South African Rugby Show ‘Final Whistle’ is one of the very best Rugby debate shows on television these days.
Led by knowledgeable host Owen Nkumane a former Springbok tourist in 1998, the show welcomes on a number of former pro players and coaches to offer a variety of views.
In this week’s edition of the show, the feisty United Rugby Championship quarterfinal clash between Glasgow Warriors and Munster was the main talking point.
Munster won the fixture through a brutally efficient defensive performance despite losing five players to injury.
Two of those players were Conor Murray and Malakai Feiktoa who both left the game with head injuries.
The tackle on Murray from Warriors flyhalf Tom Jordan yielded a red card and is widely accepted as a clear cut high shot with no attempt to get low and wrap.
Fekitoa’s incident came courtesy of Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu who was shown a yellow card for the high hit which knocked Fekitoa out cold.
In a rather interesting take on the incident, regular guest, former Springbok attack coach and Emirates Lions head coach Swys de Bruin debated whether the incidents should’ve yielded cards.
Speaking on the Murray incident, de Bruin opened by saying: “If you want to play with cards, get yourself a monopoly set but please not in our beloved game.
“I sent Franco (Warriors head coach) a message and he was devastated. It is really not conjusive to a quality product.
Pushing back at de Bruin fellow guest Hanyani Shimange, the former Springbok Hooker said: “It’s obviously lawmakers (who make the decisions) it’s about what’s good for rugby and obviously the issues surrounding player welfare and looking after everyone in terms of head injuries.
“Also, the fans at home, chances are if you’re a Glasgow supporter you turn the tv off when that happens and you lose interest in the game. That’s probably the risk it runs and its probably going to happen during the World Cup.
Shimange then goes on to discuss an incident in the Leinster vs Sharks quarterfinal where winger Makazole Mapimpi came close to being involved in what could’ve been a red card incident. He then pointed out that there then needs to be some consideration given to the product in line with player safety.
Joining the conversation, the third guest Robbie Kempson who is a former Springbok Prop, he went on to say: “Safety is paramount from a player perspective. I do believe that the tackler in the Glasgow game was a red card but they need to bring back the 10 minute rule not 20 minutes.
“10 minutes a player is off and then you can bring back on a lesser player. Rugby’s first thing they have on World Rugby’s website is that it must be ‘an equal and fair contest’ when someone gets a red card it is not an equal and fair contest so I agree with Swys on that one.
“If there is going to be a red card you have to allow 15 v 15 to finish the match at some stage.” Kempson concluded.
The debate raged on with de Bruin in particular driving the narrative that neither incident were red card worth.
You can watch the full clip below and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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