There was controversy in the first half of the Wallabies clash with the Pumas after both Marcos Kremer and Michael Hooper were slapped with yellow cards for dangerous cleanouts.
Kremer was the first to be carded in the 16th minute for his dangerous effort on James O’Connor.
There was initially the potential for a red card but first contact was with the shoulder as opposed to the head according to the officials.
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Fox Rugby’s Phil Kearns though believed it was only worthy of a penalty.
“There’s probably something in it, I’d give it a penalty at worst,” he said.
His viewpoint though was disputed by George Gregan, who at halftime argued that the yellow card was simply consistent with current rules in the game.
“The defender is in a low position,” Gregan said.
“He’s potentially trying to wrap his arms but I heard Phil Kearns saying that’s a penalty but the way it is being judged with World Rugby, any contact or force to the head with a shoulder is a yellow card.”
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The other incident came later in the first half in the 28th minute with another long delay as the TMO reviewed a cleanout.
This time it was Hooper who was pinged and this one fired Kearns up.
Again there were some suggestions that it was a matter of what colour card, as opposed to whether he should have been punished at all.
In the end, Hooper was carded for driving his left shoulder into Nicolas Sanchez with force.
Kearns could not believe the ruling.
“It’s just rubbish,” he said.
“Both of those yellow cards are ridiculous.”
Fox Rugby’s Tim Horan added that it was a complicated issue given the nature of the game will involve that sort of contact.
“It’s a really difficult part of the game,” he said.
“If a player is trying to steal the ball and you’re trying to clean it out, there is going to be contact around the shoulders and the head if you are that low down.”
It was a point echoed by Justin Harrison at halftime.
“I just question with a head over the ball, at that body height,” Harrison said.
“Where is Michael Hooper supposed to go besides an illegal entry at the side? The mechanics of rugby are about winning collisions and getting as low as you can.
“The lower you get, the less control you get at controlling that force.”
FULL TRANSCRIPTS
Kremer incident
Gardner: “We’ve got potential foul play by 5 black.”
Murphy: “From that angle I can’t tell where the cleanout has occurred. The green player is pretty low. Have you got any other angles that can confirm where it is.”
Gardner: “There’s no real wrap is there and it is high.”
Murphy: “So have you got contact on the shoulder from the 5 in terms of the cleanout.”
Gardner: “Starts on the shoulder and goes to the head.”
Murphy: “So we have direct contact, the initial contact is on the shoulder and then it rides up.”
Gardner: “Correct.”
Murphy: “So guys I am at yellow card, has anyone else got anything to add there.”
Gardner: “Yep. Number 5.”
Gardner: “It’s a dangerous cleanout with no arms so it is going to be a yellow card.”
Hooper incident
Murphy: “Is your issue there is no wrap on the left-hand arm?”
Gardner: “And contact to the head.”
Gardner: “Is that shoulder Murph? What are you seeing?”
Murphy: “Shoulder then head.”
Gardner: “Very similar to the other one. We’ve got initial contact on the shoulder to the head. TMO has confirmed that.”
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