Referee Wayne Barnes has caught the ire of fans online for his handing out of a yellow card to French prop Uini Antonio.
In a huge collision the 150kg Antonio caught Ireland Hooker Rob Herring with a high tackle in which he appeared not to wrap his arms.
Barnes only handing out a yellow card instead of a red has been branded as ‘ridiculous’ by a number of pundits and fans online.
The tackle on Rob Herring is shocking and should have been a red card. Exactly the type of tackle that needs to stop in Rugby. No arm wrap and high with force.
— Alan Quinlan (@AlanQuinlan1) February 11, 2023
Not a high degree of danger, but Rob Herring needs a HIA. That is an atrocious decision
— Rúaidhrí O’Connor (@RuaidhriOC) February 11, 2023
It seems that Uini Atonio would literally have to take the head off Rob Herring’s shoulders for Wayne Barnes to give a red card.
What a farce. #IREvFRA
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 11, 2023
The decision prompted Irish fans to believe that Barnes has a personal issue when refereeing the men in green.
If it’s any other team in world rugby barnes is giving a red it’s we’ll know he hates Ireland
— sjrck o b (@Kennethobrien17) February 11, 2023
Ah you’d have to feel sorry for Wayne Barnes. He gave it his all but Ireland were just too good for him !!
What a game !!!— John Doyle (@johnfdoyle3) February 11, 2023
Barnes bottled that call direct contact too the head and no attempt to go low by French player.
Players safety in his case doesn’t seem to matter.— Charlie Watts (@Charlieboy2262) February 11, 2023
On the other side of the argument, fan felt Antonio should not have been punished for the tackle at all.
Not a high degree of danger, but Rob Herring needs a HIA. That is an atrocious decision
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) February 11, 2023
No red that
— Lee Munday (@lee_munday697) February 11, 2023
No I back barns here, can’t be sending off lads every week for a shoulder to the head tackle, game would have been spoilt and game over if it was a red, it’s not basketball
— Paul Shannon (@Pfriday007) February 11, 2023
Video of tackle to follow.
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