Mon 16 Sep 2013 | 08:21
Nick Wood red carded after 73 seconds for stamp on Jacques Burger

13
Comments

Saracens achieved a comfortable 44-12 victory over Gloucester at Allianz Park on Sunday after prop Nick Wood was sent off for stamping with just 73 seconds on the clock. It was the second fastest sending off in the history of the Premiership.

The home side went top of the table after the game was played with 15 against 14, and Gloucester struggled to cope with what would have been a big challenge even with a full side.

It came about after Wood, eager to get Jacques Burger clear at a ruck, made contact with the Namibian flanker's head, giving referee Wayne Barnes no option but to send him from the park.

It was not only one of the quickest dismissals ever, but one of the fastest decisions, as Barnes had the card out before the players could even react, with a push and shove, to what had happened.

Wood was clearly distraught at what he'd done, going over to apologise to Burger before taking his place on the bench, head in hands thinking about the position he'd put his team in.

"It is very difficult for Nick - he's in bits in the changing-room," said Gloucester's director of rugby Nigel Davies post match. "He's apologised for what happened.

"I saw it on the big screen and it didn't look great. But he is not a dirty player. He's a good technician and a good player. Everyone makes mistakes. He will come back stronger from this."

Wood and Burger could be seen shaking hands and chatting on the field after the match.

Incidentally, the fastest ever Premiership sending off was by Mike Watson of London Scottish in 1999, when he lasted just 42 seconds against Bath. 

With Wood off the field, Saracens went on to score five tries and take a comfortable victory. Following the win, Saracens are now 2/1 with Betfair to win the Premiership.

Note: Perform Group removed the original video. Below are match highlights, including the stamp

UPDATE Wed 18 Sep: Nick Wood has been banned for 8 weeks.

13 Comments

  • drg
    11:17 PM 17/09/2013

    Totally accidental, if anything looks like he headbutted Wood's boot to get him sent off...

  • stroudos
    11:45 PM 16/09/2013

    Too psyched up perhaps? Couple of "big squeezes" too many in the team huddle just before kick-off?

  • stroudos
    11:44 PM 16/09/2013

    I think you're trolling the wrong message board with that Oxford v Cambridge bit, but fair play it was worth a go... ;)

  • matt
    11:21 PM 16/09/2013

    That was a second half stomping for Gloucester...

  • matt
    11:18 PM 16/09/2013

    Everything you've said is true, but I agree with why; farrell rushing in does nothing but risk a card for himself, and 10 minutes without a fly half is disastrous. Let the back or second row 'enforcer' kick off and draw the refs attention to the foul play.

  • s_conner
    2:08 PM 16/09/2013

    I love the physicality of rugby but this is just thuggery. I don't buy the whole 'clumsy' line for one second and although he perhaps didn't 100% mean to stamp on his head, you can bet he didn't care what part of Burger's body fell beneath him - he wanted to make an impact regardless.

    I suspect the Horwill defence might be deployed, but he should be a man and take a ban.

  • guy
    1:59 PM 16/09/2013

    Well, the way I see it Burger made a sudden movement after Wood rucked his back. Which does not make him less quilty off course. Honestly I think 'I could not see where I was putting my foot (or hand/arm/knee/leg/head)' should be accepted as an excuse. Everyone should know better then to take a swing at something he can't see.

  • browner
    1:39 PM 16/09/2013

    Add in, he was slightly unbalanced and he's got a 'word for word' case !!! Seriously though, either we accept that he saw the head and stood down on it, or it the standing down was aimed somewhere else & missed, or he didn't see what he was standing down on ............. in which case Horwill defence is likely !

  • guy
    12:29 PM 16/09/2013

    Looks nasty but still a lot of positives to be taken from this video:
    - quick decisionmaking by Barnes, imo something to be admired (although it can turn out wrong);
    - Wood going back to apologize;
    - Burger being a good sport in his reaction to Wood.

    Well, I guess as long as he can proof he could not see where Burgers head was, he won't get banned (Horwill).

  • porky
    12:24 PM 16/09/2013

    Boneheaded move by Wood, at least he showed some remorse. We all make mistakes and he has a quite clean record so just has to take the ban like a man, the same way he did the card.

    Good job Wayne Barnes too, nice and decisive. I disagree with the above Farrell may not be the best enforcer but it doesnt matter what position you play you react when your teammate and friend has his head stomped on.

  • asdfero
    12:14 PM 16/09/2013

    You are still required to have some sort of decent I.Q. to play at an international level, right?

  • colombes
    11:49 AM 16/09/2013

    dangerous stuff, red and ban to come

    on a sidenote, i'm really sick to continuously hear these Sky pundits forgiving every dirty stuff involving an english player.
    it's not the first time that i hear austin healey and others using words like "clumsy" to describe a malicious action such like an eye-gouge, tip-tackle, etc...

    in a certain way, i'm more annoyed by these stupid opinions than nick wood stamp

  • swing
    11:35 AM 16/09/2013

    'Clumsy'! wtf? Can commentators be cited for being absolute numpties?