Refereeing decisions

[John S]

How James Ryan's ban has been mitigated to a slap on the wrist after dangerous hit on Malcolm Marx

☘️ James Ryan learns ban fate after his costly red card against the Springboks.

www.planetrugby.com

James Ryan given a three match suspension for his red card on the weekend against SA.

I'm probably a little bit dense, but I'm not seeing that much difference to the ones that got overturned in the last few weeks. There must be some differences as the disciplinary panel thought so.

 

[Strewthcobber]

How James Ryan's ban has been mitigated to a slap on the wrist after dangerous hit on Malcolm Marx

☘️ James Ryan learns ban fate after his costly red card against the Springboks.

www.planetrugby.com

James Ryan given a three match suspension for his red card on the weekend against SA.

I'm probably a little bit dense, but I'm not seeing that much difference to the ones that got overturned in the last few weeks. There must be some differences as the disciplinary panel thought so.

It's a clean-out, not a tackle (which doesn't make too much difference), but there was clearly direct, high force contact with the oppo players head; the main difference with those that have been overturned recently - the others didn't have both high force and direct contact.

 

[John S]

Yeah, ok. That makes sense. So what's the difference with the clean out on Tizzano - because there was high direct force to the head (well ok upper neck) on that one. It seems strange of the difference just because of the head position of the player being tackled.

 

[Major Tom]

I thought the SA shoulder-charge in the first half was extremely lucky not to get a YC.

 

[JRugby2]

Yeah, ok. That makes sense. So what's the difference with the clean out on Tizzano - because there was high direct force to the head (well ok upper neck) on that one. It seems strange of the difference just because of the head position of the player being tackled.

I can see a few differences, in no particular order:

- Tizzano's head is significantly lower than Marx's
- James Ryan jumps over the ruck whereas Morgan entered on feet
- Ryan's airborne at contact, which reduces the amount of control he has over his body and movement to zero, Jac still has control
- contact point, but you pointed this out already

The sum of all of that being we have one that is definitely foul play, and one that maybe is.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Yeah, ok. That makes sense. So what's the difference with the clean out on Tizzano - because there was high direct force to the head (well ok upper neck) on that one. It seems strange of the difference just because of the head position of the player being tackled.

The actual law he was found guilty of breeching was this one

“A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.

So the difference is they found Ryan "charged" into the ruck, whereas the ref group didn't think Morgan did.

As they keep on telling us, not all head contact is foul play. To form a ruck in accordance with the laws of the game it's virtually impossible to avoid contact with the head/neck.

 

[John S]

Thanks muchly appreciated, with all these interpretations, how's a nufty like me supposed to understand it? lol

 

[JRugby2]

Thanks muchly appreciated, with all these interpretations, how's a nufty like me supposed to understand it? lol

Yeah it's pretty hard going. Fans struggling to interpret rules isn't a problem that's unique to rugby.