Saturday’s Premiership clash between Leicester Tigers and Bristol Bears ended in dramatic fashion following disagreements over the substation of John Afoa.
The Bristol tighthead was substituted earlier on in the match for tactical reasons, according to the Bristol manager, however director of rugby Pat Lam later claimed the prop was removed for injury reasons.
This is because Bristol’s replacement prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro was sent to the sin bin during a defensive scrum in overtime, which according to the rules meant the visitors had to bring Afoa back on and sacrifice another player to keep the scrums contested.
However because Leicester were piling on the pressure and trailed by just three points, Lam seemed to want Afoa to stay off the field by claiming he was injured, potentially in a bid to gain uncontested scrums.
Referee Ian Tempest then told Lam that because the yellow card was awarded for an infringement at a scrum, if Bristol could not perform contested scrums then they would have to remove a second player as well as the sin binned prop, which the Bristol boss agreed to.
However a sudden change in heart from either Lam or Afoa meant the former All Black was ruled fit to come back on and take part in the contested scrum, leaving Borthwick enraged on the sidelines calling Lam a liar.
Ironically Afoa managed to hold the scrum steady, arguably getting the better of Ellis Genge in the front row, until Bristol scrum half Andy Uren appeared to steal the ball illegally and kick it out to end the game.
We’ve never seen anything quite like this…
Bristol Bears’ replacement tight-head prop was shown a yellow card with no time left.
ADVERTISEMENTJon Afoa had previously come off as a ‘tactical’ sub, but tensions rose over his return as both coaches got involved. pic.twitter.com/O8afakCVK7
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) June 5, 2021
This lead to handbags on the sideline after full time as Bristol came away with a controversial 23-26 win.
@John_Afoa this was not good to see bro.. 😔@EllisGenge you showed incredible control not to plant one on Hughes, and the whole world saw how hard you worked for those final scrums and in that game! As a @BristolBears fan… this was not in standing of our values. #LeiVBri pic.twitter.com/PdHTnwpVd0
— Joel Forrester (@Joel_Forrey) June 5, 2021
On the one hand Leicester would have wanted Afoa back on so they could continue putting pressure on the visitors’ scrum, but at the same time if Afoa had stayed off then they would have guaranteed possession from the set piece with two extra players.
REACTION:
Tetaz Chaparro yellow > Afoa needed to come back on, having come off in a tactical replacement > Bristol say he’s injured > Borthwick raging with Lam > Afoa slinks out of dug-out > Says he’s fit as scrum goes down > Wins 5m scrum against the head to win game for Bristol > Fight https://t.co/Gjz11Oa51G
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) June 5, 2021
John Afoa ends up going back on. Whether he was injured to go back on or not, we don’t or won’t know. He would have been stiff as a board either way.
Borthwick and all the tigers bench desperate for him to go back on. He did. Then everyone is raging. 🤷🏼♂️ADVERTISEMENT— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) June 5, 2021
Very ugly scenes to finish the @LeicesterTigers v @BristolBears game. Steve Borthwick calling Pat Lam I liar isn’t great and then the handbags after Uren took the ball out the scrum and kicked it out! Everyone lost their heads from DOR’s to players and officials!
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) June 5, 2021
John Afoa nearly 40, sat down and not warmed up for a whole half then comes on and sends the plastic hardman Genge into reverse, against the head to win the game – you love to see it! ❤️
And there’s still people who think he should have been a lion 😂😂😂
— Ryan Barrett (@RyanLeeBarrett) June 5, 2021
Richard Wigglesworth is about to lead John Afoa back to this scrum by the hand.
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) June 5, 2021
Love Pat Lam as a coach and the way his teams play rugby but that was an obvious attempt at cheating to win a game. Adamant John Afoa is apparently injured and can’t go back on then next min he’s on the pitch dominating a scrum to win the game! Mental. #LeicesterTigers #LEIvBRI
— Ross Watters (@rosswatters92) June 5, 2021
John Afoa in the sub shed… pic.twitter.com/TMBrpkosDI
— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) June 5, 2021
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