ULSTER CAPTAIN JOHANN MULLER did not agree with the controversial decision of referee Jerome Garces to sent off Jared Payne for taking out Saracens’ Alex Goode in mid-air.
The Ulster fullback was shown a straight card for his challenge on Goode after only four minutes. Payne had his eyes on the ball but never left the ground to contest. His opposite number landed badly and needed several minutes of treatment. Garces asked for numerous video replays before sending Payne on his way. Ulster fought valiantly with 14 men but lost 17-15.
Ulster captain Johann Muller told Sky Sports he was proud of his teammates for fighting for 75 minutes with reduced numbers and pushing the Premiership leaders to the brink. “The passion and commitment the boys showed out there tells you all about the quality in this squad,” he said.
Asked about the sending off, Muller said, “It was very clear. Jared had his eyes on the ball the whole time and he didn’t see [Goode] coming. I said that to the ref as well.” He added, “It wasn’t right… it was a yellow card but a red card is very harsh.”
Muller paid credit to his team’s character and the home supporters at revamped Ravenhill. “There is only 4,000 extra people but it sounded like there was an extra 30,000 here. The atmosphere was outstanding.”
Sarries captain Steve Borthwick, once he was assured his injured teammate was okay, post-match, refused to get drawn into a debate over the card. He said,”That is the ref’s decision. We have to do whatever the ref decides.”
What do you think? Was a red card warranted or a harsh call?
Sarries play like that against a 15 men Clermont, they’re gonna get ripped a new butt-hole.
Fingers crossed!
Very poor decision by referee. A fit 15 man Ulster playing with that intensity would have hammered sacarens, in truth the weaker team is now in the semi’s. Think we should all #SUFTUM after that performance.
An excellent team performance. To loose Best as well as the card so early was a very tough ask. Serious display! The second annoying incident is the fact that that prat scored two tries!
In 2010, as I mentioned just earlier,, Darren Cave got a yellow card for taking Ina Dowling out in the air, in exactly the same scenario of having eyes on the ball, and with the catcher hitting the ground awkwardly.
For THIS ot warrant a red card, I;m sorry, but this is complete nonsense.
Did the ref only give a red because Goode got injured because of it.if Payne got knocked out from Goodes knee would the ref have made the same decision? But why didn’t Payne jump anyway? If the balls in the air would it not be natural reaction for him especially to jump up and catch the ball. Did he not think that someone else was going to challenge for the ball or if there was going to be no one in the air the minute he caught the ball someone would have planted him so would it not have been better decision to jump for it. Still think should have been yellow because he had eyes on the ball and fair play to ulster and best of luck to Leinster today from munster fan
Payne didn’t jump as he slipped as he went down, can’t believe how many people have missed this.
Gutted for Ulster , deserved to win after that display of pure passion and courage , disgraceful decision. Well done Munster , Leinster fan
French refs aint got a clue at most a yellow card
I watch players collide accidentally every week in rugby matches while challenging for the ball. The question has always been is the player attempting to catch the ball?
If so it’s not a penalty, not a yellow and certainly not a red.
It is hugely unfortunate that Goode was hurt and perhaps we do need to put rules in place that do a better job protecting players in the air.
But as I’ve seen the game played, as it stands, it isn’t a penalty offence to make a genuine challenge for the ball. Even if a player gets hurt accidentally.
So, let me get this straight…. If the kick chaser keeps his eyes on the ball, puts his hands out in an attempt to catch the ball, but doesn’t jump to catch it then collides with the legs of the airborne defending full back who has left the ground to catch the ball, resulting in the defending player somersaulting to the ground, possibly landing on his head/neck, that is not even a penalty in your opinion! Because the chaser didn’t mean it!!
Please tell me I have misunderstood you….
Yes. Pay attention to mid air and other collisions when players challenge for the ball. It’s perfectly legal as long as you weren’t intending to purposefully take another player out.
Maybe this needs to be remedied with new laws. However as it stands it’s not a penalty.
David could you launch yourself into the air like that intentionally without flinching to take out a man.its human instinct to brace yourself for a collision,which he didn’t.
As it stands it’s not a penalty!!! Today a referee sent a player off for this offence which is a far cry from it not even being a penalty. Obviously, the referees are using different rules to those that you appear to be familiar with…
I don’t doubt that this was completely unintentional. You can see that his eyes were always on the ball and in fact he took a good clatter himself when he made contact with Goode. But that’s not the point. Payne’s actions could have resulted in a serious injury to an opponent. Thankfully, Goode was ok. Making contact with a player in the air is very dangerous and I have no problem with the authorities doing what ever it takes to stamp it out, even if it means a red card every time.
So do you not want players contesting for the ball in the air then!?
To be honest for safety reasons they should make it no jumping to catch a ball, that ruling today makes it you have to jump or risk getting sent off. Someday a player jumping is going to kill themselves and they then will rule it illegal
Andrew have you ever played rugby?so would you say competing for the ball in the air in Gaelic should be banned to.theres not much of a difference.
But he didn’t contest the ball “in the air”. He never left the ground. That was the problem. 2 players contesting a high ball in the air with both off the ground – no problem.
It is a penalty
There’s literally nothing in the official wording of the IRB Laws saying anything about players leaving ground, intentions, competing for the ball etc etc.. Essentially, the law to do with a player whose feet are off the ground is that “a player must not tackle an opponent whose feet are off the ground”. Unfortunately, the wording means it’s totally up to the referee’s own interpretations in many cases. Just a small side note, O’Gara’s challenge on Fourie du Preez, which essentially lost the ’09 Lions series, was extremely similar to Payne’s today
Yes it was very similar. However, the way in which referees now deal with theses instances of dangerous play (and that’s what it was) has changed. They have been instructed to deal more severely with players in this type of situation, player welfare being the most important consideration.
Yellow at best
Simple and to the point Peter, I like it.
Payne had his eyes on the ball. Awful decision by a poor referee. Ruined the game!!
you can’t only have your eyes on the ball, players need to see their surroundings and be aware of safety of their peers. There was no clear intent but there was clear disregard for safety. Logically it should be a yellow but refs are instructed to go hard on in air tackles.
David Hughes do you play rugby? When u go out on the pitch u expect to get hurt and know that i can get injured badly. I see those incidents every week and in my opinion he had his eyes on the ball and genuinely did not mean to take the man out mid air. It was not his intention to collide with the opposing full back or purposely injure him in any way. Payne was trying to win the ball fairly as any full back would and unfortunately it resulted as it did. In my opinion it was a yellow card at most as it was not intentional in any way and with 4 minutes in to the most professional competition in northern hemisphere rugby at a club stage it ruined the game and immediately put ulster on the back foot through no wrong intentionate doing
Prelim, not anymore, it’s been a while! Does that mean that I am not qualified to comment? For what it’s worth I agree completely with everything you have posted. Payne genuinely contested for the ball but was a fraction late, never got off the ground and took the legs out from under the defending player resulting in that player potentially suffering a serious injury. Now, I don’t know what the refs have been instructed to do in this situation but remember Garces took a hell of a long time to make his decision (and consulted with the TMO before doing so).
David its always your place to make a comment. I’ve had 2 ACL surgeries so in out of rugby myself and am a Leinster man but so disappointed that Ulster didn’t go through as they were the better team. But anyway c’mon Leinster!
Phelim, I will be cheering on the blues tomorrow, like I do all the Irish provincial sides. After all I am a Leinster man domiciled in Munster for a long time now! Statistically, in the q- finals one of the four is won by the away side. I was hoping that would be Leinster. Hopefully, it will be wins for 2 of the away teams this time around!!
You know the thing about payne,he’s got life less dark eye, black eyes,like a dolls eyes. Doesnt seem to be living at all and then he comes at you
The refs first law is safety first. Payne was not safe at all. Red all day. Gutted
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs98Prm-JnQ. No penalty, no card and guess what, the man who doesn’t jump can get seriously hurt too.
No Red Card, eyes on the ball. (Munster Fan) The ref made a mess of that game, Ulster would have won with 15men on the field. It was Goode’s fall though that probably persuaded the ref to give the red.
He is no where near even challenging for the ball so should have pulled out. It’s a poor decision from Payne.
What law has the words “eyes on the ball”in it. 90% of comments have this in it. He was reckless without malice
His eyes were in the ball yes, but hit a player and made no attempt to ensure player safety, a poor tackle from Payne who sighted Goode before impact and hit him with no wrap, it was a red, it would’ve been a red 20 years ago, don’t blame the referee and TMO, Payne is a big boy and let down his team and supporters yesterday, Ulster deserved better and were the better team yesterday
No Red Card, eyes on the ball. (Munster Fan) The ref made a mess of that game, Ulster would have won with 15men on the field. It was Goode’s fall though that probably persuaded the ref to give the red.
Face it he made a schoolboy error resulting in another player being badly hurt. It was stupid, rash and no thought given to what he was actually doing, like a dog chasing a car! If he had any sense he would have let Goode land and then nailed him. RED CARD! Sarries through ulster OUT. Shame on the crowd. Poor poor behaviour. Well done Ashton….SPLASH.
Unfortunately the ref got it wrong. He refereed the landing and not the collision. The contact was accidental and not deliberate.
I have to admit ulster played class yesterday they should be proud but the harsh relialty they won’t be in the semis (munster fan )
Payne was watching the ball he ran into the other fellow by accident mostly with his head it wasn’t even a yellow card incident no to mind red. (Munster supporter)
No Red Card, eyes on the ball. (Munster Fan) The ref made a mess of that game, Ulster would have won with 15men on the field. It was Goode’s fall though that probably persuaded the ref to give the red.