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Sun 23 Oct 2016 | 06:06
Keith Earls furious after red card for tip-tackle in Munster win

13
Comments

Munster produced one of the most impressive European Champions Cup performances in recent history as they secured a bonus point 38-17 win over Glasgow Warriors, despite winger Keith Earls being sent off in the first half.

In a highly charged match - the first since the tragic death of head coach Anthony Foley last weekend - Munster had already scored two tries within the opening 15 minutes when Earls saw red after a tip-tackle on Glasgow hooker Fraser Brown.

Brown was lifted above the parallel and tipped before landing on the back of his head.

Referee Jerome Garces followed the letter of the law and brandished a red card, much to the dismay of the Thomond Park faithful.

But what further soured the incident more was Earls' reaction afterwards. The winger challenged Garces' decision before appearing to verbally berate Brown and full back Stuart Hogg with a number of expletives as he walked off the pitch. He then struck out on the pitchside equipment.


Earls and Hogg made up post match

Munster eventually went on to record a remarkable bonus point victory and scored some excellent tries in the process. It was a fitting result that few would begrudge a team in such mourning however, Earls' behaviour on and off the field may have tainted what was a hugely impressive and poignant victory for the home side.

Like all European Champions and Challenge Cup matches over the weekend, there was a minute's silence observed to remember the life of Anthony Foley. It was a moving scene with many of the Munster players visibly in tears.

And as the whistle sounded, the Munstermen and their loyal fans, the Red Army, paid tribute to their coach in the only way "Axel" would have wanted.

What are your thoughts about the incident and subsequent reaction? Was it a deserved red? You can view this plus the moving minute's silence pre-match below:

Minute silence for Anthony Foley

Posted By: Stephen Brunsdon

13 Comments

  • weejockmcplop
    3:27 PM 01/11/2016

    Keith Earls might have got away with it had this not been the second week in a row that a Glasgow player was tip tackled. This one wasn't as bad as Matt Toomua's on Finn Russell, the impact was slower and it looked more of a clumsy than a malicious tackle. The frustrating thing is the poor tackling techniques that are creeping into the game and causing these incidents.

  • s_conner
    1:48 PM 26/10/2016

    How anyone can try and blame the hooker for his body positioning is beyond me! Surely your only thought there is to protect yourself.

    Tucking his head in is an instinctive part of the fall in this instance and I think it's cynical for Earls or anyone else to suggest otherwise.

  • danknapp
    11:37 PM 24/10/2016

    I'd invite you to take another look at the photograph at the top of the article. Earls is standing straight and has his elbow above his head.

  • andinov
    8:01 PM 24/10/2016

    What planet are you living on?

  • drg
    5:27 PM 24/10/2016

    That was another school of thought I had gonzoman! Due to seeing friends fracture wrists at young ages falling off bikes, skateboards etc, it sort of stopped me from wanted to put my arms out to break my fall, I tend to try and curl and land on my upper arm/shoulder, which by no means is fail safe... I've seen people bust shoulders and the like too.... But it could be exactly as you said, the hooker went "oh **** I'm going down" tucked up aiming to land on back etc....

  • gonzoman
    2:06 PM 24/10/2016

    Actually, I think if he hadn't dipped his head he would have landed on it. It really looked like the hooker realized he was going over, and tucked to try to avoid landing on his head - just like you're taught to do when somersaulting.

    Poor technique and bad reaction from Earls, Glasgow hooker did what he had to do to protect himself.

  • jimmy23
    11:23 AM 24/10/2016

    I really don't see why Earls decided to lift him like that. He got in a good hit initially and could have just driven him back. As I mentioned in the post about Matt Toomua's tackle, I know that dumping your opponent is a good way to try and get into their head but why attempt it when you haven't got control and it could very easily end like that? The guy landed on his head as a result of the awkward lift and that's why it was a red, simple.

    I'm glad to see those pictures of him and Hogg hugging it out. I seriously doubt Hogg was saying anything bad but considering the occasion I can understand why Earls let his emotions get the better of him.

  • boybath
    10:38 AM 24/10/2016

    If you lift the attackers knee to the height of your shoulder its imposible to stay on your feet. The crucial thing is lifting the height of the legs above the hips if you do that its going to be red or yellow - in this case it should have been red - according to the current laws there is no lee way

  • colombes
    10:35 AM 24/10/2016

    2 legs or 1 leg, as long as the player tackled is falling vertical, neck and head exposed, there is a red card danger.
    I can understand Earls frustration because of the occasion, but he didn't help himself with this poor technique and his reaction.

    Better to remember Hogg-Earls final hug, and Foley tribute

  • boybath
    10:34 AM 24/10/2016

    Straight red - thats what the laws say

  • reality
    10:06 AM 24/10/2016

    Ridiculous that that can be a red card. If you lift a person by both legs and drop him, then ok, but if you lift one leg and drive him back so he falls over, then i don't see what the problem is. He didn't lift the player off the ground.

  • danknapp
    8:18 AM 24/10/2016

    I can see what Earls meant too. The hooker's upper body did seem to twist towards the ground, which led to it being a red. Given how marginal it was, it made the difference between a yellow and a red.

    Having said that, what the hell was Earls doing lifting his leg that high anyway? You leave yourself so exposed to being carded. Why not just get a leg off the ground (as he did) and driving backwards?

    Red deserved, because I think consistency is important. Sadly there does seem to be a trend of tackled players making the most out of these exchanges, and I don't like it.

  • drg
    12:27 AM 24/10/2016

    I see what Munster were getting at, it did look like the Glasgow 2 dipped his head, but I'm not sure if that was a purposeful movement..

    Also, it's one of those secondary sort of things, sure if he hadn't dipped his head, it might not have been red, but it definitely wouldn't have been with a better tackle...

    It wasn't the worst tackle I've seen, but the way the game is, letter of the law an all that, it's an inevitable outcome.

    Reaction wasn't good, but the emotions were high, glad to see that picture in the article of Hogg and Earls hugging it out...

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