CONNACHT COACH PAT Lam has called on his players to control their tempers on the back of Bundee Aki’s suspension for abusing a referee.
But the outgoing Connacht coach could land himself in hot water with Pro12 officials after stating there were ‘pre-conceived ideas, both ways’ between his players and referee Ian Davies.
Davies complained about Aki’s behaviour and remarks directed toward him during and shortly after Connacht’s recent Pro12 defeat to Leinster at the Sportsground.
According to Lam, Connacht have been refereed by Davies more times this season than any other referee in his time in charge and he believes this has had an impact.
“There’s no doubt the refereeing job is a tough job, but like everyone, we have to control our emotions. The unusual thing is, we have had Ian four or five times this season. We have had him more times than any referee in any season.
“So, there’s no doubt that both ways, there’s pre-conceived ideas, both ways.
“So, frustration boiled over, I think everyone heard it and saw it with John Muldoon, and with the other players. He had to go through the process. I’m certainly disappointed on all parts of it.”
Two years ago Lam was fined €8,000 for making critical comments about Welsh referee Leighton Hodges.
He continued: “The thing with Bundee, when something happens like that, any citing it just goes over with Tim Allnutt (manager) and Willie Ruane (chief executive) and they deal with that.
“Willie will let me know when we get all the information (if we are going to appeal). Once all the information comes in, then they can have a look at it and we can make a decision from there.”
Aki, 27, has played 59 times for the province and scored nine tries, but the centre now looks set to miss their Champions Cup play-off semi-final, as well as this weekend’s closing Pro12 fixture against Munster.
Ireland international scrum-half Kieran Marmion is back fit for the game – Lam’s last league game in charge – while Marnitz Boshoff, Cian Kelleher and Darragh Leader all came through the Scarlets defeat unscathed.
But Eoin Griffin is a worry ahead of the trip to Thomond Park – he was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Welsh international winger Liam Williams.
Williams, who is picked to tour with the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand this summer, allegedly dumped the Connacht centre to the floor, and Griffin is following graduated return to play protocols.
“The officials saw it, the TMO saw it, so we just leave it to them. It’s just those things that happen in the game and we just have to move on,” said Lam, who did not make reference to the incident in his match report.
“All of those things, there’s a citing commissioner and the TMO and all of that. If they don’t deal with it. And if they think it’s okay, it’s okay.”
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“Allegedly dumped griffin on his head”, it was pretty clear to see, it’s no allegation to say he dumped him on his head it’s a fact
@Cathal O’Connor:
This will be the first suspension to knock out a Lions choice this time around
@Limón Madrugada: We’ve seen it a million times, Griffin just having to take one for the Lions. Suspension will absolutely not happen despite a clear angle for TMO/REF and Citing Officer.
https://twitter.com/RonanB/status/858872424598827009
@RonanPB: I really don’t see why anyone think that warrants a suspension. He’s cleared the player from the tackle area, he’s not let go, that player pulls him to the ground and he lands awkwardly. You’re going to be hard pressed to find any law that’s going to cover pulling a player to the ground as a reason for a suspension.
@Cathal O’Connor: agree should have been straight red.. which would have changed the game. Unreal bad referring decision. One can only guess why..????
To be fair to aki and to connacht, Davies is a dreadful referee. Always has to make the game about him and not the two teams that are actually playing. If you’re on the losing side for a period in the game and he’s against you it’s gotta be incredibly frustrating. Surely the powers that be have to sanction this kind of refereeing. Think fitzgerald was on the money with his comments against Nigel Owens a few weeks back too (but that’s an argument for another day!) Didn’t see the dumping but by all accounts it was clear as day and again this clown hasn’t picked it up? Has it been cited? If not I hope it doesn’t. As the old saying goes, it ain’t illegal until you get caught!!
@Liam Flague: I agree, Davies has to go the way of Peter Fitzgibbon and Leighton Hodges
@Liam Flague: they had twice the amount of penalties as Leinster, mostly when a ref is giving you most of the calls you keep him on side. Aki couldn’t keep his trap shut. Deserves his ban.
Not sure I can see MUCH wrong with what Liam Williams did. I was expecting something akin to the landings on top of head or shoulders we have seen for the last several years. He wrestled with Williams, who – being very strong for his size – unexpectedly won the wrestle and Griffin ended up on his stomach. The trouble was, Griffin’s feet did leave the ground at the last moment and his face did land before anything else.
I hope Griffin is fine, in which case I hope Williams’s Lions tour is not in danger – the Lions need his skills (see last year’s Welsh tour to NZ) and he’s become an oppo player who’s easy to appreciate in recent years; seems to get on well with Irish players during and after matches. Also, I know it’s irrelevant to judging the danger but Griffin seemed to be clearing out way beyond the ruck.
@Glenbower: I agree, it looks like Williams pulled him to the ground and he landed awkwardly. By the way some people were going on I thought he had lifted him and speared him into the ground.
@Darren Byrne: Pulled him to the ground is being far too kind. Williams was at no risk from Griffin (who should have been penalised for obstruction if he was able to continue), he just lost the rag and snapped him head first to the ground. Given the fact that Griffin was sufficiently injured to be unable to continue as a a direct result then it should absolutely have warranted a heavier punishment at the time, and certainly afterwards.
It was a bit like a Facebuster variation from Wrestling, basically drove Griffin face first into the ground and afforded no chance to protect himself. In every action a player takes on a rugby pitch they have to take the safety of the opponent into consideration…
At the very least it is covered by the Laws covering foul and dangerous play..
“Foul play is anything a player does within the playing enclosure that is against the letter and spirit of the Laws of the Game. It includes obstruction, unfair play, repeated infringements, dangerous play and misconduct which is prejudicial to the Game.”
10.4 Dangerous play and misconduct
(l) Retaliation. A player must not retaliate. Even if an opponent is infringing the Laws, a player must not do anything that is dangerous to the opponent.
Sanction: Penalty kick
10.5 Sanctions
(a)
Any player who infringes any part of the Foul Play Law must be admonished, or cautioned and temporarily suspended for a period of ten minutes’ playing time, or sent-off.
The worst referee, by a country mile, in the Pro12.