CHRIS FOY: Let's not ruin another year with reckless red card calls

CHRIS FOY: Let’s not ruin another Six Nations with reckless red card calls… plus, Premiership Rugby’s return to terrestrial TV is a hit and Joe Marchant Covid blow adds to England’s midfield misery

• The Six Nations gets underway next weekend as Scotland take on England
• Fear within the sport is that another spate of red cards will ruin the tournament 
• Former Scotland captain Andy Nicol believes make decisions under pressure

The stage is set for a thrilling Six Nations, but the nagging fear within the sport is that another spate of red cards will ruin the tournament — and the omens are not good. At all.

When Sportsmail assembled a panel of experts last week to discuss the championship, the long debate was all but over when Andy Nicol raised a pertinent and alarming point. ‘We’ve not talked about something which could be a massive factor — red cards,’ said the former Scotland captain. ‘One slightly mistimed tackle or entry into contact could change this whole thing.’

He is right, of course. The concern is that marginal, high-stakes disciplinary decisions made by under-pressure referees will significantly dictate the outcome of matches and the title contest, again.

Scotland’s Zander Fagerson is shown a red card by the referee in last years Six Nations

That was the scenario last year, when there were a record five dismissals, as Peter O’Mahony, Zander Fagerson, Bundee Aki, Paul Willemse and Finn Russell were all sent off. That is the same number of reds shown in the first 20 years of the Six Nations.

Wales claimed the prize in 2021 after three of their games finished with the opposition down to 14 men. Depleted sides can muster heroic defiance — as Wasps did in their recent win over European champions Toulouse — but more often than not the numerical imbalance is decisive.

It is hard to imagine that this year’s edition of the annual northern hemisphere showpiece will avoid more dismissals and recriminations. Recent events have raised tension levels.

Last Friday, Jaco Peyper refereed Ulster v Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship, as a warm-up before taking charge of two Six Nations games. The South African sparked Welsh outrage when home wing Craig Gilroy was let off with a yellow card after slamming his shoulder into the head of Tom Rogers, who went off for a head injury assessment and didn’t return.

Craig Gilroy of Ulster got away with just a yellow card in a tackle last weekend against Scarlets

More pressure is being put on referees to make the right calls ahead of the tournament

The ‘horrific collision’ was not a good look for the sport, so it is inevitable that officials will receive fresh orders to take a hard line. Rugby’s authorities are notoriously reactive, so they will be jolted by ugly footage and uproar among public and pundits.

Meanwhile, the only other referee awarded two championship fixtures is Mike Adamson — who was castigated for his handling of the Harlequins v Castres tie in the Heineken Champions Cup earlier this month. Prior to that, the Scot sent off Munster’s Simon Zebo, but his dismissal was overturned by a disciplinary panel, who deemed it did not amount to foul play. Adamson will oversee England v Wales at Twickenham, an occasion which always proceeds on a knife-edge.

Everyone will hope that all the games ahead start and finish as 15 v 15 — but that is a faint hope. It is imperative that the penny drops among players and their coaches about the need to lower tackle heights and avoid head contact. Of course, that is the overwhelming priority.

English referee Luke Pearce (right) gives a red card to France’s lock Paul Willemse

Yet, as Nicol rightly suggests, the margins are so fine between fair play and what is classified as ‘foul’ play. It feels as if there should be greater distinctions made, to reflect the vast gulf between acts of violence or wild recklessness, for instance, and hairline misjudgments in the midst of dynamic, high-speed contests, characterised by late, split-second changes of direction and body heights.

Perhaps the 20-minute red card law trial in the southern hemisphere — widely derided in these parts — had some merit after all, but with the caveat that only those whose offences were deemed to be technical and lacking malice, could be replaced after that period.

And perhaps Steve Hansen had a point in 2018 when he said: ‘How do we regulate for the dirty play; the intentional stuff no one wants in the game, versus the grey stuff? Common sense has to prevail.’ At the moment, it is not prevailing.

Premiership Rugby’s welcome return to terrestrial TV was a hit on Sunday as Sale stunned leaders Leicester in front of a full house. 

It was a positive result for the domestic game as it was shown live on ITV after a new broadcasting deal was confirmed by PRL. 

But the primetime exposure won’t provide much comfort to the Tigers, who have now lost their last two, with this 35-26 setback in Salford coming after they were beaten by Wasps in Coventry.

Sale trailed 21-5 but turned the tables with second-half tries from Ben Curry, Arron Reed and Dan du Preez. 

Then Tom Roebuck’s try and two AJ MacGinty penalties put Sale out of sight. Elsewhere, Wasps saw off second-placed Saracens to reinforce expectations that during the Six Nations, the Premiership hierarchy is bound to be altered.

England’s Six Nations plans are in turmoil as Harlequins centre Joe Marchant has been forced to isolate after contracting Covid.

Head coach Eddie Jones had already come to terms with the loss of captain Owen Farrell, who was being lined up to start at inside centre, to an ankle injury and now there is more back-line disruption.

Marchant impressed when England beat world champions South Africa in November but is set to miss Saturday’s opener against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Jones could now pick Gloucester’s Mark Atkinson, who made his Test debut in the autumn, at 12, with Henry Slade operating in the 13 shirt. The other contingency plan would be Slade at 12 alongside Elliot Daly, Jack Nowell or the uncapped Luke Northmore.

Top loosehead prop Joe Marler is still in isolation, meanwhile, as he recovers from Covid, and it is unclear when he will be free to resume training. And although an RFU update last night showed that Courtney Lawes — the most likely stand-in captain if fit — has been included in the squad, the Northampton forward is still coming through return-to-play protocols, so he is in grave doubt for the Scotland match.

With Marchant unable to train and Saints rookie outside back Tommy Freeman sidelined after injuring a hamstring last Friday, Jones has called up two wings, Newcastle’s Adam Radwan and Louis Lynagh of Quins.

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