Foul play: Players’ high crimes go unpunished in rugby’s international showpiece

First published in the Daily Maverick 168 weekly newspaper.

In spite of several examples of unbridled aggression – some of which have been highlighted by the host broadcaster during the games – citing commissioners have failed to identify the culprits or to hand down any suspensions during the landmark series between the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions.

Lions prop Kyle Sinckler was cited for biting after the second Test – and later cleared of the offence for lack of evidence – but several more players, on both teams, could have been in the dock and could have been forced to sit out of the third, decisive Test.

And yet, there have been no consequences for the crimes witnessed across the first two Tests. Both teams have escaped serious sanction – and ultimately World Rugby has sent the wrong message to the wider rugby community. 

Curry oversteps the mark

In the first Test, Lions flank Tom Curry was involved in a number of dangerous incidents.

In the 16th minute, Curry drove his shoulder into the ribs of Faf de Klerk, long after the scrumhalf had kicked the ball. Referee Nic Berry awarded a penalty to the Boks, but the incident may well have been worth a review, and ultimately a yellow card, given that Curry made no attempt to use his arms in the tackle and the challenge was late and dangerous.

In the 34th minute, the Lions were awarded a scrum deep in South African territory. Referee Nic Berry was in a terrific position to witness the front-row battle between Ox Nché and Tadhg Furlong.

There was a concerning moment in that scrum, however, when Curry swung round to bind on the Bok prop.

The flank then proceeded to “scrum” into Nché, and went as far as to the legs of the loosehead. Nché protested, but Berry decided to award a penalty to the Lions.

According to the law, the referee could have awarded a penalty to the Boks on two counts. Nobody in the scrum other than those in the front row is allowed to hold or push an opponent, and intentionally lifting an opponent off their feet or forcing them upwards out of the scrum is considered dangerous play and should result in a penalty.

Nché left the field at half-time and didn’t return. South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus later confirmed that Nché had suffered a neck injury in that particular scrum. The Bok loosehead prop was sidelined for the rest of the series. 

Price’s challenge goes unpunished

In recent years, officials have clamped down on dangerous challenges in the air. It’s not uncommon to see reckless attempts to compete for the ball resulting in a yellow card. If the opponent lands on his head or upper body, referees often brandish a red.

In the 61st minute of the first Test, however, Berry kept both his cards in his pocket. Lions scrumhalf Ali Price grabbed Cheslin Kolbe’s leg while he was jumping for a high ball and hurled him to the ground.

Kolbe caught the ball, and planted one foot infield before crashing onto his back.  Berry and his assistants missed the offence by Price, and told the players to play on.

The World Rugby website states that “concussion can be caused by a direct blow to the head, but it can also occur when blows to other parts of the body result in rapid movement of the head, such as whiplash”. At the very least, Kolbe should have been given a moment to recover from his fall, and he should have been assessed by medical staff before play was allowed to continue.

As it was, Kolbe had four seconds to catch his breath before Lions prop Mako Vunipola hauled him up.

As Erasmus pointed out later, Vunipola and the officials should have known better than to treat the situation so lightly. 

Clockwise from top: 1. Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe tackles Boks flank Pieter-Steph du Toit and drops him dangerously. 2. Van der Merwe trips Bok wing Cheslin Kolbe again. 3. Faf de Klerk hits opposite number Conor Murray high. 4. Tom Curry scrums up and into Bok prop Ox Nché, causing a neck injury that ended his series. 5. Curry hits De Klerk late and without arms. 6. Murray lands heavily after Kolbe takes him out in the air. 7. Lions lock Maro Itoje puts his knee on to Damian de Allende’s throat. 8. Curry enters a ruck from the side. (Photos: Screengrabs)