Maro Itoje found himself in the sin bin after a decisive yellow card call by referee Luc Ramos during a tight clash where England narrowly led Italy 18-16. This pivotal moment allowed Italy's Leonardo Marin to score, steering Italy towards a historic 23-18 win over England. Nigel Owens, weighing in on the decision, confirmed that the yellow card was a clear call, especially under the new directives from World Rugby aimed at eliminating cynical play.
The controversial incident occurred when Itoje slapped the ball from Italian scrum-half Alessandro Fusco's hands during a maul attempt. Owens supported Ramos's decision, highlighting World Rugby's recent law changes which aim to protect scrum-halves by ensuring fluidity in play from rucks, mauls, and scrums. "A player who is, or was part of the maul may not play an opponent near it (within 1m), and who is attempting to play the ball away. Sanction: Penalty," reads the revised Law 16.18, which was directly applicable in Itoje's case.
Owens elaborated on the rationale behind the decision, noting that even before the law adjustments, a yellow card would have been justified.
"Yes, it is,"
Owens stated on World Rugby’s Whistle Watch show, reflecting on whether the yellow card was fair. He reminisced about Itoje's previous mastery in such scenarios, which are now deemed illegal.
The incident mirrored a similar situation earlier in the game involving Italy's Giacomo Nicotera, who was also penalized and yellow-carded under the updated laws for a cynical act at the ruck. Owens used this example to further clarify the stringent enforcement of rules protecting the scrum-half's role, emphasizing the crackdown on cynical plays regardless of their immediate impact on the game flow.
Owens's discussion also touched on an inquiry from Jamie Roberts about instances where a yellow card might not be issued. While citing a less impactful cynical act by Tomos Williams in another match, Owens underscored World Rugby's firm stance this year:
"They want to get it out of the game,"
he affirmed, indicating a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of cynical play, aiming for a cleaner and more continuous rugby game. Overall, the consensus remains that while Itoje's intentions might stem from a competitive spirit, the laws are clear and the referees' message is firmer than ever.
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Maro Itoje found himself in the sin bin after a decisive yellow card call by referee Luc Ramos during a tight clash where England narrowly led Italy 18-16. This pivotal moment allowed Italy's Leonardo Marin to score, steering Italy towards a historic 23-18 win over England. Nigel Owens, weighing in on the decision, confirmed that the yellow card was a clear call, especially under the new directives from World Rugby aimed at eliminating cynical play.
The controversial incident occurred when Itoje slapped the ball from Italian scrum-half Alessandro Fusco's hands during a maul attempt. Owens supported Ramos's decision, highlighting World Rugby's recent law changes which aim to protect scrum-halves by ensuring fluidity in play from rucks, mauls, and scrums. "A player who is, or was part of the maul may not play an opponent near it (within 1m), and who is attempting to play the ball away. Sanction: Penalty," reads the revised Law 16.18, which was directly applicable in Itoje's case.
Owens elaborated on the rationale behind the decision, noting that even before the law adjustments, a yellow card would have been justified.
"Yes, it is,"
Owens stated on World Rugby’s Whistle Watch show, reflecting on whether the yellow card was fair. He reminisced about Itoje's previous mastery in such scenarios, which are now deemed illegal.The incident mirrored a similar situation earlier in the game involving Italy's Giacomo Nicotera, who was also penalized and yellow-carded under the updated laws for a cynical act at the ruck. Owens used this example to further clarify the stringent enforcement of rules protecting the scrum-half's role, emphasizing the crackdown on cynical plays regardless of their immediate impact on the game flow.
Owens's discussion also touched on an inquiry from Jamie Roberts about instances where a yellow card might not be issued. While citing a less impactful cynical act by Tomos Williams in another match, Owens underscored World Rugby's firm stance this year:
"They want to get it out of the game,"
he affirmed, indicating a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of cynical play, aiming for a cleaner and more continuous rugby game. Overall, the consensus remains that while Itoje's intentions might stem from a competitive spirit, the laws are clear and the referees' message is firmer than ever.