Matt Dawson on the Steward red card

Ireland's Grand Slam-winning game against England was amazing and it is unacceptable to spoil a Test like that with a red card like the one Freddie Steward was given.

Just before half-time, with Ireland leading 10-6, England's Steward collided with Ireland's Hugo Keenan and referee Jaco Peyper decided the contact was bad enough to merit a red card.

It was a disgraceful decision. Keenan had bent down to pick up a loose ball. Anyone who has played rugby knows exactly what was going through Steward's mind in that moment.

He was trying to avoid a collision. Initially he thought he was going to have to make a tackle, then the ball went loose so he tried to get away from contact to avoid any trouble.

He hit the brakes and turned his body to get away from it. It was a freak accident. Keenan's head went down because the ball had been dropped and made contact with Steward's arm.

What is really disappointing is that none of the officials even got close to discussing whether Steward was trying to pull out of the situation.

All the focus was on the slow-motion point of contact, which, by the letter of the law, led to a red card.

Just because it is the letter of the law does not make it right. They are the laws that some people have created and on this occasion there was a glaring glitch.

After the game I was in a lift going down into the media area with two Ireland players and even they said it was a bit harsh.

Rugby is a contact sport

Laws around dangerous contact are increasingly strict to protect players from brain injuries. I am never going to jeopardise the health of players within the sport.

However, the game that we play is a contact sport. If you think that you are not going to come across some kind of serious collision in the game of rugby union you should not play it.

The game will protect the players as much as it possibly can by driving good behaviours, and it is a lot safer than it ever has been because of the way the players are taught to control their body height going into contact.

I wonder if there is an argument to have someone among the officials who has played rugby to a high level because, in the case of Steward, they would understand that scenario and what he was trying to do.

The impact of head injuries is not the only issue within rugby, and World Rugby and the unions have a lot on their plate.

I constantly hear the phrase 'player welfare' and it often refers to contact and concussion.

Player welfare is more than that.

It is how much rugby players are playing, the calendar, how much they are getting paid, their contracts and their financial, physical and mental wellbeing.

The way the game is being pieced together at the moment, I am not sure player welfare is top of the agenda. It might be said to be, but I am not sure it is.

If they don’t give the WC refs more sensible marching orders or, even better, change the red so a substitute is allowed after 10 minutes the integrity of the WC may very well be impugned. Nothing Steward did yesterday was worthy of a red card and a ruined game for millions of spectators.

I'm against all binning of players...find suitable ways of sanctioning them after the match...spoiling the contest should never be an option.

Eject the player who is worthy of a red. The NFL has it right. Gaelic football has the black card which would also suit rugby. 

I assume if they given a  black card, that applies to the player, not the team?

The pommie player lost sight of the ball and just threw his body into a block.
Normal motion doesn't easily show it but unfortunately slow does.

A pity that a RED card can change a game as in most cases.

Not suggesting that England could have won the game but at this level of the game a red card is a game changer.

Peyper is an excellent ref but the law is the law and will always be questioned.

The point being that the refs and whoever else is involved (TMO- Touch Judge) have to make a call and it is never going to be a call that we as spectators will agree with.

Sad for the game really but I understand the need for laws for HIGH HITS to players but to lose a man in rugby is a game changer.

Red card a player and apply a 10 minute sin bin but allow a replacement player to take to the field at the end of the 10 minutes should be considered and introduced by the powers that be.