2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

only Aussies on the disciplinary panel, right?

Ohhhhh for Farrell to put them out of the world cup with a drop goal in the final seconds. that would be karma.

No different to Porter breaking Retallick's cheekbone with a 'passive' tackle that somehow still has enough force to put a player out of action for 1-2 months, while they are fine to carry on.

There's still many issues with everything surrounding head contact and citing.

Head on head tackles are fine boys, pass it on.

Feel free to ruck the arse, back and head of the opponent too.

Oh, and jump out of tackles too, sure whats a little blindness in one eye between friends.

Mad verdict

Farrell has more lives than a cat with his poor tackle technique

I'm genuinely speechless about that decision and cant think of anything constructive to say about it...how the f*k could you look at that tackle and come to the conclusion that it wasnt worthy of a red.

My honest gut feeling is the panel didn't want Farrell to miss the RWC and the only way they could ensure that is deny it was a red at all as if they accepted it was they'd have to throw the book at him. I honestly cant see any other logic.

I've seen or two comments trying to bring Sexton into it. Completely ignoring the fact that Sexton was actually banned. Very frustrating, but also best to ignore.

I've just watched that on Twitter/X and to be fair it was an awful tackle and a potential neck breaker. Two wrongs don't make a right.

Yes, fair enough the lack of consistency is a puzzler alright.

I hope Farrell isn't t getting special treatment and it is just a cultural difference with an Australian panel. That said there shouldn't be a cultural difference on these matters, otherwise it all comes down to the make up of a panel as to whether a player gets banned or not.

The main point when you look at the rules regarding a red card, which this panel seems to have conveniently side stepped, is when you are either always illegal or deliberately trying to hut the opponent then the mitigation factor isnt considered and its a red card if it meets the criteria for a red to begin with. Like I said previously if they came to the conclusion that this was a red they would have had no choice but to throw the book at him based on his previous record which means he would have missed a significant portion of the RWC if not all of it, the only way this wouldn't have happened is if they just denied it was a red card at all which seems to be what's happened. It's actually farcical, when I saw the post originally I genuinely thought it was someone trolling, I was then shocked to find out it was the actual decision. If World Rugby want any credibility restored they need to appeal this decision otherwise it will look really bad on them.