Harry Wilson has questioned rugby’s stance on player welfare, with the Wallabies and Queensland star back-rower slamming New Zealand referee Brendon Pickerill for failing to protect his injured teammate Connor Vest during his side’s loss to the Highlanders on Friday.
Rising lock Vest suffered a fractured neck in the 30th minute, after an unfortunate no-arms tackle resulted in the forward copping a nasty blow to the back of the head as he ran into contact.
Vest lay on the ground for a couple of minutes after being met hard by Shannon Frizell’s left shoulder and was taken to Dunedin Hospital where a CT scan revealed a fracture of his C7 vertebrae.
Play was stopped soon after the incident, with Pickerill awarding the Reds a penalty.
He was in communication with his Television Match Official, who deemed the incident accidental seemingly because of Vest’s very low body height as he ran into contact.
“There’s no foul play. There’s no foul play,” Pickerill could be heard saying.
“We have had a look. But we’ll just take our time with the injury because we can’t play on.”
Despite being attended to by medical staff, Vest later walked off the field unassisted.
Fortunately, Vest has not required surgery and has since returned to Brisbane, but on Monday Wilson hit out at Pickerill for not taking action with the tackle and, secondly, for rushing the second-rower off the field.
Wilson said he expected Frizell to be sanctioned for the no-arms tackle.
“For us as a playing group we hope so because rugby’s been really big on the player welfare and there wasn’t much player welfare there with a no-arms tackle to the head,” Wilson told reporters on Monday.
Connor Vest of the Reds charges forward during the round 14 Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Queensland Reds. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
“Vesty’s broke his neck and, for me, that’s pretty ridiculous.
“On top of that, as a playing group, we were very frustrated with the referee trying to rush him off the field. We thought it was pretty disrespectful for a player, who had just broken his neck to be told to get off the field as if he’s trying to waste time. That was something as a playing group we weren’t too happy with.”
Wilson claimed Vest only walked off because the Reds were being told to hurry up.
“That’s why he walked off the field so quickly,” he said.
“He had been lying down for quite a while there, they had him in the positions, and then a lot of external pressure from the ref to get off the field forced him off the field.
“I guess you don’t know what type of extra damage that can do when you’re walking off the field for someone with a broken neck.”
The incident wasn’t the only one that went unpunished, with Freddie Burns escaping sanction for a high shot on James O’Connor as the experienced Test utility back ran down the touchline.
The Reds scored a stunning try from the attacking movement, which started when Wilson broke the Highlanders’ line on his own five-metre line, but despite the clear high tackle it escaped further inspection.
With Vest and co-captain Liam Wright (shoulder) ruled out for the rest of the season, the Reds are sweating on the fitness of co-captain and Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott being fit to travel overseas to take on the Drua.
The Reds likely have to beat the Drua to confirm their place in the top eight for next week’s finals.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Yeah the logic since clowns in sanzaar didn't cite him then you must be right. Or maybe you're clueless just like them? How's that reckless play can be legal? You saying it's ok to dive into the ruck and injure people as long it's not head contact and it's not swain? Something
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
We know longer have teams. They’re called “player groups” now.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I 100% agree with your last sentence. But I put a bit more emphasis on MOST than perhaps you do Piru. None are perfect but perfect is an impossible expectation.
Fin
Roar Rookie
Calm down princess. I'm not excusing or blaming anyone, just giving my opinion on how the game is refereed and what impact that has on the players. My understanding is that these types of cleanouts are considered legal. As he hasn't been cited I would suggest I am correct. Happy to be corrected if you have any evidence that I'm wrong.
Guess
Roar Rookie
That try was scored by same man who caused injury ...
Guess
Roar Rookie
It’s disgusting you’re keep trying to excuse it and even dare to blame Jorgensen for it. That was even worse than swain. Swain was going for a leg to move kiwi player but there was additional weight of other players that he didn’t account to so it ended badly and was absolutely dumb clumsy reckless but not intentional. While what havili did was intentional. He knew what he was doing. They do it all the time. Doesn’t make it less illegal
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Indeed it doesn't Atlas, symptomatic of the kind of delusional comments/manipulation typical of this site.
Rat
Roar Rookie
It is difficult to 'just move on' when the officiating team acted in such a dilatory fashion.We are not talking about the loss of the match (a diversion of the sore loser variety),we are talking about a player suffering a broken neck! How did they miss the Makalio tackle ? A tackle made infamous by the serial offender Folau Fainga'a and easily identified. As a result of that tackle Frizell's tackle was a leading shoulder direct to the head . In this case Frizell maintained his height as Vest was felled ,and in these circumstances that was as dangerous as a player not dropping their height in the usual head clash scenario. Frizell then braces and drives forward.If he was completely passive he would have been bowled over and Vest's neck may not have collapsed from the impact.The play continued for 2 phases and a penalty was blown. Vest is still on the ground and remains there.Now the TMO has plenty of time to have a look at the incident. He apparently blurts out 'no foul play' and that's the end of it! The kiwis are very much mistaken if they think that is a good example of 'timely determination' of these matters. As I have said before, the audible gasp from the female broadcaster as she views the vision of his shoulder meeting Vest's head says it all. As for the rest ,and all the other errors made by this team of officials, the old saying seems appropriate,'once is a mistake,twice is a choice'. But at least Smith got his win.
piru
Roar Rookie
Whats done is done but that doesn’t mean I have to rate Barnes as a good ref. Of course not, you're entitled to your opinion mate, was just curious. For mine he does a good job most of the time
Atlas
Roar Rookie
"Damaged a vertebrae" doesn't attract the same levels of seething outrage.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Thats part of what frustrated me Riccardo. 15 v 15 would have meant ABs had way better chance in test 2 & if Irish prop is RED in 3rd test its also no doubt ABs would have had better chance. Was the 2nd test the one Savea was incorrectly not allowed back on? I feel that although the Irish were very good they also had a number of things go in their favour. Cant change the past but I'd love to meet Ireland in the 1/4s. If we lose it will hopefully be because Ireland outplay us.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
I actually agree with this Jacko... However, if 2007 taught us anything, you gotta play the whistler out of the game. Truth is... the All Blacks were their own worst enemies and the Irish were outstanding...
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
That happened in front to four seats and the two officials had a clear view and at the time chose to ignore the incident, and many others in that game.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
And what about Sam Gilbert's disallowed try Ash? Were you watching at that point, or for that matter, any point!!
Malotru
Roar Rookie
JamesD, please don't bring any semblance of reality to these 'discussions'.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Makings of a good ref Piru? Suggests to me he's not up to scratch, something I would have to agree with.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
'Vesty’s broke his neck'. Something of an exaggeration.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Unintended consequences. Now that South Africa no longer part of Superugby and complaining about refs , its Australia's turn . :laughing: :laughing:
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
I’m going to complain about that comment Jacko.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
No conspiracy? What are you talking about? I’m currently in my basement with my tin foil hat on listening to Rupert Murdoch news all while trying to block out that annoying person in my head from telling me to light fires so this must me a legit issue for us rugby fans to look deeper into.