MIKE BROWN WAS at the centre of a controversial incident during England’s 21-10 win over Ireland in the Six Nations on Saturday.
Many were expecting the England fullback to be cited for what has widely been perceived as a reckless use of the boot in making contact with the face of Conor Murray at a ruck close to the English tryline late in the game, but the Six Nations has confirmed Brown will not face a disciplinary hearing.
Referee Romain Poite and television match official Shaun Veldsman felt Brown’s connection with the face of the Ireland scrum-half was accidental at the time and Joe Schmidt echoed that sentiment after the game.
Kicking an opponent in the face, or anywhere on the body, is obviously outlawed in rugby and though Brown doesn’t appear to deliberately make contact with Murray’s face here, many viewed his actions as reckless, i.e. that Brown knew [or should have known] there was a risk of committing an act of foul play.
While the Brown case is now closed, kicking the ball out of the ruck has been a contentious issue within the game for much longer than the last two days. Many high-level coaches are against the action, which is entirely legal under World Rugby’s current laws.
“Players are rucking when they are in a ruck and using their feet to try to win or keep possession of the ball, without being guilty of foul play,” states the definition of a ruck in the game’s lawbook.
The other references to use of the feet in a ruck say players must not “pick up the ball in a ruck with their legs,” an offence that is sanctionable with a penalty, and that a player cannot intentionally ruck a player on the ground.
The Brown incident has already been argued over extensively, but our focus here is on the actual act of kicking the ball out of a ruck.
England have been excellent in this area under Jones so far in the Six Nations, consistently dislodging the ball through the back-end of rucks, or at least slowing the opposition scrum-half’s attempts to pass the ball away.
Clearly this is a focused part of their defensive strategy, but they are certainly not the only team who look to kick balls loose after the tackle.
Below, we see Josh van der Flier doing it for Ireland in the first half at Twickenham.
It’s classic openside play and many Ireland fans would have applauded the use of the boot at this point. It is, of course, a very different situation to the one involving Brown later in the game.
Firstly, the ball is further away from the face of the player on the ground, with Billy Vunipola getting a full extension of the arms in placing it back on England’s side.
Van der Flier benefits from the intelligent work of Jack McGrath on his left, the loosehead prop taking potential ruck arriver Dan Cole out of the game off the ball.
With Toner on the ground at the front of the tackle, George Kruis cannot get ideal access either, meaning van der Flier can fight up to his feet and plant his left leg near the ball, to kick with his right just as Kruis engages with him to form what would be a ruck.
It’s a lot cleaner than the Brown incident, particularly because it’s more of a breakdown situation for van der Flier to arrive into, rather than the ruck that Brown is presented with.
This is good, smart play from van der Flier and he is entirely within the laws of the game to do so.
That’s the underlying point here; rugby players would be foolish not to attempt to kick the ball out of rucks if they are in any position to do so. It’s legal and it ruins the opposition’s possession.
If the ball comes loose on Brown’s first dab at the ball, that is smart play. Instead, Murray’s knee and hands ensure that he retains ‘possession’ and with van der Flier taking a split second to decide to clear the England fullback out, Brown kicks at out the ball again.
As van der Flier eventually does start to drive Brown back, the Harlequins man has another two swings at the ball, this time with his right foot. The ball is now up on Murray’s chest, after he rolls backward from the blow to his face with the heel of Brown’s left boot on his third dab at it.
Watching the incident again, it does seem crazy that Brown is entitled to attempt to kick at the ball here, but so allows the laws of the game, as long as the officials feel he is not being reckless in his actions.
It’s the actual lawbook where Schmidt has an issue. The Ireland head coach feels that a rucking action should not leave his scrum-half needing stitches beside his eye.
“I’m not going to chase those things,” said Schmidt post-match. “They’re decisions that officials make and they make them under pressure and they have other people look at things. I’ve never chased one of those and I won’t start now.
“The one thing that I did identify is it is something that appears to be a strategy. There is a lot of kicking the ball out of the ruck and I just think it’s probably something that even the lawmakers or the officials have to have a bit of a look at just regarding player safety, particularly with the head and particularly the eyes as it was in this incident.”
It’s hard to argue with Schmidt’s assertion after an incident like this one. One for World Rugby to take a close look at.
cork needed the win more …limerick competed …both sides will be happy at this stage in the year .
Dont know where ye got the stat that limerick were looking to secure their 5th victory on the bounce over cork. Their last 2 meetings were draws
@domas1507: Getting bate after extra time doesn’t count no?
@Padraig McElligott: actually no. The game us officially recorded as a draw if its level at full time. The extra time is to decide who goes forward but the game is officially a draw
@domas1507: Limerick beat Cork on the day officially or otherwise. The last two meetings between the two sides before today – one draw and one Limerick victory. You don’t draw your way into an All Ireland Final.
@Padraig McElligott: we all know ye won so congratulations again and again and again
@Padraig McElligott: So they weren’t going for their 5th victory on the bounce. Thanks for clearing that up.
Should have been thr result in last year’s semi-final…
@Forfar So Good: Hmmm juicy lemons….
@Colm O’Sullivan: Thought i might get someone to bite:-)
@Forfar So Good: aaaaw
Cork deserved the win. They have found a centre back in Tim O’Mahony. He was my man of the match. Limerick could never get into their stride like in previous weeks, and when they did they gifted Cork their second goal. The two new boys, Dooley for Cork and O’Brien for Limerick both performed well. It’s the kickstart that Cork needed and a kick up the backside that Limerick will eventually welcome.
@Colm O’Sullivan: thats probably the best thing said about the game. Fair play
Unbelievable win for Cork against the greatest team to ever play the game and shoe ins for the all Ireland.
Hopefully results like this will help the game develop in developing hurling counties like Cork etc
@damien o brien: :-))))))
@damien o brien: lol
@damien o brien: such unwarranted bitterness and condescension. Well done Cork the better team won today.
There will be absolutely nothing in it if these teams were to meet in the championship.
Will do Limerick no harm at all to taste defeat
@Alan Fitzgerald: Ah jaysus Alan go out and get a bit of air I’d say..
That limerick fella isn’t saying much now!!!!
Great win for Cork, who could have had a few more goals. Held on when it looked for all the money Limerick were going to go through them.
That’s a great result for Cork, winning away to the All-Ireland champions.
Sluggish display from Limerick, did well to draw it back level but missed chances proved costly in the end.
On to Ennis next week now.
So we have a championship after all !! This time last week they were handing Liam to Limerick ….
@David O’Neill: Not really. Prior to Limerick beating Kilkenny and to a lesser degree Tipp, the media have spent pre season telling everyone how Limerick will struggle to get out of Munster let alone mount a title challenge again. Only when they beat Kilkenny did the media have to eat their words and back peddle somewhat to give this team some credit. Any Limerick fan will tell you that they’ll treat every game in Munster and on like a cup final, however we’re tired of being brandished nothing more than a team that “gives 100% commitment”, though plenty of that it’s high time they recognise the skill levels of our hurlers.
@No: Limerick are a serious team and as you say Munster is a minefield but how these journalists make predictions like that in February is beyond me !!! What i will say is 6 or 7 teams will feel they can win it this year !!
@No: You’re a bit over the top there. Nobody is brandishing Limerick like you say. Everyone recognises their skill levels. But they’re starting with a clean slate this year. They’ve a 60% chance of coming out of Munster. No more nor no less than the other 4 counties.
Should’ve been a draw. I don’t begrudge cork there win . But the ref gave limerick a free in 5 from the end …. he hadn’t seen the hand pass to Cian Lynch who was thundering down on the goals with only the keeper to beat ….and he knows he made a mistake (an should have played the advantage) because he wrapped both hands around his head!!
Big scalp for Cork hurlers today.
@Anyone But Cork: actually was cheers. Considering the last few results. Thanks for your support. ; )
Martin Brennan won’t know what to do with himself now tonight with that win!!
Cork needed that big time and that defeat could well be a blessing in disguise for Limerick considering the way they have been built up in the last couple of weeks. Limerick have proved they can win an All-Ireland and will be there or thereabouts again this year. Hopefully Cork improve from last year but still think we are a couple of players short.