Leinster scrumhalf Luke McGrath was perhaps lucky to only receive a yellow card after attempting a cover tackle on Springbok flyer Kurt-Lee Arendse.
The incident took place just before the end of the first half of Ireland's United Rugby Championship match against the Bulls.
The South African side put together a great attack and left Arendse free on the outside before the winger landed securely in the corner.
proceed at the pace
However, he had to fend off the covering McGrath, who entered too high and ended up making head contact with the Springbok.
🟨 Luke McGrath was yellowed for this tackle on Kurt-Lee Arendse.
🤔 What are your thoughts?#URC #LEIVBUL pic.twitter.com/65u4ueunRv
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) March 29, 2024
The scrum-half was officially given a yellow card after a review, but many on social media felt he should have been given a harsher punishment.
Fortunately, Arendse was not injured after the touchdown, which was a botched tackle by the Irish playmaker.
The majority agreed that McGrath should have received a red card, which would have reduced the hosts to 14 men with more than half the match remaining.
A try from Arendse cut the deficit to 12-11 for the Bulls and they led 14-12 at half-time, but Leinster showed their class in the second period, scoring 35 unanswered points. They won 47-14.
Ireland's stars show their class as Leinster crush the Bulls with victory
The decision not to give the scrum-half a red card certainly went viral, with one person writing on X (formerly Twitter): That's a red card for the Stonewall straight. It was also fortunate that neither Arense nor himself were seriously injured. ”
Another added: “McGrath's comments are absolutely awful. He had so much time to think about what to do that he just threw his whole body weight at him, hoping to force him into touch (from 5 meters in the field?)” I did.”
Explanation
Strangely, pundits seemed to place the blame for the collision on the South African winger, with former Ireland internationals Ian Madigan and Alan Quinlan criticizing Arendse.
Quinlan said that Flyer should have slipped in to score, but it didn't work, and one said, “Why does Alan Quinlan blame Arendse for McGrath's crappy tackling technique?”
Madigan similarly took a dark view of Arendse's actions, leaving viewers perplexed.
“Ian Madigan has an absolute filly! Arendse had to defend himself from the guy coming at him fully leaning and fully upright. McGrath should have taken the red on that one. Arense had the right to protect himself from a head-on collision!'' Connor Counihan wrote.
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