Highlanders flyhalf Sam Gilbert saw red in his sides home loss to the NSW Waratahs during this weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific tournament.
The win was a momentous one for the Waratahs as they picked up their first win on New Zealand soil since 2015.
In what was a really indefensible clear out attempt, Gilbert unceremoniously dumped Waratahs captain Michael Hooper on his head.
The incident itself was reckless and left referee Nic Berry with little choice but to send the flyhalf off for the remainder of the fixture.
Due to the twenty-minute red card trial that is currently taking place in Super Rugby, the Highlanders were able to bring on a replacement for Gilbert after twenty minutes.
Incidents like this will really call into question whether twenty minutes for a serious red card offence are enough of a deterrent for players.
For their part the Waratahs player some fantastic rugby to emerge with a 32 – 20 victory as they move up 6thposition on the table with one round remaining before the play-offs.
Hooper bounced back from being dumped on his head to score an epic try once again highlighting his class ahead of their test series with England in July.
Gilbert will likely face a suspension of at least three weeks following a review by the competitions disciplinary panel.
The latest loss also sees the Highlanders firmly rooted as the lowest ranked Kiwi team this season with just the Rebels, Force, Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika below them on the table.
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 22, 2022
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