Controversy as Danny Care produces exact same collision as Freddie Steward red
What a difference a week makes. Almost exactly one week after England fullback Freddie Steward was red carded by Jaco Peyper for a collision with Ireland’s Hugo Keenan, Harlequins’ Danny Care found himself in the same position.
Facing Saracens at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Gallagher Premiership, the Quins scrum-half was chasing to gather a bobbling ball against his counterpart Ivan van Zyl, whereupon the ball bounced into the Saracen’s hands. Care had no time to adjust, and subsequently ended up making contact with the head of van Zyl, who was soon forced off the field with a head injury.
The key difference this week was that referee Luke Pearce deemed that it was just a rugby incident and did not penalise Care. This was slightly different to the collision last week, as Care was very close to retrieving the ball, but in both cases neither Steward nor Care had time to adjust with a player careering towards them. Just a matter of minutes later Care was actually being yellow carded, although that was for killing the ball.
Pearce may have been influenced by the events of the past week (where Steward’s red card was rescinded) in making his decision, although it was slightly different from what happened in Ireland.
Take a look at the collision:
😳 Is Danny Care lucky to be on the pitch after this? #SARvHAR | #ITVRugby pic.twitter.com/7wVxuSlSTn
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) March 25, 2023
👀 "It's similar to that Freddie Steward incident…if that had been upheld, we might have seen a red card" 🗣@ChrisRobshaw
🤔 Did Danny Care get away with one?#ITVRugby | #GallagherPrem | #SARvHAR pic.twitter.com/HUiTjKQFs9
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) March 25, 2023
Here are some of the comments on Twitter:
Good grief, how was Danny Care not red carded? That's awful from him. A lack of game awareness isn't an excuse for dangerous play! #SARvHAR
— matt (@dvtavfc) March 25, 2023
Struggle with that Danny Care “no foul play” decision. The carrier is holding it. He’s upright and shouldered him in the head at pace. Late change in height perhaps.
They also said no HIA which was obviously wrong. They’ve now reversed that, but that’s really poor work. #SARvHAR
— Antony Raphael (@AntonyRaphael18) March 25, 2023
A frankly incredible decision not to show Danny Care a red card there in light of the precedent set by Jaco Peyper in the 6 Nations. It’s not that I disagree. I never felt Steward’s was red card worthy either. But the inconsistency is a disgrace. Especially this close to the WC.
— Naxis (@Naxis911) March 25, 2023
That Danny Care collision handled very well by the officials. Should have been the same last week with the Steward red! #SARvHAR #COYQ
— Luke Jefferies (@luke_jefferiess) March 25, 2023
The only way Van Zyl is staying on that pitch was because he was looking for that red card for Danny care #SARvHAR
— Jake Turnbull (@JakeRTurnbull) March 25, 2023
Saracens XV: 15. Alex Goode, 14. Max Malins, 13. Alex Lozowski, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Sean Maitland, 10. Owen Farrell (c), 9. Ivan van Zyl; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Marco Riccioni, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Hugh Tizard, 6. Andy Christie, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16. Theo Dan, 17. Eroni Mawi, 18. Alec Clarey, 19. Nick Isiekwe, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Aled Davies, 22. Duncan Taylor, 23. Alex Lewington
Harlequins XV: 15. Nick David, 14. Joe Marchant, 13. Luke Northmore, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Cadan Murley, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care; 1. Joe Marler, 2. Jack Walker, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Irne Herbst, 5. Stephan Lewies (c), 6. Jack Kenningham, 7. James Chisholm, 8. Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: 16. Sam Riley, 17. Fin Baxter, 18. Will Collier, 19. Dino Lamb, 20. Will Evans, 21. Scott Steele, 22. Tommy Allan, 23. Oscar Beard
