almost finished when Contepomi came in. And Leamy was way over the top, he and Contepomi have previous.

By Huh!! the 3rd, at January 20, 2011 6:46 pm
Sean Davies needs to be firm and say whether he thinks that is a yellow card or not (which he clearly did not) instead of caving into david pearsons trigger happy card mentality... poor poor decision.

By James Coffey, at January 20, 2011 6:49 pm
what did ROG say in his interview?

i´d have given a yellow card to mignoni becuase i think he´s starting the fight after ROG enters the ruck.

btw: what is contepomis hand doing in rogs face? ( even though it´s just there for a sec )

By GTI, at January 20, 2011 6:57 pm
Unfortunately we see this all the time. Dirty player does something dirty but the yellow card goes to opposition for retaliation (aka defending yourself).
I don't know if the refs just expect O'Gara to put up with a half-nelson and hands all over his face (we all know what goes on there) until help arrives. If so it is bloody unrealistic and plays into the hands of dirty players

By Malcolm Bradbrook, at January 20, 2011 7:04 pm
thats what happens when Ogara tries to ruck he is so un physical!!! o'leary has been dropped cos our scrum halves don't have to defend the ten channel any more! personally would still have him in the squad as a bench man cos he can cover wing if really needed where as reddan or string can only play scrum half so great to start but not great on bench! same with rog never have him on a bench did we not learn any thing from the lions need a strong bench like wallace mc fadden/earls and o'leary to cover back line that would allow for broad cover! where as if u have rog and stringer on the bench and earls if 2 centres and a wing get injured ur absolutely screwed!!

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 7:07 pm
A lot of contact by O'Gara on Mignoni's eyes just after they got up....

By Citing Commissioner, at January 20, 2011 7:09 pm
mignoni and ogara should have been carded!

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 7:21 pm
in my opinion no cards.

if there were any, they had to be shown 4 yellow cards.ROG, mignoni, contemponi and leamy

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 7:25 pm
embaressing for the ref really, a shocker of a decision

By tommyM, at January 20, 2011 7:27 pm
Mignoni ought to have been carded for being letting ROG Greco-Roman wrestle him to the ground like that. I'm a ROG fan, but the guy would have a tough time hurting a little girl, I think. For shame, Mignoni. For shame.

By fry, at January 20, 2011 7:37 pm
GTI, I think he was just returning the favor for ROG having his on Mignoni's face.

From what I can tell, it's some new kind of handshake.

By fry, at January 20, 2011 7:40 pm
A lot of hands/fingers around the face/eye area. If there is consistency there will be bans for that... probably not though.

Mignoni started it and escalated it... it was just handbags and pathetic really

By Rhys, at January 20, 2011 7:55 pm
Well done Felipe!!!You should have killed that fucking bastard!!!

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 7:57 pm
shocking decision, contepomi was 3rd man in and should have got the punishment

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 8:03 pm
hahaha leamy gets owned in this! what a prick lol

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 8:10 pm
Out of Mignoni, Cantepomi and O' Gara, ROG would be the least likely of the three I'd have given the card to.

I'm sure Cantepomi enjoyed the chance to get at O' Gara.

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 8:18 pm
o gara got a card for placing a fist on mignonis face (according to the referee) yet mignoni did that first. very poor refereeing. the side line ref was standing over the two, and even when he wasnt he was on the touchline very close to them

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 8:24 pm
Certainly an overreaction by the ref and never should have been a card. But still great to see the arch-cheaters out-cheated. Particularly the loathsome, niggling wind up merchant ROFG.

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 8:27 pm
I agree about the terrible reffing.

Firstly, it was as much one as the other.

Secondly, Mignogni did put his fist on ROG's cheek before ROG did it and this happened with the touch judge leaning over the two.

Thirdly, the touch judge clearly was unsure about giving a card. He hesitated, and when the ref said he would give a yellow, the touch judge came over and said something about it how it was both of them (he first said it was ROG, then changed his mind and said it was both of them?). Pearson should never have given the card when they were both uncertain.

You should never give a card unless you know what you have seen. I remember a few weeks ago Ulster were playing and a back row killed the ball but a centre got sin binned because the referee didn't see who actually did it. Stuff like that is annoyinh.

By KG, at January 20, 2011 8:30 pm
I don't see how Leamy get's owned he drags cantepomi away like a spoilt struggling child and then it becomes messy

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 8:32 pm
Citing Comissioner: you mention the contact O Gara makes but not the blatant contact that Cantepomi makes directly afterwards? Must be a Toulon fan,

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 8:35 pm
If Richie Rees was banned for 12 weeks for what was determined to be an accident, then it looks like bans all round with all the hands in faces!

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 9:06 pm
stern talking to each of them but let ROG stay on the field.
ether that or given both swords and let them fight it out like proper men

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 9:08 pm
Shit a brick! A yellow card?! There was nothing in it! Rugby ain't tiddlywinks!
Sick and tired of these blokes being expected to behave like saints in such a confrontational environment.

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 9:12 pm
As GTI and others say: A lot of hands in faces. Must be a total sum of at least a 160 weeks suspension or so. Or has the Citing Commisioner gone skiing?
A bit harsh on O'Gara. First he has to enter a ruck and almost loses to a guy the size of my handkerchief. To top it off the ref makes a wrong decision. I wonder what his horoscope said that morning...

By dutchrugbyplayer, at January 20, 2011 9:30 pm
To be fair, i personally felt that leamy or contepomi should have been spoken to or given a card respectively.. O'Gara and Mignoni had an on ground scuffle like most props and locks end up doing without any consequences. I felt it was a massive decision that affected the game as a whole. I also wasn't happen that the touch judge didn't give a definite answer as to whether it was a yellow card or not! This put the responsibility into the referees hand who i felt didn't actually see any of the incident.. As a devoted Leinster fan i still feel for Munster. I know that they are ageing but i thought they could get the result didn't happen on the day.. I respect everything that munster has done for rugby Irish rugby.. Later comer to the game. Liam 20..

By Liam Grimes, at January 20, 2011 10:21 pm
To be fair, i personally felt that leamy or contepomi should have been spoken to or given a card respectively.. O'Gara and Mignoni had an on ground scuffle like most props and locks end up doing without any consequences. I felt it was a massive decision that affected the game as a whole. I also wasn't happy that the touch judge didn't give a definite answer as to whether it was a yellow card or not! This put the responsibility into the referees hand who i felt didn't actually see any of the incident.. As a devoted Leinster fan i still feel for Munster. I know that they are ageing but i thought they could get the result, didn't happen on the day.. I respect everything that munster has done for rugby Irish rugby.. Later comer to the game. Liam 20..

By Liam Grimes, at January 20, 2011 10:23 pm
ROG is a turd
Contepomi is a hero

Justice is done

By Anonymous, at January 20, 2011 10:37 pm
Nothing at all......

Very harsh for ROG

No yellow what so ever, just a good schuffle.....

But clearly the best collective move of the Munster players in the all game......

Reading some of the comments (not all) I am happy only the French are moaning ;-)

By Flipje, at January 20, 2011 10:46 pm
Nothing at all in that.
They should just be seperated and told not to do it again.
End of story.
Cards for stuff like this is always overkill.

By Tom, at January 20, 2011 10:53 pm
Rugby players are so fucking stupid. All this cause ROG tried to clear a player from a ruck.

How many ruggers does it take to break up a fight?

30.

By Homer, at January 20, 2011 11:08 pm
Linesman should've been decisive. Completely dropped the ball on that. Contepomi and Leamy should've been binned, if anyone.

However it must have been very sweeet for contempomi considering the amount of off the ball attention he used to get from the munster team down the years. Call it Karma.

By Third Centre, at January 20, 2011 11:27 pm
Ignore all the troll comments here!!!

I have to admit though, I was extremely shocked at Richie Rees citing and so to see all these hands on faces, (which look like blatant non gouges, yet still blantantly a hand on the eye area) and have no citings thus far, and no one had up for gouging is quite incredible. Nearly as incredible as seeing ROG get a card for something so weak.. He entered the ruck and mignoni grabs him round the head... Now there is no way I'd give mignoni a card for that behaviour but he was the instigator. Much like the other comments, I believe the touchy should have voiced his concerns at the yellow... No need at all, yellow for all or yellow for none really...

By (u-p)rick, at January 20, 2011 11:43 pm
Don't really understand The décision. It was just a nervous but Not dangerous scuffle between two tiny players. Should have been yellow or nothing for both.

By Colombes, at January 20, 2011 11:43 pm
homer you joker!

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 12:09 am
Contepomi was third man in. My understanding was that, third man had to go to the bin. Of course, that said, I would have preferred to see leamy rip contepomi's head off! So over-rated, and has been made look like shit every time he has played against munster!

By Unknown, at January 21, 2011 12:16 am
Contepomi was third man in. My understanding was that, third man had to go to the bin. Of course, that said, I would have preferred to see leamy rip contepomi's head off! So over-rated, and has been made look like shit every time he has played against munster!

By Unknown, at January 21, 2011 12:18 am
Contepomi was third man in. My understanding was that, third man had to go to the bin. Of course, that said, I would have preferred to see leamy rip contepomi's head off! So over-rated, and has been made look like shit every time he has played against munster!

By Unknown, at January 21, 2011 12:18 am
from the vid it looked as if mignoni started it.
but it was the touch judge who called it.
Contepomi escalated it, also his hand touched o gara's face will he get a 12week ban like rees?

By mat, at January 21, 2011 12:35 am
Why hasn't O'Gara been cited for this? Clearly "Gouged" Mignoni ala Richie Rees. Mignoni and Contepomi could also face charges of "making contact with the eye area". Rees faced 12 weeks for a lesser infringement.

Erc need to have a look at this and themselves. Absolute Disgrace!

By Richard, at January 21, 2011 12:58 am
Mignoni tried to hurt O'gara's eyes twice at least (he should be called for it)...

Something happened during the fight, but the Irish was not the only guilty for sure... and Contepomi was only trying to separate them when the Munster forward (not sure who) appear to burn it up...

I would have never show any card... I would simply have called both captains to give an advice...

Anyway, Toulon performance was amusing... in my opinion both Wilko and Contepomi together are a really dangerous pair of fly half-centers (southern way), so complementary, great work together and an incredible versatility to create options for their backs...

Serious chances for the Heineken cup... we will see...

Much good rugby for all of you and regards from Spain...

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 1:51 am
that, as decisions go, was absolutely terrible. i wouldn't have gone near my cards but wouldve given contepomi a stern talking to if anything as it was all over before he came in the yappy little gobshite. leamy should know better but lets face it, that lad is never going to learn, just like cudmore. im a munster fan, like to think my views aren't one sided by the way. personally, im almost glad this happened as the munster setup should take a good look at itself and do what leinster has done. the scrum is awful and half the back line playing out of position (and tuitupou playing at all) really does my nut.

By DJ, at January 21, 2011 2:15 am
Man I hate Contepomi so much

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 2:58 am
Felipe is a genius... but his (understandable) hatred of ROG should be left out of the field

By Jose_GD, at January 21, 2011 3:29 am
BTW, have you noticed that if O'Gara have tackled Fernández Lobbe as one expect from an international player :), this fight wouldn't happen?
(see first seconds of the clip)

By Jose_GD, at January 21, 2011 3:33 am
Very harsh. This is a classic example of the pussification of rugby.

By ReactorField, at January 21, 2011 4:11 am
That was utter bullshit, i dont really like o'gara but he got screwed over there.

By WelshOsprey, at January 21, 2011 5:52 am
Midget Wars!

By Wolfman, at January 21, 2011 6:53 am
incompetent referee

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 7:15 am
leamy is always involved in these things, a nasty piece of work

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 7:18 am
Contepomi is a cunt, third man in gets the card, the two heavyweights had just finished their little tussle. It was two on one when Leamy arrived, he was hardly supposed to leave his player on hios own and prob wouldnt have got involved if Contepomi kept his filthy hands out of it but he couldnt resist a go at O Gara

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 9:44 am
That was nothing more than a bit of handbags. Somewhere in the world Duncan McCrae is chuckling about ROG getting yellow carded for that.

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 10:43 am
Huh!! the 3rd said...
O'Gara's interview after the match was incredible, just for his honesty and frankness I'll defend him to the end, when all sportsmen give bland cliched answers, ROG stands above them all.

He also described the tussle as 2 heavy weights. Nice.

I've just seen the interview - toally agree with you! Brutally honest appraisal of himself and his team.

Love the "battle of the heavyweights" comment!

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,12610_6666606,00.html

By Von, at January 21, 2011 10:55 am
http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,12610_6666606,00.html

By Von, at January 21, 2011 10:58 am
Hmmm. Why can't I post the URL here?

Anyway, you can find it at http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion

By Von, at January 21, 2011 11:01 am
This is exactly what touch judges are for.

This touch judge described what he saw to the referee very clearly. On hearing his, Pearson suggested the card for O'Gara.

To me it is up to the touch judge to say 'no, it wasn't worth a card.' Because he never said that, Pearson had to give the card.

Refereeing was fine, touch judge lacked balls though.

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 11:25 am
Ref probably got annoyed with ROG giving him lip. He can rub people up the wrong way! Good player, but a pain in the arse!

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 11:57 am
conclusion - dont mess with french scrumhalf :)

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 12:04 pm
I agree with the ref decision saying that O'Gara's fist on Mignoni's head started the whole thing, and so O'Gara deserved the yellow card. Good ref decision.

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 12:19 pm
'BTW, have you noticed that if O'Gara have tackled Fernández Lobbe as one expect from an international player :), this fight wouldn't happen?
(see first seconds of the clip)'

I seem to recall a certain French 10 ducking his head down and allowing a charging forward through....

I believe it was called: 'Friday Funnies - Jean-Baptiste Elissalde the Matador' Now jog my memory, isn't he a french international?

By Resident Troll, at January 21, 2011 1:32 pm
Guys, I'm French and a great fan of both ROG an Mignoni. No one will ever know what happened but still, either ROG and Mignoni deserved all or nothing.
BUT PLEASE can you guys stop being all anti-latins all the time? everytime an argentinian/french/italian side or guy plays, you'll be prejudiced because you do not accept the fact that non-British or English speaking countries can play good rugby. Italy's gonna be an excellent side in 10-20 years, you guys have to accept that the French, the Argentinians and the Italians ALSO have the right to play and lift the Cup every once in a while. Stop being so prejudiced.

oh and btw, if ROG and Mignoni did not deserve a card for that Barbie-brawl, for sure they didn't deserve a jersey for fighting like pussies on the pitch: wtf was that, some kind of a Kama sutra position????

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 1:39 pm
Terrible decision! Mignoni start the fight and than Contepomi enter in and provoke something much worse...

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 2:11 pm
what the hell no9 grabbed o'gara after getting rucked

By rosh, at January 21, 2011 2:42 pm
what the hell no9 grabbed o'gara after getting rucked

By rosh, at January 21, 2011 2:42 pm
after the fight the no 9 goes back for more but o'gara stands his ground and doesn't retaliate, good job but decision by the ref

By rosh, at January 21, 2011 2:45 pm
Contepomi has always hated O'Gara. I remember an interview he gave in Argentina after their RWC 07 clash and he said the guy was an idiot, in open TV for ESPN.

By Juggernauter, at January 21, 2011 4:43 pm
Was an awful call but made no difference to the match.
3rd man in gets the card so Philipe should have walked

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 5:19 pm
"Guys, I'm French and a great fan of both ROG an Mignoni. No one will ever know what happened but still, either ROG and Mignoni deserved all or nothing.
BUT PLEASE can you guys stop being all anti-latins all the time? everytime an argentinian/french/italian side or guy plays, you'll be prejudiced because you do not accept the fact that non-British or English speaking countries can play good rugby. Italy's gonna be an excellent side in 10-20 years, you guys have to accept that the French, the Argentinians and the Italians ALSO have the right to play and lift the Cup every once in a while. Stop being so prejudiced."

What are you talking about? There is no anti-latin feeling and no feeling that non-British / English speaking countries can't play good rugby. Where the fuck did you get that from? People are just fed up of French for repeated incidents on the pitch and then the French fans complaining or saying their players are being conspired against or something....

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 5:29 pm
did doug howlett play?

By Anonymous, at January 21, 2011 8:05 pm
Doug Howlett was on the pitch.

By 4LC4TR4Z, at January 21, 2011 8:43 pm
Slot of anonymous pricks here...who really is being 'anti-latins?' unless it's a troll, in which case they've probably thrown in a few anti irish, anti NH and anti SH comments into the mix aswell....

By Vin, at January 21, 2011 11:52 pm
I agree, there are two ways to arbitrate : british teams and non british teams.The referees are more tough with non-British teams. If rugby wants to become a global sport, we must change attitudes. Maybe the solution is emerging Referees arbitrate the European Cup, or the 6 Nations? Referees from Spain, Portugal, Germany or Russia, for exemple.

I can say for exemple that after the yellow card for O'Gara, there is another yellow card for Munster that the referee never punished.

By Anonymous, at January 22, 2011 8:36 pm
although im from arg n here we dislike ROG i dont agree with that ending in a sin bin for him. i think that with a warning for both caps would ve been enough.

By Anonymous, at January 23, 2011 12:41 am
Side Ref is a fucking idiot.. O'Gara is innocent

By Anonymous, at January 23, 2011 1:18 pm
I can say for exemple that after the yellow card for O'Gara, there is another yellow card for Munster that the referee never punished.

I would not complain about bias against French teams after this example when O'Gara gets a card that he did not deserve, and Contempomi (the third man to join) did not get a yellow that the rules say he should have.

I blame the referee's assistant really - he did not think that ROG deserved a card but did not have the balls to say so.

By Mike, at January 23, 2011 4:51 pm
"I would not complain about bias against French teams."

Probably Mike.....no wait just watched Wasps Toulouse........no you are right no bias at all

Fair point, let the French stop moaning ;-)

By Flipje, at January 23, 2011 6:31 pm
@ Flipje : Do not reverse the roles, U ARE CRYING because the treatment of ROG!

By Anonymous, at January 23, 2011 6:37 pm
Do not why I should cry but clearly not sure I can laugh to the performance (scrummaging and its overall assessment of red and yellow cards) of Mister Rolland during Wasps-Toulouse.....

Anyhow, I close the debate, I am sure this will be discussed in a separated post.....

Ps: Good luck to Fritz, he is going to pay (rightfully to be honest) for his (afterward) gesture........Let see if it is more than reacting unappropriately to a doping test ;-)

By Flipje, at January 23, 2011 7:16 pm
its either both of them (mignoni n rog) or neither of them. fucking dave pearsons a shit ref anyways.

By Anonymous, at January 23, 2011 7:35 pm
By the way, will our more educated French friends please tell the less educated French friends that Munster are not a British team?

Thanks.

By Mike, at January 24, 2011 2:45 pm
La personne pas instruite parle (mal) ta langue et toi pas du tout la sienne ;)
Je retire "britannique" pour "anglo-saxons". Voilà pour la forme, pour le fond ça ne change rien au problème.

By Anonymous, at January 24, 2011 5:16 pm
Well Mike hard to say frankly....

For some French, Munster is a cheese from the East of France...not as bad one actually.

So we will try our best....

By Flipje, at January 24, 2011 8:42 pm