I was motivated to write this article on the back of a comment from RedandBlack regarding the recent ‘red card’ handed out during the Highlanders versus Sharks game on Friday night.
There’s some irony in his nom de plume, but that’s neither here or there at the present time.
The real issue, for me, is the effect a ‘red card’ has on the game for not only the aggressor but the also the receiver.
Suffice to say we’re all in this together. Not physically but metaphorically.
Now, I’m not in any way saying the ‘red card’ wasn’t deserved. I’m saying the very opposite. What was the offender thinking? Was he thinking at all?
Or was it just the ‘red mist’ clouding his judgement at the moment of impact?
And… that was some impact eh?
Frankly, it could’ve cut short (substantially) a very successful career.
Shocking. Dumb. You should know better. And that’s not what our game is about.
Off you go I say… and prepare to have your backside severely smacked when you go and front the judiciary. And he has – four weeks to sit on the sidelines and think about what he has done.
So, therefore, only a little consideration should be given to the offender. Only he knows whether it was a deliberate action, or not, but methinks, in this case, not.
And you’d have to be a complete tool if that is your game.
Hence, in this case, let’s go with the ‘it was stupid, reckless, and I’ll accept the judiciary’s findings while pleading that I won’t do it again.’
So what about the aggrieved? Surely they can sue someone?
No, not likely.
And hopefully, seriously, they’re really alright, and can play another day. And as the window of opportunity, in this game, is way too short due to its physicality.
But what about the viewer?
I don’t know about you but when this happened I thought: “there goes a game that should’ve been great.”
And when I say ‘game’ I mean a fair contest between two rivals with the same amount of players on the field.
I’m all for yellow cards, where the offender gets 10 minutes in the naughty chair, but red cards have a totally different dynamic on the game. And I would presently go so far as to say they render the ‘game’ over.
There are exceptions, but a man down will probably change the game for all the wrong reasons, and as a viewer it diminishes my interest in the game from that point on.
So here’s a thought… why not send the ‘red carded’ player from the field, have a 10 minutes ‘yellow card’ period?
And this is the clincher… after that elapsed time put a ‘bench player’ back on the field so that there’s even numbers again?
If the attacked player is your best player you may think how is that fair? He’s now on a stretcher sucking deep on the green whistle.
But my view is it’s a team game, and a good team will overcome this.
It’s a game people, meaning that it should be basically fair in the number of contestants on either side.
Don’t worry about the ‘dirty players’ as they won’t last long, and if you’re overly concerned about this, then my advice would be they are very much in the minority anyhow, and hence will be found out eventually.
A game with one side having one player, or two, less is not a game. It’s some sort of joke on the viewer.
RobC
Roar Guru
In any case, indeed the more the merrier!
RobC
Roar Guru
Im willing to bet a Mexican dinner, you have been in Australia longer than I have, RT. So you qualify :lol:
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Haha! ............................................................... Hang on, hang on!! ... I'd be outnumbered!... two Aussies against a solitary Kiwi? .. To balance up perhaps we could invite Diggercane or Chook's mate Muzzo ...
Digby
Roar Guru
I too believe in Seafood, though not whale, definitely not Orca.
Phillip
Guest
I disagree. A penalty at most. This PC liberal view of "dangerous or foul lay" is a fallacy , hypercritical , two faced and merely found guiltyon endless replays. This is absurd and any one who supports a 4 week ban for nothing more than a professional player , running at full speed , with no in tension to harm or cause foul play to stop within a split second has nothing to do with foul play play. This has been conjured up by the poms and supported by snobs of all nations including the AB's to try to sanitize the game of any hard over vigorous play, Rugby union is now a professional game and for a long time has used as a weak excuse for professional players "player safety." These guys play and get paid more money , train with the best trainers and with all the professional and medical that money can buy. Rugby union is becoming over protective of its professional players-Its a collision sport every one. If you want to watch tiddlywinks or amateur rugger go watch black and white old test matches of yester year. I should add and neither should Nadolo been suspended for this ridiculous "tip tackle" In rugby Union I have only seen one dangerous tip tackle and that was done on Richie McCaw by Lote Tuquire , now if you see a guys leg goes up in the air you are going to be suspended. We need a less World Rugby influenced real professional tournament with drama , physicality and the PC brigade to stay out And stop using player safety as an excuse for any physical play!! If you want to stop dangerous play , stop scrumming and tackling the too biggest dangerous play that is condoned!!
RobC
Roar Guru
MrChook, Thank her blessed heart. But obviously she hasnt met me yet! :D RT, has. I believe lovely isnt the first thing that he would use to describe me Will ping you when Im in SYD next if you're inclined, hopefully with RT in tow (or vice versa)
Machooka
Roar Guru
nos... I'm glad someone is on the job :) Ummm... hard to argue with your comment. Seems to me, on the back of that, there's appears to be two types of 'red cards'. Maybe the one for 'intent' should have a black cross on it... one that signals the seriousness of the offense. Gone, gone, gooone!!
Machooka
Roar Guru
MrRobC... MrsChook thinks you're just lovely! The g/daughter is also now asking questions about Rugby??
nickoldschool
Guest
Nice article mate! Sorry I did t have time to read/comment before, thing is us new aussies have an economy and a country to run, YOUR country hahah! :) Ok back to the article. Perso I have no problem with a team spending 70min at 14 IF the bloke who infringed did it with intent. I have had time to read the few articles re Emery send off and personally since day one I felt it was clumsy and yes reckless but there was no intent to injure WLR. To give you an example I would be much harsher with a player trying to deck or stomp on another player's face, and not connect, than with a guy like Emery who hit someone in the air cause of bad timing. Yet I agree with you and others he deserved a ban cause as peterk said on another article there should be some kind of duty of care involved but I just don't think it's fair to label Emery dirty and give him a ridiculously long ban. Red card and 4 weeks sounds about right. Should he have been sent off for the whole match? Dunno and maybe your idea is good for this scenario as it wasn't intentional. Imo any player who intentionally hurt or aim at hurting another player deserves a red and to be sent off for the remainder of the game. His team has to pay a price NOW imo.
Dave_S
Guest
It's grand, Chook, suitable for madmen and grandchildren alike ☺
Cynical Play
Roar Rookie
Sure, Chook, it was an extreme example. I guess my point is that I still think a higher grade deterrent is needed for very dangerous/foul play, and that just player substitution (after 10mins in bin) is not going to fit the crime in some instances. For example, what say the Red's Jake McIntyre was red-carded and went to the bin, but then the Reds bought on, hypothetically, Quade Cooper off the bench. Where's the punishment? Remember you can get 10mins for just tapping the opponents pass down, so I'm not sure the Red and substitution method is always going to be a severe enough punishment/deterrent. Well done on the article. Your in print, buddy. A genuine columnist.!
RobC
Roar Guru
The more I look at your avatar, the more I like it! I got one of those footballs as well, compliments of RT / Paddy. MrsChook and descendants are artiste extraordinaire! Nick's stuff is excellent. He is a real expert and a real pro
Machooka
Roar Guru
Aah yes MrRobC... ummm glad you like the avatar as you where partly the inspiration for it! You being the one that brings colour (and movement) to these pages more than most. Although Nicholas has been giving you a run for your money lately with moving coloured pictures for his indepth analysis pieces :) So here's how it went down... and this is for Dave_S as well. I became the target of two bored souls who had decided mischievously that I would help alleviate them from their funk. I, at the time, was happily banging away on serious Roar matters, and therefore too resisting for their idle minds. So it was decided, then and there, by my chick (MrsChook) and one of the g/daughters to create me an avatar. The weird little colourful chicken lookin' thingy was created by the g/daughter, the egg is a mini Roar football (thanks Patrick), and the graphic design work was done by MrsChook 'cause that's what she does. Graphic Design. And would you have a look at what we all created... frankly I think it's quite apt. Flappin' about, colourful, weird, scary, and somewhat demonic in demeanour :))
Machooka
Roar Guru
Cynical #51 :) Hey buddy... I'm thinking that if your scenario were to occur all hell would break loose on the field. Surely!?! Infact, I'm trying to remember whenever there's been someone who has 'king hit' a player more than once... let alone knocked them out. Cold! But as you have asked a hypothetical question the same penalties would occur... 'red card' and player sent off, ten mins with-out a player penalty, and then a bench player on to make up the numbers. Now the interesting bit here, with your example, is how long would the guilty player get from the judiciary? Life??
Dave_S
Guest
Is it "icon" or "avatar"? Anyway: - nice article, Machooka - nice icon/avatar - is it an egg or a footy? Are we at 100 yet?
RobC
Roar Guru
Mr CHOOOK!!!!! You have the best icon eva. Cool pointers, similar to league. I still kinda like the idea of punishing / deterring the team from foul play. Some options: - Or do a 20 minute thingy or non-intentional foul play. eg purple card - Or do the 10 minute thingy, but triple the player bans And congrats on your first post. Enjoyed it, i thought it was good. Look forward to your next one.
Dubaikiwi
Guest
Ive always thought their is a case for a replacement after a red, but only after Mitchells red after two technical yellows, if i recall the second yellow was for chucking the ball away, stupid but did not deserve to be a red and affect the game. However its the only incident i can recall at this level, so do,we really need more rule complexity in our game. Apart from that I really think we have it right for red cards. Carlos, i like what you do, it is in the spirit of the game at that level. Once they are grown up then they either should be more aware and know better or they are flat track bullies and either way a red card needs to be enforced and affect the whole team so they all learn.
Brisbane Boys
Guest
Nice work Carlos my son just started Refereeing and his big concern was what if I need to send someone off at under twelve. I pretty much told him the same thing talk to the coach of the other offending team and tell him he can sub the boy off and put on a replacement for the rest of the game. That way the boy won't have that on his file forever.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Chooks & Colvin - I was more annoyed that the RC ruined my tipping (and PP on Roar) and exacerbated by Lima Sopoaga missing his penalty kicks. It was, of course, the right call from the ref even if the tackle was unintentional.
Cynical Play
Guest
Make that '51', and you're on your way to a century on debut. How many comments do you need to get the widget to change colour on these pages? On topic.. If a player A gives 2 or 3 solid king hits to the head of another player B, and knocks him out, shouldn't player A be sent from the field and Players A's team be punished? I know it is an extreme example, but the game needs to deter VERY dangerous play by having a more severe penalty than Yellow (ie RED card - player sent from field and team down a man to the end). I think otherwise, the 10mins off penalty will not be sufficient deterrent. Using Emery as an example, Le Roux was taken off and not allowed to return, arguably their best player taken out of the match with extremely dangerous play. The punishment needs to fit the crime, despite the 'needs' of the spectator. Why would anyone "switch off" such a great game as that one after a player has been sent off....