'Awful call': Jaco Peyper in the firing line over controversial decision
REACTION: South African referee Jaco Peyper has received plenty of criticism for his red card decision in Saturday’s Six Nations clash between Ireland and England in Dublin
England fullback Freddie Steward was sent off just before half-time in the Grand Slam decider for his collision with opposite number Hugo Keenan.
Keenan collided with Steward’s elbow just after stooping down to collect a loose ball.
Steward appeared to stand his ground and brace for the collision, but his elbow connected with Keenan’s head.
Peyper decided there was not enough mitigation to avoid giving the red card.
Red card for Freddie Steward pic.twitter.com/N6nVNx2qQN
— RugbyLAD (@RugbyLAD7) March 18, 2023
On Twitter, former England flyhalf Andy Goode said it was an “awful call”.
“That’s a rugby incident never a red card for Steward,” Goode added.
Awful call from Jaco Peyper, that’s a rugby incident never a red card for Steward
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) March 18, 2023
Jaco Peyper has got history of elbows, see if he’s doing this in Copperface Jack’s later at 3am pic.twitter.com/H2VPGSripv
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) March 18, 2023
English cricketer Ben Stokes called it a “shambles”.
Red card???????????
Shambles shambles shambles, Rugby being ruined
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) March 18, 2023
That was just the tip of the iceberg as other former and current rugby players and some fans vented their frustrations.
See below for some of the reactions:
Steward had a split second to react – after a knock on – to a man running at him. Of course his instinct should be to make himself as vulnerable as possible – there was no intent – he was protecting himself – what a bloody joke
— Will Carling (@willcarling) March 18, 2023
Bad call IMO – genuinely think it’s a rugby incident. 🤷🏽♂️ #SixNations
— Ugo Monye (@ugomonye) March 18, 2023
Absolutely ridiculous!!!!
That was a Yellow card at best.— Jason Robinson (@Jason15Robinson) March 18, 2023
Absolute shambles 🤯🤯
— Jonathan Joseph (@Jonathanjoseph0) March 18, 2023
Jaco pyper again proves that he is the worst referee, globally. Simply horrendous. @mattfa91 @SimonTwiss
— jamie mccall (@Jmcf1979) November 5, 2022
Jaco Peyper is absolutely on one here – a succession of baffling calls
— Rúaidhrí O’Connor (@RuaidhriOC) March 18, 2023
Jaco Peyper always makes it a pen fest. Some of these decisions are just baffling. Please don’t let him near the World Cup. #6Nations #IREvENG
— Ben Mosses (@BenMosses) March 18, 2023
Any excuse. Jaco Peyper detests England. How was Steward supposed to avoid contact in a millisecond? #ireveng
— Richard Cooke (@RichardCooke) March 18, 2023
The game of rugby is too professional to have dreadful referees like Jaco Peyper in charge of an international game
— Marcus holden (@Marcushc) March 18, 2023
Suspect there will be an Irish one with him down Temple Bar later on this evening @WorldRugby? When will you draw time on his very inadequate officiating existence? Imagine he does that in a WC game.. Egg on face! #JacoPeyper pic.twitter.com/2OJjgQ1xh3
— GavR (@GAVRS83) March 18, 2023
Jaco Peyper…..
“There’s no mitigation…. ”
Knock on, guy dipping, expecting whistle, bracing for contact….
World Rugby perplexed why people don’t understand the game???
— scrum5ive (@scrum5ive) March 18, 2023
That’s not foul play. That was not a tackle. Both players pulled out. That was merely a collision.
That is a poor call from Jaco Peyper & team. Influenced by the home crowd.#SSRugby #IREvENG #GuinnessSixNations— Twak_Praat (@NotFromHereToo) March 18, 2023
Jaco Peyper what a shocker of a decision- unfathomable
— Dominic Ward (@DominicWard14) March 18, 2023
That’s a shocker from Jaco Peyper & the officiating team.
There’s nowhere Freddie can go & he braces to protect himself and the opponent.
It’s technically foul play under of the rules, but there is plenty of mitigation to take it to a yellow #IREvENG #GuinnessSixNations https://t.co/GVxskKY6RD
— Christopher James (@ChrisJames_90) March 18, 2023
#SixNations REPORT: Hooker Dan Sheehan scored two tries to help steer Ireland to a victory over England on Saturday for their fourth Five/Six Nations Grand Slam. 👇#SixNations #Ireland #England #IREvENG https://t.co/Cj1L16QKAi
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) March 18, 2023
