The controversial Wasps red card against Toulouse that has divided the rugby world
Another week, and another red card that has proven to be controversial with fans and pundits, as Wasps’ Jacob Umaga saw red against Toulouse in the Heineken Champions Cup.
The 23-year-old, playing at fullback at the CBS Arena, was dismissed by referee Chris Busby on 34 minutes after a head on head collision with scrum-half Martin Page-Relo when his side were leading 14-7. While it was accidental, the referee believed there was no mitigation, although plenty in commentary and online seem to disagree. It is certainly not a nice looking tackle, but it has split opinion.
Take a look at the tackle:
Carton rouge pour Jacob Umaga après ce plaquage sur Martin Page-Relo.#WASPSST #WASvTOU #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/pJlqiVVQ2o
— Gauthier Baudin (@GauthierBaudin) January 15, 2022
The likes of Andy Goode and Umaga’s Wasps teammate Malakai Fekitoa have commented on the red online, with Goode describing it as a “rugby incident”. It is one of those situations where it is easy to see where those that disagree with the red are coming from, but equally it is easy to see where the referee was coming from as there was clear head on head contact. It has been pointed out that this would have been avoided completely if Umaga tackled with the other shoulder.
Crazy decision, that’s a rugby incident and accidental head on head so yellow at best!
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) January 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/MalakaiFekitoa/status/1482348871435042818?s=20
This was not the only dangerous tackle in the game, as Toulouse No8 Anthony Jelonch was shown a yellow card for a shoulder to the head of Alfie Barbeary in the second half. That was mitigated by the fact that Barbeary dropped his level just before contact, although it was an equally gruesome collision.
Correct call there for a yellow which should have been the same for Umaga
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) January 15, 2022
Despite playing the majority of the match against the European champions with only 14 men, Wasps still came away with an impressive 30-22 win.
Wasps XV (First-team appearances)
15 Jacob Umaga (59)
14 Ali Crossdale (10)
13 Paolo Odogwu (23)
12 Jimmy Gopperth (140)
11 Josh Bassett (162)
10 Charlie Atkinson (19)
9 Sam Wolstenholme (26)
1 Rodrigo Martinez (1)
2 Tom Cruse (106)
3 Biyi Alo (26)
4 Tim Cardall (41)
5 James Gaskell (143)
6 Alfie Barbeary (20)
7 Brad Shields (65) (c)
8 Tom Willis (51)
Replacements
16 Dan Frost (9)
17 Zac Nearchou (5)
18 Pieter Scholtz (5)
19 Nizaam Carr (66)
20 Thomas Young (150)
21 Will Porter (40)
22 Rob Miller (127)
23 Ryan Mills (6)
Toulouse: Ramos; Mallia, Guitoune, Ahki, Lebel; Ntamack (capt), Page-Relo; Baille, Mauvaka, Aldegheri, Flament, Arnold, Cros, Placines, Jelonch.
Replacements: Cramont, Neti, Tafili, Meafou, Youyoutte, Bales, Nanai-Williams, Medard.