Warren Gatland questions Alain Rolland's decision to show Sam Warburton red card – Rugby News
Welsh national Rugby Union team’s head coach, Warren Gatland, has questioned Alain Rolland's decision to show Sam Warburton a red card for an on-field offence. Gatland made these comments following his side’s semi-final defeat at the hands of France on Saturday, October 15.
France beat Wales 9 – 8 in the first semi-final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) on Saturday at Eden Park, Auckland.
Match Referee, Alain Rolland, showed Wales captain and back row forwards player, Sam Warburton, the red card for his tip tackle on the Les Bleus winger Vincent Clerc during the 18th minute of the game. Gatland questioned why Rolland did not consult the assistant referee before making the decision and arrived at his decision instantaneously. He added, “For an experienced referee to make such a quick decision in the semi-final of the World Cup. I thought an experienced referee at that stage would have said, 'Hang on a minute, I'll bring my two touchies in'.”
Wales started the match without their pivotal backs player, Rhys Priestland, and Warburton’s sidelining from the match had badly dented their chance in the semi-final game. Although, Wales fought hard in the second-half of the game, they failed to earn a place in the final of the 2011 RWC tournament.
Gatland added that they accept the fact that Warburton has lifted Clerc off the ground but he did not drag him on the ground. He added that the penalty for picking the player up from the ground is a yellow card and that is what Warburton deserved. He added, “I felt our destiny for having a chance to make the final was taken away from us with the red card.”
Gatland added that the tackle did not do an injury to the French winger, Clerc, who was on his feet to continue the match and for this very reason, he termed the situation as “no red card situation”.
France will play the winner of the All Blacks and Wallabies match-up in the final of the 2011 RWC on Sunday, October 23 at Eden Park, Auckland.
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