It seems luck was wearing a Springbok jersey at Twickenham this Saturday, as Rassie Erasmus himself admitted that Canan Moodie might have dodged a bullet, or rather a second yellow card, in their nail-biting 29-27 triumph over Argentina. While the Boks were busy securing their consecutive Rugby Championship crowns, Moodie was living on the edge in London.
Moodie's night was a cocktail of highs and lows, initially finding himself in the sin bin for a high tackle. Later in the first half, in a moment of either bravery or sheer recklessness, he charged forward on defence, only to knock the ball forward. The crowd held its breath, thinking it was a deliberate act. Referee Angus Gardner, however, thought otherwise and awarded only a scrum to Argentina, sparing Moodie further punishment.
"Canan was lucky with the one that he tapped back – it was almost two yellow cards there,"
Erasmus commented post-game, hinting at a night that could have easily turned sour for the young centre. The Boks' coach wasn't shy about putting himself in the shoes of Argentina's coach, Felipe Contepomi, suggesting that perspectives on the field could lead to different interpretations of the rules.
"If I was Felipe, I would have said one was maybe a red card and the one he was trying to reach might have been more than a yellow."
Erasmus added, "I'm not blaming the referee, I’m just saying it was close calls that could have changed the game even more." It's clear that while the Boks walked away with the win, the shadows of what-ifs loomed large in the backdrop of their victory celebration.
Despite the controversies, the night wasn't without its fair share of glory. The Springboks' clinch of back-to-back titles was described as surreal by none other than Marx, who remained humble amidst the celebrations. It was a night of mixed emotions, where fortune favored the brave, or in this case, the Boks.
As the dust settles on another thrilling chapter of the Rugby Championship, the debate over that second yellow card is likely to linger a bit longer in the rugby community. But for now, the Springboks can bask in the glory of a hard-fought victory and a historic repeat championship.
2,193 posts
It seems luck was wearing a Springbok jersey at Twickenham this Saturday, as Rassie Erasmus himself admitted that Canan Moodie might have dodged a bullet, or rather a second yellow card, in their nail-biting 29-27 triumph over Argentina. While the Boks were busy securing their consecutive Rugby Championship crowns, Moodie was living on the edge in London.
Moodie's night was a cocktail of highs and lows, initially finding himself in the sin bin for a high tackle. Later in the first half, in a moment of either bravery or sheer recklessness, he charged forward on defence, only to knock the ball forward. The crowd held its breath, thinking it was a deliberate act. Referee Angus Gardner, however, thought otherwise and awarded only a scrum to Argentina, sparing Moodie further punishment.
"Canan was lucky with the one that he tapped back – it was almost two yellow cards there,"
Erasmus commented post-game, hinting at a night that could have easily turned sour for the young centre. The Boks' coach wasn't shy about putting himself in the shoes of Argentina's coach, Felipe Contepomi, suggesting that perspectives on the field could lead to different interpretations of the rules.
"If I was Felipe, I would have said one was maybe a red card and the one he was trying to reach might have been more than a yellow."
Erasmus added, "I'm not blaming the referee, I’m just saying it was close calls that could have changed the game even more." It's clear that while the Boks walked away with the win, the shadows of what-ifs loomed large in the backdrop of their victory celebration.
Despite the controversies, the night wasn't without its fair share of glory. The Springboks' clinch of back-to-back titles was described as surreal by none other than Marx, who remained humble amidst the celebrations. It was a night of mixed emotions, where fortune favored the brave, or in this case, the Boks.
As the dust settles on another thrilling chapter of the Rugby Championship, the debate over that second yellow card is likely to linger a bit longer in the rugby community. But for now, the Springboks can bask in the glory of a hard-fought victory and a historic repeat championship.