French lock Paul Willemse was shown a red card during Saturday night’s Six Nations showdown against Wales in Paris.

The second row cleared out Wales prop Wyn Jones late on in the second half and after a long consultation, officials Luke Pearce and Wayne Barnes ruled that Willemse had made contact with the eyes of the Welsh front rower.

France therefore played the remaining 10 minutes of the match with 14 men but after one of the most dramatic finales to any Six Nations championship in history, it was the French who snatched a 32-30 win right at the death.

REACTION:

Late night Twitter. Pent up aggression from a long day with the kids.
You can’t grab players eyes. You can’t clean players out by grabbing eyes. I was gouged twice in my career. I’m happy for red cards to be handed out for grabbing eyes. (Can’t believe I’m saying that) #FRAvsWAL

— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) March 20, 2021

Willemse’s look from the floor is straight at the ref with something of a grimace.

— Sam Roberts (@SamRobertsComms) March 20, 2021

Would you believe it. #FRAvWAL pic.twitter.com/nt8GFIrLPq

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 20, 2021

Ah Paul Willemse with a Loftus Special there.

— Thala Msutu (@ThalaMsutu77) March 20, 2021

Sébastien Vahaamahina 🤝 Paul Willemse

French second-rows making idiotic decisions

— Tom Pritchard (@TomJPritchard) March 20, 2021

Reckless is still a red. Doesn’t need to be ‘intentional’ #FRAvsWAL

— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) March 20, 2021