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Fri 18 Nov 2016 | 07:54
Will Skelton's yellow card for no-arms charge against Scotland

7
Comments

One of the main talking points from Australia's narrow 23-22 win over Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend was the sin-binning of Wallaby second-row Will Skelton late on. The incident happened in the closing stages of an enthralling game during a period of extensive pressure.

Referee John Lacey had already blown his whistle for an Australian penalty when Skelton, standing at 6ft5 and 22st led a no-arms charge into the ruck, striking opposite number Jonny Gray.

Why Skelton felt the need to do such a thing that late on is probably something only he knows. Needless to say, Lacey referred the incident to the TMO and subsequently brandished the deserved yellow card.

World Rugby have stated previously their aim to rid such actions from the game, however they do still crop up with a degree of regularity. The same weekend, Samoa's Logovi'i Mulipola was penalised for a similar charge in their match against France.

What are your thoughts about the Skelton incident? Do these need to be sanctioned more harshly?

Posted By: Stephen Brunsdon

7 Comments

  • jonnyenglish
    11:45 AM 23/11/2016

    I'd give him a yellow just for being stupid. I mean right in front of the ref, if you're going to be a dick at least be clever about it!

  • drg
    7:20 AM 22/11/2016

    I don't think it's just as dangerous at all!! How can the two compare??

    The law, I don't know, I know you can't slap the ball out a 9's hands, but that's as far as my knowledge goes. I'd guess it's illegal...but not 100%

  • 8:34 PM 20/11/2016

    Yeah stupid and not the first time from Skelton.
    What is the law regarding the Scot kicking the hands on the 9 just before? I would think that is just as danagerous but in a different way.

  • drg
    12:27 PM 19/11/2016

    Pretty fair I guess.... Can't see it being a red, maybe a penalty only would be too lenient... Somewhere between a penalty only and a yellow.

    I wouldn't say these incidents need to be sanctioned more harshly, no more than any otyer similar type if indiscretion.. I'd hope the silliness of it would be enough for Skelton to curse himself.. luckily for him it didn't cost aus the match!

  • drg
    12:24 PM 19/11/2016

    *splat*

  • jimmy23
    4:53 PM 18/11/2016

    Neither involves a Frenchmen or an All Black. DrG's head might implode.

    :D

  • tooldtoplay
    4:20 PM 18/11/2016

    yellow card seems reasonable but no idea how Ben Broster deserved a red for his similar challenge in the Bayonne vs Clermont game the same weekend. Broster's was at least before the whistle went, as far as you can tell (unfortunately Sky seem to have dropped their scheduled broadcast so the only tapes seem to be very poor quality) and really seems to have been little more than a penalty offence at worst.

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