VIDEO: Ref under fire after All Black cheap shot
REACTION: England referee Luke Pierce has come under fire for two questionable calls, one after a cheap shop by All Black flank Sam Cane put an opponent in hospital.
France wing Remy Grosso was taken to hospital after being injured in a tackle that left coach Jacques Brunel fuming, after the first Test against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday.
The French camp have revealed that Grosso’s has a double facial fracture, including a fractured sinus, as a result of a controversial double hit from two All Black players.
“The injury is quite serious and the tackle was dangerous,” said Brunel, urging officials to review the incident.
“I think that the way he was done by the All Blacks pair was illegal.”
- Article continues below video!
Grosso scored France’s only try in the 52-11 thrashing by the All Blacks.
But he was taken from the field in the second half, after he collected a shot to the jaw from Cane, while the Frenchman also collided with the shoulder of Cane’s All Black teammate Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Brunel was surprised there was no yellow card, unlike the one shown to Paul Gabrillagues minutes earlier for a tackle far less innocuous.
In the in the 51st minute Gabrillagues’ attempted tackle on Ryan Crotty connected with the ball and then slid up over the All Black midfielder’s should – without connecting with the neck or head.
The decision by the referee, Pearce, to hand the questionable yellow card to Gabrillagues and then let Cane off with just a penalty after he clearly connected with his opponent’s jaw, rankles heavily with the French.
Grosso scored France’s only try in the 52-11 thrashing by the All Blacks.
Brunel was not happy with some of the officials’ decisions, but said that his team struggled to match the All Blacks, especially when they were a man down.
“The first half was good, in the second half the yellow card was key.
“It was very hard to fight with the All Blacks after that. Yellow card or not yellow card, we had to deal with it.”
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said he did not believe Gabrillagues should have been sent to the sin bin.
Brunel said he had to accept the Gabrillagues ruling, but hoped officials would take another look at how Grosso was injured.
“Since we are talking about this particular case, it would be good if the situation is reviewed,” he said.
Brunel was surprised there was no yellow card, unlike the one shown to Paul Gabrillagues minutes earlier for a tackle far less innocuous.
In the in the 51st-minute Gabrillagues’ attempted tackle on Ryan Crotty connected with the ball and then slid up over the All Black midfielder’s should – without connecting with the neck or head.
The decision by the referee, Pearce, to hand the questionable yellow card to Gabrillagues and then let Cane off with just a penalty after he clearly connected with his opponent’s jaw, rankles heavily with the French.
Grosso scored France’s only try in the 52-11 thrashing by the All Blacks.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said he did not believe Gabrillagues should have been sent to the sin bin.
Brunel said he had to accept the Gabrillagues ruling, but hoped officials would take another look at how Grosso was injured.
“Since we are talking about this particular case, it would be good if the situation is reviewed,” he said.
RugbyPass & AFP
