Australia captain Michael Hooper argues with referee over 'terrible tackle'

Australia captain Michael Hooper argues with referee over 'terrible tackle'

09/29/2019

Michael Hooper could not contain his frustration at referee Jerome Garces when he penalised Samu Kerevi for an illegal hit on Rhys Patchell.

Australia were already trailing 13-8 to two Dan Biggar penalties and a Hadleigh Parkes try when Patchell attempted to tackle Kerevi in the midfield, only to find himself knocked backwards by the powerful centre.

The game continued until it was stopped for a knock-on shortly afterwards, at which point Garces was alerted to potential foul play by Kerevi.

After looking at the replay, the French referee decided that the Australian ball-carrier had led with the forearm into the chest of Patchell and penalised him for foul play, awarding Wales a penalty.

When he explained the decision to captain Hooper and Kerevi himself, the skipper was quick to defend his player and blame Patchell for the incident.

‘So we can’t run into tackles any more?’ Hooper said.

‘That’s just terrible tackle technique.

‘We can’t run into tackles because we’ll get pulled up all day.’

Two former Wales internationals also disagreed on the decision as Sam Warburton and Gareth Thomas analysed the decision as part of ITV’s coverage.

Thomas said: ‘I don’t think there is an intent there but he has definitely led with the forearm and ended up hitting him in the throat.

‘These are the laws and you have to play within the laws.’

But Warburton said: ‘He’s braced for contact. That’s the way he carries.’

No matter what the decision, it was unusual to see such a lengthy conversation between captain and referee on a rugby field.

And former Australia skipper Michael Lynagh was disappointed to see Hooper openly disagree with Garces, especially having already been penalised for a late hit on Dan Bigger a few minutes earlier.

‘[The Biggar tackle] is a silly reckless play by Hooper and he’s lucky to not get a yellow card, especially with a referee who is pretty hot on that stuff,’ Lynagh said.

‘Then he argued with the referee. Just get back and get onto the next play.

‘Since Kerevi was penalised, correctly in my view, Hooper has been arguing and he’s losing his focus, and his team’s focus, on the game in hand.’

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