NORTHAMPTON SAINTS COACH Jim Mallinder downplayed the incident which could cost Dylan Hartley his place at the Six Nations with England.
The Saints overcame Leicester Tigers 23-19 on Saturday, despite Hartley’s early dismissal for elbowing Matt Smith after being powerfully cleared from a ruck by the Leicester centre.
Hartley’s reaction caused a brief fracas between the two sets of players, and could land Hartley with a ban.
Match referee JP Doyle initially seemed content to brandish a yellow, but following a long discussion with television match official Sean Davey, Hartley was shown a red card and sent on his way.
Despite being down to 14 men for over an hour, Northampton managed to claim an impressive win and top spot in the Premiership courtesy of Jamie Elliott’s late try and Mallinder believes the England hooker’s early dismissal inspired his side.
“In terms of the red card, it’s disappointing,” Mallinder said. ”Dylan’s got to keep his arms down, but he was being held and I don’t think there was any malice in it.
“I think Smith went down pretty easily to be honest, which was disappointing. It’s a tough game. If you looked at that 80 minutes of rugby, it was hard, physical, some great tackles. Some of them were quite high and people got penalised for those.
“I don’t think there was any malice in that and JP’s first reaction of a yellow card would have been the correct decision.”
Mallinder added: ”I tell you what Tom Wood said [at half-time]… let’s do it for Dylan Hartley. That was really the theme.
“You don’t want to be down to 14 men but what we have got is playing with 14 men against Leicester and knowing we can come back and win.”
Hartley previously missed the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia after abusing referee Wayne Barnes in the 2013 Premiership final, also against Leicester.
It really is people from outside the club who are concerned about his dry spell. 17 goals 7 assists & well in the hunt for the golden boot again
@samstheman: his finishing and awareness of players around him recently has been shocking, pressure?
Even when Salah hits a dry patch the opposition are fixated on him!
Liverpool are Top of the Premiership, and in the quarter finals of the Champion’s League!
Slow news day?
@Battaz: tbf its not news but for salah to come out of his dry spell( if ya can call it that) would be a massive boost for lfc. While their in a great posistion city still there and augero scoring. Messi/ronaldo scoring for europes big teams.
Salah is selfish. Always angry and moody when he doesn’t score yet the team are winning.
@Fred McHugh: all top strikers/goal scorers have that trait. Its a positive in a goal scorer. Top top player
@Fred McHugh: talking ouv your hoop
@Fred McHugh: thats what top strikers are …. Not ever happy with what they have . MON DA POOL
@Fred McHugh: can only agree with you Frederick. That accidental assist for Mane with the outside of his right foot v Munich was absolute and utter greed. Sell him to West Ham and be off with him
@Conor Pocock: left foot…. doh :)