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A “load of tripe” and a “stitch-up” – the words of former Wallabies captains Phil Kearns and Stirling Mortlock summed up the exasperation many rugby fans were feeling over Reece Hodge’s three-week World Cup ban.
The Wallabies winger’s citing and subsequent suspension for his tackle on Fiji’s Peceli Yato was ridiculous for so many reasons.
But as ludicrous as the whole saga has been, the upside for Australia is that Hodge’s absence – although regrettable – can be solidly covered by Dane Haylett-Petty over the remaining pool games, and he’ll return for the knockout phase.
The downside for all rugby fans is that with the Hodge precedent, many more cards will come at the tournament. The referees and judiciary system will likely become a firm focus for the next six weeks.
Complaining, bickering, frustration and appeals are set to flow.
Last night, US flanker John Quill was red-carded for his no-arms hit on England’s Owen Farrell. Nearly everyone will agree that was the right call, and he will cop a suspension.
But the match also included two incidents involving high shots, and Wallabies fans will especially be intrigued to watch how they unfold.
Reece Hodge of the Wallabies. (Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
The shoulder of English inside centre Piers Francis made clear contact with the head of US fullback Will Hooley in the second half, while it looked like US outside centre Marcel Brache gave Joe Launchbury a whack in the head with his shoulder in the opening stanza.
Certainly their contact point with the ball carrier’s melon looked a lot clearer than Hodge’s apparent collision with Yato’s head.
With Hodge, the replays and still images were inconclusive regarding head contact, with the ball in the zone where the Wallabies winger makes a tackle with his right shoulder.
He used his arms. They were both out in front of his body, a stark contrast to All Blacks second-rower Scott Barrett’s shoulder charge to the head and neck of Michael Hooper in the first Bledisloe match this year.
Did the judicial committee find an angle that confirmed he made contact with Yato’s head?
The Fijian forward was concussed and reported he had headaches, dizziness and blurred vision. These are of course serious symptoms and player safety should be a high priority for World Rugby. Unfortunately Yato left the field and didn’t return.
But it was a high-paced collision which was reviewed by the referee, the touch judges and TMO, and they ruled there was no clear-cut foul play. Multiple replays. Play on.
At least the three-man panel determined the incident was reckless rather than deliberate.
Nonetheless, we can all expect that if Hodge gets three weeks for his tackle, it’s not far-fetched to forecast a glut of red cards, yellow cards, citings, suspensions and appeals over the coming weeks.
Samoa’s Rey Lee-Lo and Motu Matu’u will be the first up for a judiciary hearing for dangerous tackle charges in their clash with Russia.
“The Samoans should get ten years for theirs when you compare it for what Reece Hodge has done,” a charged-up Kearns said on Fox Sports last night.
If Hodge’s punishment started at six weeks – reduced to three for his good record – then will the Samoan pair be sighted for the rest of the tournament?
Some have claimed that the people shouting loudest in defence of Hodge were the same ones screeching for Barrett to be sent off in Perth and subsequently suspended.
But there are obvious differences between the two incidents and mitigating factors for Hodge. Barrett’s feet were set, he cocked his shoulder and it was clear for everyone to see that he whacked Hooper in the head and neck area.
Yato had a head of steam, then stepped off his left foot. Hodge did his best to balance himself back on the angle. It was an instinctive readjustment. There were no swinging arms.
Yet Hodge and Barrett received the same three-week ban.
