France’s Romain Taofifenua prevented a crimson card for a excessive sort out on Thursday, elevating extra questions on inconsistent selections from officers on the Rugby World Cup.
However his yellow card was not upgraded to a crimson by the bunker evaluate system.
Sekou Macalou’s involvement within the sort out proved to be a mitigation.
Taofifenua, 33, is the third participant this event to be despatched to the bin earlier than a evaluate by the brand new bunker system has then thought of whether or not handy out any additional punishment.
England’s Tom Curry was the primary and his head-to-head contact in a sort out with Argentina’s Juan Cruz Mallia was deemed sufficient for it to be upgraded to a crimson card.
It means Curry will miss England’s subsequent two matches in Pool D towards Japan and Chile.
Since Curry’s sending off, Chile captain Martin Sigren obtained solely a yellow towards Japan and South Africa centre Jesse Kriel remained on the sector with out even a evaluate towards Scotland for similar-looking offences.
There have been additionally issues over Wales fly-half Dan Biggar’s upright hit which appeared to make contact with the pinnacle of Fiji centre Semi Radradra.
‘Unbelievable that he’s nonetheless on the sector’
Right here is among the response to Taofifenua’s sort out on social media:
Jared Wright: I do not suppose they’ll want 8 minutes to resolve this one. All the time harmful and reckless. Straightforward crimson card. Foolish from Romain Taofifenua.
Joe Naughton: Ah come on, how is that not a crimson card for Romain Taofifenua, World Cup have not obtained a fog generally. How the mitigation was enough is laughable.
Regine Edimo: I give it as much as rugby! I like Romain Taofifenua, however it ought to be a crimson card! What a humiliation from refs and TMOs…
Ross Barnett: Suppose this shall be upgraded, do not see any mitigation as there is no wrap from Romain Taofifenua
Peter Brook: That Romain Taofifenua mistackle is probably the most nailed on crimson card I’ve ever seen. Unbelievable that he’s nonetheless on the sector.
PG: Romain Taofifenua can think about himself very lucky to nonetheless be on the sector. Unsuitable name by the bunker system.
What’s the bunker evaluate system?
The bunker evaluate system was launched at senior degree throughout rugby’s Summer season Nations Collection, after World Rugby had used it on the World Rugby Beneath-20 Championship in July.
If, after two video replays, the on-field referee is unable to resolve if an incident deserves a crimson card, they’ve the choice to indicate a yellow card.
That then offers a tv match official (TMO) the possibility to have an in depth take a look at the incident in additional element, with all angles out there.
The “foul play evaluate officer” (FPRO), located inside the TMO bunker, may have as much as eight minutes to evaluate the incident and talk the choice to the in-play officiating crew.
The yellow card can then be upgraded to a crimson card with the participant not returning to the sector of play. This helps to keep away from gamers being wrongly proven a crimson card, as England’s Freddie Steward was within the Six Nations in March.