Sexton Kicking Out

ch2008

Was it on purpose? Was it actually him? I only saw the replay once but thought it might have been D'Arcy trying to escape the tackle

bleg

i'd love to see a replay of it before i sentence him(only about 80% sure it was on purpose)

Micky Dolenz

I was at the game and missed it so can't comment. any highlights/replays?

I,d like to think there was no intent.

RuggieBear

posts deleted.

any more personal abuse of players will result in bans.

ch2008

<snip>
Sextons had a blip year, still young but next year will be critical.

Ddad

ch2008 wrote: »

Was it on purpose? Was it actually him? I only saw the replay once but thought it might have been D'Arcy trying to escape the tackle

Yep it was him. It looked inadvertant but thats no ecuse. Maffie had a nice cut above the eye. You couldn't blame him for having a go.

ch2008

Good call mod, probably shouldnt have quoted him...

RuggieBear

my opinion is that even if it was accidental it deserves a ban for very careless use of the boot.... Players need to get the message that it is simply not acceptable to even put themselves in a position that they might inflict serious head injuries on another player.

Micky Dolenz

ch2008 wrote: »

Maybe a more reasoned response would have been more appropriate but I take your point. Sextons had a blip year, still young but next year will be critical.

I really hope he develops into the player that he has shown flashes of, for the sake of our national side. you really can't judge a player for a rush of blood to the head in a local derby, (IF he actually did it with intent, that is)

Zzippy

I'm not a Munster or Leinster fan and couldn't give a ****e either way who won the match, but when I saw it I didn't think it looked malicious, reckless maybe, but not intentional. Haven't seen a replay though, so I stand to be corrected on that. I did spot Cullen earlier in the match stamping in a ruck, looked to be on someone's head who was lying on the ground. The commentator mentioned it too.

bleg

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

you really can't judge a player for a rush of blood to the head in a local derby, (IF he actually did it with intent, that is)

oh right so we're taking mafi's yellow card away from him so, sure it was only a rush of blood to the head in a local derby, you can't really judge him.:rolleyes:

thomond2006

RuggieBear wrote: »

my opinion is that even if it was accidental it deserves a ban for very careless use of the boot.... Players need to get the message that it is simply not acceptable to even put themselves in a position that they might inflict serious head injuries on another player.

I agree.

Sorry for overdoing it on my last post, Ruggie. Still high after the Munster win.

ch2008

If it was intentional they should throw the book at him. I'm a Leinster fan but in the long run it might ensure we dont end up with another outhalf who loses the plot under pressure. He needs to learn a lesson. Sexton has shown on occassions that he is an incredibly talented player. The purist in me would love to see Keatley drafted in and Leinster employing a policy of playing both on a form-player-plays basis a las Warren gatland. My ehad tells me thats dangerous though

Stev_o

Correct me but i thought that there was no citing commissioner in the ML, any complaints go through the Union?

Micky Dolenz

bleg wrote: »

oh right so we're taking mafi's yellow card away from him so, sure it was only a rush of blood to the head in a local derby, you can't really judge him.:rolleyes:

I wouldn't judge his character as a person. He got caught lashing out, them be the rules and all that.

Have read a few post match reports and nobody has mentioned Sexton kicking to the head so him being cited would be unlikely. Would love to see a replay.

Macsimus

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

I was at the game and missed it so can't comment. any highlights/replays?

Game is replayed on Setanta Ireland at 5 p.m. today i think.

Regarding the kick itself, i dont think it could be seen as anything but intentional - it was a petulant little flick and doubt he meant to cause any damage - but he did and in fairness, catching him so close to the eye was very dangerous. He should definitely get his wrist slapped for it.

Zzippy

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

you really can't judge a player for a rush of blood to the head in a local derby, (IF he actually did it with intent, that is)

Thats bull****. So what if its a local derby, does that excuse dirty play? Mike Mccarthy was cited and banned (rightly) for an incident in the Connacht-Leinster game in October. Leo Cullen was very lucky not to be cited too. Shane Jennings and John Fogarty were banned following the return match in January. The days of allowing incidents to slide because they occurred in inter-pro games are long gone.

Peter B

Just saw the match again there on Setanta 1. Thought it did look on purpose. Will be very surprised if he plays any rugby next week.

Micky Dolenz

Zzippy wrote: »

Thats bull****. So what if its a local derby, does that excuse dirty play? Mike Mccarthy was cited and banned (rightly) for an incident in the Connacht-Leinster game in October. Leo Cullen was very lucky not to be cited too. Shane Jennings and John Fogarty were banned following the return match in January. The days of allowing incidents to slide because they occurred in inter-pro games are long gone.

I was referring to a post that was very quickly deleted by a Mod where Sexton was personally abused. My post is now completely out of context. Of course players have to be punished for wrong doing and bad sportmanship although I would not hold it against them in the long term.

Aidric

I had my post deleted for an apparent personal attack. I still stand by my views however. It was intentional and Sexton should rightly be called out for thuggish play.

barnesd

Was Mafi's tackle a spear by the way? Looked like it in the ground but haven't seen it since.

suppafly

barnesd wrote: »

Was Mafi's tackle a spear by the way? Looked like it in the ground but haven't seen it since.

Just watched the replayed of the match on setanta. It was a fair tackle. Not a spear. Didn't see what sexton did when i was at the match but now seeing it on the tv and replayed it was most definetly a kick and it definetly was malicious. he looks back at him and kicks him. Absolutely disgraceful. i really hope he gets cited and banned for a few weeks. also a few mins later nacewa comes in with a shoulder charge on fogarty as he went over for the try. No need for it at all.

Crash

A lot of that i'd consider stupidity more than genuine malice - I think most people would agree with that. Having not seen it I can't call on that one properly, but i'd be of a similar opinion to ruggie - anything involving feet and a head should be punished, not necessarily so as to punish the player in question, but more to set an example and make sure that all players know that they have a duty of care in what is a physical game.

bleg

just like flannery's use of the boot vs clermont. i had no complaints but he had to be banned in some way.

phog

It doesn't matter if there was intent or not, he was reckless and connected with a players face, end of story. It wasn't that he was trying to rake a player away from the ball or anything.

I was on the east terrece near where it happened and haven't seen the footage on TV yet but as I saw it both players were lying on the ground and Sexton, imho, struck out with intent and his boot connected with Mafi's face, shocking really that a professional player would carry on like that.

stephen_n

suppafly wrote: »

Just watched the replayed of the match on setanta. It was a fair tackle. Not a spear. Didn't see what sexton did when i was at the match but now seeing it on the tv and replayed it was most definetly a kick and it definetly was malicious. he looks back at him and kicks him. Absolutely disgraceful. i really hope he gets cited and banned for a few weeks. also a few mins later nacewa comes in with a shoulder charge on fogarty as he went over for the try. No need for it at all.

He took him up and didn't take him to ground the tackle was dangerous in that sense, don't know what you refer to as a spear tackle but I think the IRB would class the tackle as a spear tackle. That apart Sexton should not have responded in the way that he did and even though as Leinster fan I would not like us to miss him I do think he should be cited for dangerous play!

phog

On the question of citing can Nacewa be cited for his sliding tackle on Earls when he was touching down for his try. Poor sportsmanship to say the least, it could have taken a player out for a season if he connected properly.

dreamer_ire

phog wrote: »

On the question of citing can Nacewa be cited for his sliding tackle on Earls when he was touching down for his try. Poor sportsmanship to say the least, it could have taken a player out for a season if he connected properly.

I think you mean Fogarty?

Diom

Mafi's tackle was dangerous. If you take a player up, then you have to take the player down. It's not bloody wrestling!

phog

dreamer_ire wrote: »

I think you mean Fogarty?

Yes, it was Fogarty's try, got the two tries mixed up, either way it was cheap shot of a tackle. In the lead up to the try I think ROG chipped thro' and Elsom gave him a late shoulder tackle, not a hint of a foul being given.:mad: I've seen refs give the a penalty restart from the halfway line for less, not sure if that's still allowed tho'

phog

Diom wrote: »

Mafi's tackle was dangerous. If you take a player up, then you have to take the player down. It's not bloody wrestling!

It was very similar to D'Arcy's tackle early in the first half so there cant be too many complaints if the ref missed/allowed both of them, it doesn't excuse Sexton, having now seen the footage I think he was there with intent. He then acted the sissy by pulling Mafi's hair while McCormack laid on top of the tow of them, once Sexton got up he went after ROG and still A/Ref McDowell only say one punch :eek:

daveharnett

A couple of points. I would point a finger at the ref - high tackles and use of the boot was ignored throughout the game. It always makes flare ups like this more likely.

He wasn't trying to injure Mafi - there wasn't any force behind it, but that's really no excuse.

Did he not also stand on Mafi as he went to ground beside him?

Serenity Now!

Sexton will be cited. I'm sure he regrets losing the rag after having just been in the treatment room but still no excuse.

Noopti

Looked like Sexton deliberately lashed out with the boot, and Whitaker also seemed to get a dig in by standing on Mafi as he ran by. Hard to tell conclusively as I only watched it live, and haven't seen any replays since.

Hippo

I've watched the incident quite a few times now and it's still impossible to see Sexton make contact with Mafi's head, congratulations to anyone who has (and I'm not saying he didn't do it!). Special honourable mention to POC for his stamp in the first half on a leg protruding from a ruck. Quite a niggly game in general, appallingly reffed.

buck65

Hippo wrote: »

I've watched the incident quite a few times now and it's still impossible to see Sexton make contact with Mafi's head, congratulations to anyone who has (and I'm not saying he didn't do it!). Special honourable mention to POC for his stamp in the first half on a leg protruding from a ruck. Quite a niggly game in general, appallingly reffed.

I agree about the reffing but as far as Leinster/Munster games it was tame enough.

Diom

phog wrote: »

It was very similar to D'Arcy's tackle early in the first half so there cant be too many complaints if the ref missed/allowed both of them, it doesn't excuse Sexton, having now seen the footage I think he was there with intent. He then acted the sissy by pulling Mafi's hair while McCormack laid on top of the tow of them, once Sexton got up he went after ROG and still A/Ref McDowell only say one punch :eek:

D'arcy should be called up too then. Tackling players into the air is one thing I have absolutely no patience for.

Pshan

Any word of citings from the match on Saturday night?

Stev_o

Pshan wrote: »

Any word of citings from the match on Saturday night?

There is no citing commissioner in the ML. The respective unions deal out the "citings" and tend to be a joke.

Zzippy

Diom wrote: »

D'arcy should be called up too then. Tackling players into the air is one thing I have absolutely no patience for.

But its only illegal if you lift them up and then drive them down, is it not? Otherwise there would be a lot of penalties and cards - e.g. Quinlan's tackle on Kearney in the 2nd half, which I thought was fair. Lifting a guy up by the legs is a common way of tackling these days, I see it in almost every game I watch...

Diom

No Zzippy it's if you don't control the player who you took up. It's not a spear tackle if you don't drive them down, but it is still a dangerous tackle. Referees don't call it usually, unless someone is injured, but it's too late by then.
You're correct as well Zzippy that it's becoming more common. But it is usually at ruck time that I see it in the NH. It's very dangerous stuff especially as the players become much bigger.

Podge_irl

Stev_o wrote: »

There is no citing commissioner in the ML. The respective unions deal out the "citings" and tend to be a joke.

There are supposed to be citing officers this season, but I don't know what the fallout from Jennings' appeal was (the basis of their case was that the citing officer had no power or something for some reason).

Serenity Now!

Stev_o wrote: »

There is no citing commissioner in the ML. The respective unions deal out the "citings" and tend to be a joke.

"The Irish Rugby Football Union Disciplinary Panel will hold a hearing to consider a citing complaint against Leinster player Jonathan Sexton from the Munster v Leinster Magners League game on 4th April, 2009.

Sexton has been cited under law 10.4 (c) for an alleged kick on Munster player Lefeimi Mafi in the 70th minute of the game. The hearing will take place in the Ulster Branch Offices in Ravenhill, Belfast at 4.30pm on Wednesday, 8th April 2009. The IRFU Panel will consist of Hugh Logan (Chairman), Stephen Hilditch and Neil Jackson.

The player was cited by the independent citing commissioner who was present at the game. The findings of the disciplinary panel will be released following the completion of the hearing"

Aidric

Serenity Now! wrote: »

"The Irish Rugby Football Union Disciplinary Panel will hold a hearing to consider a citing complaint against Leinster player Jonathan Sexton from the Munster v Leinster Magners League game on 4th April, 2009.

Sexton has been cited under law 10.4 (c) for an alleged kick on Munster player Lefeimi Mafi in the 70th minute of the game. The hearing will take place in the Ulster Branch Offices in Ravenhill, Belfast at 4.30pm on Wednesday, 8th April 2009. The IRFU Panel will consist of Hugh Logan (Chairman), Stephen Hilditch and Neil Jackson.

The player was cited by the independent citing commissioner who was present at the game. The findings of the disciplinary panel will be released following the completion of the hearing"

Glad to hear that. Hope he gets a lengthy ban.

daveharnett

Diom wrote: »

D'arcy should be called up too then. Tackling players into the air is one thing I have absolutely no patience for.

Why, it can genuinely happen by accident, and it's not inherently dangerous. The law is that if you pick somebody up, you are responsible for getting them down safely. As long as the tackler puts the ball carrier down on his arse rather than his head, I can't see a problem.

Stev_o

Aidric wrote: »

Glad to hear that. Hope he gets a lengthy ban.

The IRFU aren't going to impose a lengthy ban on him, id guess and say he get's two weeks.

Micky Dolenz

Against the head now on RTE 2, judge for yourself.

Podge_irl

Serenity Now! wrote: »

"The Irish Rugby Football Union Disciplinary Panel will hold a hearing to consider a citing complaint against Leinster player Jonathan Sexton from the Munster v Leinster Magners League game on 4th April, 2009.

Sexton has been cited under law 10.4 (c) for an alleged kick on Munster player Lefeimi Mafi in the 70th minute of the game. The hearing will take place in the Ulster Branch Offices in Ravenhill, Belfast at 4.30pm on Wednesday, 8th April 2009. The IRFU Panel will consist of Hugh Logan (Chairman), Stephen Hilditch and Neil Jackson.

The player was cited by the independent citing commissioner who was present at the game. The findings of the disciplinary panel will be released following the completion of the hearing"

If he did indeed kick out at Mafi then he deserves a ban, but its a pain in the hole for Leinster.

Timothy Bryce

Missed ATH last night - anyone got a video of this yet?

Micky Dolenz

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

Missed ATH last night - anyone got a video of this yet?

They actually didn't show it or mention it as far as I saw.

Diom

daveharnett wrote: »

Why, it can genuinely happen by accident, and it's not inherently dangerous. The law is that if you pick somebody up, you are responsible for getting them down safely. As long as the tackler puts the ball carrier down on his arse rather than his head, I can't see a problem.

No it's not inherently dangerous, I have no problem if the tackler puts the player on his arse. That's not my problem.
My issue is with players throwing players, or dropping them. Even if it is accidental the tackler is responsible and should be warned at least. The tackler needs to be careful of how he tackles the player, so as to not put himself in that position. If he cannot control the tackle then he should not make the tackle.