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Thu 22 Dec 2011 | 09:25
Will Skinner red carded from the bench as Harlequins beat Toulouse

50
Comments

Will Skinner of Harlequins faces a disciplinary hearing today following the red card he received during Quins' Heineken Cup victory over Toulouse on Sunday. It was the second similar incident of the game, prompting the swift 'sending off'.

Tension was rife as early on in this fascinating game as one of the Harlequins sideline staff touched the ball deliberately, preventing the home side from taking a quick throw-in, much to the disgust of the fans, and referee Alain Roland.

He was warned and later in the game when a similar thing happened with Skinner, Roland marched over and brandashed the red card, bizarrely sending Skinner - who had already been substituted - to the changeroom.

To add to the amusement, Skinner appeared just minutes later as Quins celebrated a famous win. The incidents didn't do their reputation any good though, especially after they had done so well to stay on the straight and narrow since bloodgate a few years back.

Skinner, a former captain of Harlequins, will attend a disciplinary hearing in Dublin after he was charged by the ERC as having committed an act contrary to good sportsmanship, "in that he played the match ball illegally in the technical zone". The incident earlier in the game is reportedly also being investigated.

Below is a short clip from the game that features both incidents in the host language, French.

Posted By: Grant Constable

50 Comments

  • browner
    2:34 PM 01/03/2013

    Just watched the parisse incident - which brought me to this .... well done to the referee

    Next time YC the 1st intervener as well ................ 'gamesmanship from off the pitch' obliterate it !

  • patedelievre
    10:47 AM 27/12/2011

    obviously, I'm absolutely in no way saying it was Rolland's purpose! merely saying it didn't suit us as much as it would have suited any other team

  • patedelievre
    10:46 AM 27/12/2011

    and you have the absolute right to have it!
    now, if you watch it on the French side you'll know we weren't really happy with it either: the best way to annihilate a French side is to say it's favorite for a game. and with Warby being sent off, the French were supposed to win by much! and that's exactly the kind of pressure the French cannot handle...just watch it in the history of Rugby: the French put their names on every major upset (first of all, being the victory over the ABs in 1999 and even in 2007). Whenever they're expected to lose, they'll pull the best game ever. when they're expected to win, they sh*t in their trousers and end up either with a close, undeserved win, or with a loss that'll shake the rugby world...

  • patedelievre
    10:39 AM 27/12/2011

    "so now when one player makes a mistake ... the whole nation is the same". LMAO!!!! where do you come from mate? it's been the case for the French eversince the creation of the game!

  • patedelievre
    10:37 AM 27/12/2011

    I think they're waiting for a French player to do that in order to set an example...the real ban'll fall then: a straight year, because, you know, you should not interfere with the game!
    such rubbish... penalty, where it was kicked, and red. period.

  • patedelievre
    10:35 AM 27/12/2011

    ... he actually never said that. He just said the Qins have it in their blood to cheat. Therefore, they need a good bloodgate everyonce in a while to remember that they should try it with clean plays.

  • patedelievre
    10:29 AM 27/12/2011

    well I do not actually consider the English to be less sporting, merely saying they are in absolutely no position to consider themselves more sporting than other nations, picking this fact to prove my point: they can be really really ugly, too! see ashton dragging Tuilagi by the hair just the other day...
    As for your comments on the French, I'd say 2 things: unlike football, rugby is well within Common Wealth and generally English speaking countries, and Latin countries are not welcome, be it Italy, Argentina or France. France are taking all the blame because they can actually compete, so there still are people like you saying they are cheats and all that, but if you just look at the last RWC, France was the team that was less penalized if you compare games played/penalties. But still, you guys keep on about the French being horrible cheats and all that.
    Rolland gave a straight red to Florian Fritz for a sweeter tackle just a few months before the RWC, which is the reason why the French said "harsh but fair". And YOU, first of all, would have agreed if things had gone the other way.
    As for Parra, have you only seen a photo of his face after the final? You'd probably stop talking nonsense about how he overdid it and all that...but then again, so many "laptop warriors" on RD who'd take Richie McCow's knee in the face at full speed and laugh...

  • cheyanqui
    12:55 AM 27/12/2011

    Ando, the Laws have no provision for it. Perhaps the IRB could amend the Laws to where if a player on the bench is sent off the team must play down a man.

    The question is which of the 15 players would have to leave?

    Perhaps the best solution would be to amend the laws so that if any bench player or support staff commits a yellow or red card offense, the team captain on the field serves the sanction?

    As background, ice hockey has the "bench Penalty" against a team. In that case, it's the offending teams choice to pick any of the players on the ice at the time to serve it.

    I think rugby's spirit is different, and giving the offending team a free option goes against the spirit of the game. I think sending the captain off is actually the thing most consistent with rugby's spirit.

  • pretzel
    2:33 AM 25/12/2011

    Brilliant.... I still don't agree with it... im not trying to debate or argue, its my opinion...

  • frenchie
    8:58 PM 24/12/2011

    @ Pretzel: To end this red card debate i'd just remind you that Warburton himself said he understood the ref and that he agreed on the red card. Full stop.

  • 11:02 AM 24/12/2011

    Whats with the comedy dramatic overreactions from everyone? This has been happening for ages. Not as if the French are any better, they get their dads to interfere with play. Plus I dont think many people actually watched the match, Toulouse werent much better on the sportsmanship front and their crowd were a typically disrespectful French crowd booing some fantastic rugby by the Quins. Odd thing is I think Quins play their best rugby when everyone hates them, Thormond Park last year comes to mind although Munster fans are a vocal but respectful bunch on the whole.

  • ando
    8:13 AM 24/12/2011

    Didn't see the match, and don't have my rule book handy for this one.... If the substituted player was red-carded, did Quins have to pull another player off the pitch to make it 14? Or did they continue with 15 on the field?

  • pretzel
    2:10 PM 23/12/2011

    "Even if he does come off like a prick, traffic cop (who probably would have penalized the AbS in the last 5 minutes of the rwc final. Yes I brought itnback up again!)"

    I think if Joubert had some a little more balls or (or spectacles?) he would have penalised them a little more....

  • pretzel
    2:05 PM 23/12/2011

    So handling in the ruck is NOT cheating? its a "common fault"

    I never said they were exactly the same, but by definition, they are both cheating!

  • moddeur
    11:56 AM 23/12/2011

    I was at the stadium on that day. Whenever a penalty would be kicked, the TV screens would show this new sign saying "please respect the penalty kickers of both teams". I for one can't stand that whole whistling/jeering at kickers attitude.
    But I can tell you that once the Quins' medic touched the ball, the crowd booed like never before, and went on to boo all subsequent penalty kicks.
    I didn't see it was the medic, my friends and the people around us thought it was the Quins coach. You know how it goes when you're in the stadium. You're a bit drunk, you spend a lot of time chatting, and the TV screens aren't always in front of you.
    But I clearly saw it was a Quins player the second time around. People around me, some of whom were veterans (50ish, 60 years old), were a bit scandalized by then.

  • pretzel
    11:02 AM 23/12/2011

    I was talking about the comments made by lievremont and perhaps parra himself (one French player anyway)

    I wouldn't argue with the referee but I personally disagree with a tackle like that = red. Just seems too cut and dry for me!

  • jimothy
    10:06 AM 23/12/2011

    I completely agree. I'm amazed that the word 'cheating' has been replaced by 'gamesmanship' and it has stuck!

  • sankeor
    1:40 AM 23/12/2011

    No, only 30 men should touch the ball : those playing, on the field.
    Vice and common faults are not comparable to that.

  • sankeor
    1:34 AM 23/12/2011

    But you're right about patedelievre comments, he might have reffered to the language and not to the English nation.

  • sankeor
    1:25 AM 23/12/2011

    Not launching this debate again but... imo simply and objectively agreeing with the ref decision (a fair decision, according to other refs and Rolland himself nowadays) is not being unsporty.
    Though... you might have an altered understanding of overall french opinion back then if you're based only on internet reactions : on english-speaking forums you probably saw 90% of comenters spitting on France victory, and maybe the other 10% were few frenchs defending the national jersey.
    But believe me most of french people said victory was undeserved (wich is still not my opinion).

  • 12:26 AM 23/12/2011

    I hate this type of "gamesmanship" it does nothing to elevate the game, but everything to lower it to a game which does not showcase skills, talent and heart but rather cynicism, cheap shots and the lowest common denominator.

    I don't care if everyone does it, this isn't dirty, back room politics, this is the game I love!

    Btw, I like rolland's decisiveness, we need more of it in reffing. You might not like the call, but you certainly should respect knowing what the expectations are and playing to them. Even if he does come off like a prick, traffic cop (who probably would have penalized the AbS in the last 5 minutes of the rwc final. Yes I brought itnback up again!)

  • flyingpepper
    10:42 PM 22/12/2011

    So now when one player makes a mistake or does something wrong the whole nation is the same. mmm that seems a bit fair fetched to me but guess it makes us all as bad as each other. Argentina would be screwed by Maradona had of god. France by Zidane headbutt. The islander by ever misjudge red card for high tackles. etc. etc.

  • pretzel
    8:52 PM 22/12/2011

    ""doing what it takes to win and getting away with it"... quite the new, English definition of sportsmanship these days. a bit like humiliating maids in hotels and that kind of thing, innit?"

    I don't really understand this comment you have made. Not that I have ever been a fan of England, but I have never really seen them being "less sporting" than any other team about.

    In all honesty, the French were pretty unsporting about the Welsh red card in the world cup. I didn't expect the French to lose the game and so the Welsh went through, but when 95% of the world was saying it was a harsh red card, the sporting frenchmen said he deserved it.... There was no mention of "well thats the way sports goes, and we capitalised on it" just a little whine about how obscenely dangerous a tackle it was....

    Lets face it, the French don't exactly have any greater history of sportsmanship.

    I agree that a lot of anti-french comments have appeared recently, I'd imagine its more due to Parra and his shenanigans (which I truly believe were over-reactions, I'm sure he was knocked but he exaggerated) but I believe those comments are just as out of place as your misguided comment.

  • jimothy
    7:03 PM 22/12/2011

    lol Harbour Authorities Manu = idiot but still glad he's 'English' :)

  • jimothy
    7:01 PM 22/12/2011

    Come on, the Welsh were up in arms about that tackle until Mr Spear, who I think is going to become the greatest 7 ever and I'm English, held his hands up and said 'yep, was a red!' As for the actual vid....cheating, red card and ban deserved. If your stupid enough to do it you need time off to play more brain games on the DS to increase your IQ.

  • rugby08
    6:40 PM 22/12/2011

    The Skinner one doesn't really show me evidence to say that he did it on purpose. How can you tell that Skinner wasn't getting up to go to the medical staff or to just stand up and walk around? He could have just accidentally walked into the Toulouse player. The crowd doesn't help the situation and Rolland being a wannabe 'tough guy'.

  • kaibishin
    6:26 PM 22/12/2011

    ^^ This guy.....

  • colombes
    6:25 PM 22/12/2011

    fresh news: will skinner have been suspended 2 weeks "for an act contrary to good sportsmanship" and, so, will be requalified for the next erc rounds... read between the lines: have a good holidays and merry christmas ;)

    more seriously, than put micro-bans who satisfy nobody, it would be more useful to penalise this sort of infraction with a straight penalty, during the match

  • 5:50 PM 22/12/2011

    Totally fair Jimothy, but I think you'll also find there were no Welsh players insisting they were being unfairly targeted by officials/the media/a Queenstown bartender/ the Auckland harbour authorities...

  • jimothy
    5:00 PM 22/12/2011

    Hey Cardiff, how many reds did England get in the WC? :)

  • patedelievre
    4:50 PM 22/12/2011

    "doing what it takes to win and getting away with it"... quite the new, English definition of sportsmanship these days. a bit like humiliating maids in hotels and that kind of thing, innit?
    Such a SHAME to say things like that. a bit like this RiCheat McCoward. I think winning the game is, actually, winning the game. Cheating to get the game isn't winning. By these kind of rules, French clubs could buy all the refs with the ton of money they seem to have. Would you guys still think they "did what it takes and got away with it?" or...oh, no, wait, they're French, oooo bloody c*nts, let's ban them for three years!!!!

    Hope Toulouses and the Quin's path cross again, just to see the Dark Destroyer give a special hug to Skinner....

  • 3:32 PM 22/12/2011

    Notice how all those who think "everyone does it" support English teams. That could explain why England get so many yellow cards and suspensions and think they are being unfairly targeted.

    Quins and Leicester are are both well known as cheating teams. It happens in lots of teams, but it's usually spur-of-the-moment stuff. For it to have happened twice in one match smacks of it being a top-down strategy.

  • coops
    3:03 PM 22/12/2011

    Agree Quins were the unlucky ones. Wasps were faking injuries to hide their front row weaknesses for years, and that was under Saint McGeechan!

    As a Leicester fan, I agree that doing what it takes to win and getting away with it takes cunning and skill, take Murphy with his block v Saints and the infamous hand of Back. There are those who will do whatever it takes to win and those who are too naive to do it, that's all. BUT it should be confined to the field of play. Like a fight in a match, you can smash each other on the pitch but respect the oppo off it, and in my opinion I think Quins didn't do this. If you're not involved in the match, you don't have the right to have a hands-on influence.

  • coops
    2:56 PM 22/12/2011

    What, making a suggestion based on something that's already happened?

    That's how most law changes occur!

  • nicoasm
    2:34 PM 22/12/2011

    I guess you are right =)

    Should be punished more severely however, since they were off the pitch.

  • themull
    2:32 PM 22/12/2011

    Cheating is cheating..It's all done so your team wins games...Tactical late tackles pulling down a maul as it's rolling over the try line, not rolling away as a team is about to score a try...They are no different than what Quinns did here really, so I don;t understand what all of this embarassment talk is about..Cheating is cheating no matter what way you slice it...

    Good refereeing though..Red cards and the ban he is likely to get afterwards will soon stop this behaviour...

  • colombes
    2:03 PM 22/12/2011

    agree.
    the multiplication of bans for everything is a bit annoying. i would say: a straight penalty where the kick landed or, more severe, from where the origine of the kick.
    and you won't see this kind of stuff on a pitch

  • woody10
    1:46 PM 22/12/2011

    Both those incidents were clearly a tactic. very clever but quite clearly illegal! Quins didn't realy need to do it, they had the win already.

  • colombes
    1:38 PM 22/12/2011

    embarassing behaviours from the quins. the first time u can say, ok, it's an incident, but do it a second time, on the last match play... it become a cheat strategy.
    don't know what's the ban for these type of infractions

    but people shouldn't reduce quins to a bench of cheaters, they played very well vs toulouse. and as a french fan, i liked the way they answer to toulouse with a beautiful display. they took toulouse at their own game ;)
    i think that some toulouse players will test a strong "hairdryer" speech from noves ;)

    but yep, you would expect more discretion and representation from a team staff and players which were involved in a "bloodgate" few years ago

  • pretzel
    1:09 PM 22/12/2011

    Late tackles, pulling down mauls, hands in the ruck, slowly rolling away or not rolling away etc... it's all cheating, this is no different

  • nicoasm
    12:53 PM 22/12/2011

    No it isn't, it's cheating.

    Skinner and the medic were both off the pitch, therefore purposefully interfering with the game going on. It is cheating.

  • rickyholmers
    12:24 PM 22/12/2011

    Yawn, it's "Gamesmenship" people. It's no different from a tactical late tackle, collapsing a scrum or pulling down a maul... Rememeber Neil Back in the Heinken Cup final, this stuff is part of our game!

  • cheese
    11:59 AM 22/12/2011

    A little late for that pal...

  • cheese
    11:58 AM 22/12/2011

    All this holier than thou nonsense around Bloodgate really grinds my gears. Every other professional team in the world were up to the same thing, Quins got caught and its been cleared up for the good of the game... End of.

    It's great to see that they've developed a killer instinct after so many near wins last season. They needed all the help they could get last Sunday and what Graeme Bowerbank & Will Skinner did showed real cunning.

    Top of the Premiership and on course for the HCup knockouts.

    I'm a Quins fan and am not in the least bit embarrassed.

    Roll on Big Game IV...

  • demosys
    11:21 AM 22/12/2011

    Quins deserve the win (Toulouse was so bad in this game).
    But I was so pissed in front of my TV. It was like that during 80 minutes. Really poor behaviour from the Quins.
    Few weeks suspension for Skinner imo.

  • demosys
    11:21 AM 22/12/2011

    Quins deserve the win (Toulouse was so bad in this game).
    But I was so pissed in front of my TV. It was like that during 80 minutes. Really poor behaviour from the Quins.
    Few weeks suspension for Skinner imo.

  • dragon_in_exile
    11:12 AM 22/12/2011

    That is cheap, cheating - simple as that and not in the spirit of the game by anyone's definition. If I was a Quins fan I'd be embarrassed. Throw the book at the two of them.

  • dragon_in_exile
    11:11 AM 22/12/2011

    That is cheap, cheating - simple as that and not in the spirit of the game by anyone's definition. If I was a Quins fan I'd be embarrassed. Throw the book at the two of them.

  • coops
    11:11 AM 22/12/2011

    Agree this is really poor sportsmanship. But what should be the punishment for this?

    I say a penalty from where the ball went out or, if you want to be really harsh, a penalty from where the ball was kicked.

  • barryt
    11:01 AM 22/12/2011

    That's shocking behaviour, I thought they were a new, better atttitued team since the bloodgate but thats ridiculous, they didn't need to interfere with the ball, they had the skills to win the match anyway, shockingly bad sportsmanship, hope skinner and that doc get punished

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