England rugby star slammed for incident that ‘would be banned in MMA’ | Rugby | Sport

Here’s your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Tuesday, February 10.

Former ref chief slams ‘bewildering’ Genge decision

Ex-international referee Owen Doyle has criticised the ‘bewildering’ punishment given to England’s Ellis Genge for his alleged headbutt on Wales back-row Alex Mann last weekend.

The incident during the opening period at Twickenham was examined by French referee Pierre Brousset, who judged it to be a push rather than a full-on headbutt.

The ruling has prompted discussion ever since, with Doyle convinced the incorrect decision was reached.

“Pivotal news on the cards issue came through last week. All foul play will now go to the bunker. The day of the straight, permanent on-pitch red is finally and officially over,” he wrote in the Irish Times.

“This level of card will now only be given for the most egregious foul play, the sort of near-criminal assaults which are also outlawed in the MMA cage-fighting rulebook.

“Headbutting, of course, is on the list, which brings up Ellis Genge’s foul play in England’s romp at Twickenham. Wales were alarmingly poor and ridiculously ill-disciplined, conceding 16 penalties, four yellows and a penalty try.

“(But) It was clearly a headbutt by Genge, bewilderingly interpreted by referee Pierre Brousset as a ‘push’. Any sort of headbutting brings the game into disrepute and there cannot be degrees of it, so Genge escaped very lightly – penalty only.

“Last July, South Africa’s Jasper Wiese received a four-week suspension for something very similar after Irish referee Andrew Brace had rightly dispatched him permanently.”

Smith dropped ahead of Calcutta Cup

England head coach Steve Borthwick has left Marcus Smith out from his matchday squad for Saturday’s clash with Scotland at Murrayfield. Meanwhile, captain Maro Itoje returns to the starting line-up having begun the Wales thrashing from the bench.

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The skipper is one of two alterations to England’s pack as they look to heap further pressure on a Scotland team still smarting from their opening day loss to Italy in Rome.

Luke Cowan-Dickie gets the nod at hooker, with Jamie George dropping to the replacements.

Fly-half Fin Smith is promoted to the bench in place of his namesake Marcus, who is absent entirely in the sole other change to the matchday 23.

England: Steward; Roebuck, Freeman, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Chessum, Itoje, Pepper, Underhill, Earl.

Subs: George, Rodd, Davison, Coles, Pollock, Curry, Spencer, F Smith

Young England star handed suspension

England Under-20 player Luke Davidson has been slapped with a three-week ban following his red card in the match against Wales on Friday.

Appearing before an independent Disciplinary Committee via Zoom on Tuesday morning, Davidson confessed to foul play after executing a high tackle on Carwyn Leggatt-Jones in the 62nd minute.

The panel decided that mitigating factors, such as a clean disciplinary record and acceptance of the charge, warranted a reduction of Davidson’s ban from six to three weeks.

He also has the opportunity to eliminate the final match of his suspension if he participates in World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme.

If he accepts this offer, he will now miss the upcoming clash with Scotland U20 this Friday and the home game against Ireland the following week.

Wales urged to step up their game against France

Former Wales scrum-half Richie Rees has warned Steve Tandy’s squad that they cannot afford to repeat the lack of discipline displayed at Twickenham, or they risk another thrashing by France.

Wales gave away 16 penalties on Saturday, their highest total in a Test since 2009, and also accumulated four yellow cards, the most by any team in a Six Nations match.

“It’s not possible to play international rugby and concede 11 penalties within the first 20-25 minutes and two yellow cards,” Rees commented on the Scrum V podcast.

“We saw the impact that it had towards the tail end of the game, the fatigue of the players, their body language. They were absolutely out on their feet.

“I don’t blame them. Tomos Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit and Aaron Wainwright – they were completely out on their feet. It comes down to the indiscipline, that is something they can control.

“There were complete variants in the type of penalties that they gave away, but it’s something that they simply have to improve, and at least it is something that is in their domain.

“There are a couple of other things going into France next week. What are we really going to hang our hat on? It has to be our discipline; it has to be miles better because if that happens again, it’s going to be a repeat of what we’ve just seen.”

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