We value your privacy

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products.

With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation. You may click to consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing.

More Options

Tue 19 Dec 2017 | 09:05
Cian Healy leads with shoulder but somehow escapes red card

12
Comments

In their Champions Cup match on Saturday, Leinster came from behind to beat Exeter and remain at the top of Pool 3. However, they were lucky to finish at full-strength as prop Cian Healy was only shown a yellow card for this reckless shoulder charge.

Many people felt that red should have been the proper choice, with the commentators even admitting that would be the likely outcome.

However, referee Pascal Gauzere decided on yellow, explaining: "No force, no speed, yellow card."

Healy should count himself extremely lucky. 2017 has been a banner year for the shoulder-charge red cards, the most infamous of which is the shot that Sonny Bill Williams delivered to the head of Anthony Watson in the second Lions Test.

Sekope Kepu is another recent example, with his shoulder charge in Australia's loss to Scotland.

Leinster were already in a precarious situation, having lost Johnny Sexton to a head-knock and being down 3-7 just inside of 20 minutes. Losing an international-quality prop for the remainder would've been devastating. 

Exeter took a 17-9 lead into the break, but Leinster managed to avoid further ill-discipline from Scott Fardy's yellow card and crawled back with tough defence and the steady boot of Isa Nacewa, taking the match 22-17.

Credit: BT Sport/ytnub nam

Posted By: davidharper

12 Comments

  • weejockmcplop
    4:39 PM 27/01/2018

    Let's be absolutely clear here, Healy's shoulder charge on the Exeter player was a clear red card. So frustrating that these inconsistent decisions keep cropping up.
    One issue I'd raise is that before the shoulder charge there should be a penalty to Leinster as the two Exeter "Guards" ate the ruck are standing in offside positions. Rule at the ruck is that you must bind with the whole arm on either your own player or opponent. Resting a hand on your players back doesn't count. All teams do this which has made the ruck nearly as big a mess as the scrum for successions of stupid pointless penalties that are at the whim of the referee. Real frustration here is that the rules are very clear, but seldom applied consistently. Time to follow American football and have more than one official on the pitch to monitor both the attacking and defending teams

  • dancarter
    5:51 PM 22/12/2017

    Healy has always had a nasty side and he always seems to somehow avoid a red card. He has served bans for kneeing Guirado and a stamp on Cole. Disappointing for the referee to see this and not send him off. It's poor knowledge of the laws too, as there is no mention in the laws about the speed and force of the contact, the lack of which he cites when justifying only showing him a yellow card.

  • dancarter
    5:46 PM 22/12/2017

    When he retires I think he will be remembered as one of the all time Leinster greats, along with Cullen, BOD and Horgan. His ability to play anywhere from 10-15 and still put in a 7 or 8/10 performance every single game is incredible.

  • moo
    2:13 PM 21/12/2017

    It was Lees - he was cleared by a disciplinary committee today

  • moo
    2:12 PM 21/12/2017

    Actually 3 matches:

    Minimum 2 weeks + further 7 days for poor disciplinary record

  • moo
    2:11 PM 21/12/2017

    3 weeks ban issued today

  • drg
    12:07 AM 21/12/2017

    I believe he has been cited.

  • mise
    1:23 AM 20/12/2017

    Nacewa seems to be better than the other Leinster backs in their own positions - wing, full back, out feckin half - he seems to be _better_ than the starters in these positions.
    And he's a better kicker than Sexton.
    35 y.o. Retired and came back.
    An absolute animal.
    (OK I'm not certain he would be a better out half than sexton - there isn't a lot to go on -but what there is to go on is quite convincing!)

  • moo
    3:27 PM 19/12/2017

    Just seen it on highlights - it was Mitch Lees, I think.

  • sharkboi
    1:29 PM 19/12/2017

    Yes this was bad and is kinda borderline between a red and yellow but there were other incidents during that match that were worse and deserved cards but none were shown. For example, some time after the Healy yellow, I think in the second half, an Exeter player (a prop iirc) dove head first into a ruck and collided with a leinster players head. Nothing was done about it, the TMO didn't stop player or call the refs attention to it, even though the image of the incident was clearly shown on the big screens so it's not like they didn't have it on record.
    I'm not condoning what Healy did, but I would like to have seen some consistency in the reffing , as well as how the match is being reported

  • reality
    11:51 AM 19/12/2017

    Absolutely stupid from Healy and very lucky not to have been red-carded. I've seen worse, and the angles aren't great to see exactly what contact was made, but I wouldn't have complained about a red. In those kind of situations, I wish the coaches would have the balls to just substitute them and not play them for a few weeks to give them some sort of punishment for their stupidity and for letting the whole team down.

    Having said that, an Exeter player clearly headbutted him at a ruck later in the game and wasn't sanctioned, so that evened things up a bit on the scales of justice.

  • moo
    9:44 AM 19/12/2017

    This is pretty poor, even by (the old) Healy's standards. It was so visible, just plain stupid. He always used to be a good player with a fiery character and a bit of a disciplinary issue, but has been so much better in recent years and kept the high standard of his play. This was more like him from 4-5 years ago. Should have been red in the current interpretation.

    Lots of bleating by some fans (and coaches) of English clubs over the past two weeks. But everyone gets good and bad decisions. Exeter are probably the only ones who, IMO, can feel slightly aggrieved. This and the non-penalty try may have led to a completely different picture for them. Nice to hear a fair assessment of Exeter's own weaknesses and failings from Rob Baxter afterwards. He's got his head screwed on, that lad.

Related Articles