The decision not to card Drua winger Vinaya Habosi for a spectacular flip tackle against the Brumbies has split opinion among Stan Sport’s rugby experts.
Brumbies fullback Tom Banks scorched away for a brilliant try in the 13th minute of the Super Rugby Pacific clash in Canberra today but it was somewhat overshadowed by what happened in the build-up.
Habosi’s contact with Andy Muirhead sent the rival winger flying dangerously in the air but thankfully the 28-year-old was not injured.
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“Past the point of horizontal, that’s dangerous,” Wallabies great Drew Mitchell said on Stan Sport.
“It doesn’t look good, does it, for Habosi,” commentator Andrew Swain added.
Certainly, far more innocuous incidents have been punished with yellow and red cards in recent years as World Rugby clamps down on dangerous play.
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But debutant referee Reuben Keane, TMO Brett Cronan and assistants Damon Murphy and Angus Gardner came to the conclusion that Habosi had not committed a serious act of dangerous play.
“Eleven’s (Muirhead) jumped into the tackle and momentum has taken him over, that’s why he’s gone further over,” Keane told Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa.
“You’ve still got to take care of him,” Alaalatoa protested unsuccessfully.
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Mitchell agreed that Habosi had “a duty of care as the tackler to make sure they come down safely.”
“There was no control there from the defender,” Mitchell said.
“Habosi probably pretty lucky there, to stay on the field. I’m happy with the way they got to their conclusion, you just want to make sure there’s consistency throughout not only the game but also the competition.”
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Wallabies legend Tim Horan said at halftime that the officials had made the right call.
“The referees and TMOs sometimes have howlers but we probably should congratulate them,” Horan said.
“It was a quick decision and also the right decision. That’s having that game awareness, feel for the game and making the right decision.”
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The clinical Brumbies won the round two clash 42-3 against the new Fijian club searching for its maiden Super Rugby win.
Crowd favourite Jesse Mogg came off the bench to score a late double while Lachlan Lonergan, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright and Rob Valetini also dotted down.
Substitute hooker Billy Pollard also caught the eye with his pace and dynamism as Brumbies coach Dan McKellar described the young tyro as “a rare talent.”
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