Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Julien Candelon's reckless tackle on Lee Dickson

One of the big talking points of the second Heineken Cup semi final, Northampton Saints against Perpignan, was the dangerous tackle that Julien Candelon made on Lee Dickson in the first half.
Saints, who convincingly won the match 23-7 to progress to the final, had just scored a try through Jon Clarke. From the restart things got worse for the visitors, as Candelon took scrumhalf Lee Dickson out in the air as he got under the high ball.
Dickson landed really badly, on the side of his neck and shoulder and despite receiving treatment and staying down for some time, was okay eventually and played on.
Candelon was promptly shown a yellow card, and was perhaps lucky to receive just that. Another interesting aspect of what went on though was the Saints medic, who came charging on to help, but barged through Candelon in the process, nearly sparking further chaos.
If you listen to the assistant ref you can hear him saying that he felt the medic did it deliberately and should be spoken to by ref George Clancy. Unfortunately Sky switched to a replay and the commentators were talking, so we couldn't hear or see exactly how Clancy dealt with it.
Amidst the pushing and shoving, there was also a fairly out of order moment when Perpignan lock Rimas Alvarez Kairelis pulled the touchjudge by the arm, something that just didn't look right. A point on that though, is that officials have whistles and flags for a reason. Blow them and wave them, but getting in the middle of a forward pack that's about to kick off isn't too smart.
Time: 03:17
Posted at 9:27 am | 80 comments
Posted in Big Hits & Dirty Play
|
|
Viewing 80 comments
Ian M May 03, 2011 9:28 am

What I don't get is how that's worthy of the TJ referring to the ref, but being manhandled by the #4isn't. Really nasty to see - let's leave that to the footballers.
Cheis May 03, 2011 9:34 am

"you will hear more of this, now back you go"
mat May 03, 2011 9:38 am

Anonymous May 03, 2011 9:39 am

Anonymous May 03, 2011 9:43 am

Medic looked deliberate.
Lock pulling the touch judge looked like football.
Von May 03, 2011 9:45 am

I agree 100% with both points Mr Dump makes in the last paragraph of the intro:
"Amidst the pushing and shoving, there was also a fairly out of order moment when Perpignan lock Rimas Alvarez Kairelis pulled the touchjudge by the arm, something that just didn't look right. A point on that though, is that officials have whistles and flags for a reason. Blow them and wave them, but getting in the middle of a forward pack that's about to kick off isn't too smart."
Very important that both these footballesque elements are not allowed to creep into rugby.
Luke G May 03, 2011 9:48 am

And not entirely sure why the TJ reported the medic. He's just seen his player fall neck first into the ground, so of course he'll want to get to him as fast as possible. If I was the medic, I would have pushed my own player if he was in the way faced with that same situation. TJ got the report wrong, and probably should have reported 4 for pulling him out the way.
Anonymous May 03, 2011 9:55 am

Paolo May 03, 2011 9:56 am

This was utterly deliberate to the extent that he actually changes direction towards Dickson as he sees Dickson go up for the catch
Disgusting and its only through the grace of god that Dickson is not confined to a wheelchair today
As for the medic, think he was trying to get to Dickson as quickly as possible but am also sure he wasn't exactly unhappy that he had to barge Candelon out the way. Mind you, you can also see him pushing a Northampton player in his rush to get there
Number 4 deserves punishment as well. No need for that kind of disrespect towards the officials
Anonymous May 03, 2011 10:02 am

WTF are French and Italian clubs allowed in Heinekken Cup? They're just bad tempered and know no rugby! all they do is buy expansive SH players and shout at the ref
stirling May 03, 2011 10:22 am

Troll Police May 03, 2011 10:42 am

Anonymous said...
Yeah, let's get the bloody frog out of the pitch for a year or two hahaha so glad everytime one of those f*** frenchies do stupid things like this and get sent off!!!
WTF are French and Italian clubs allowed in Heinekken Cup? They're just bad tempered and know no rugby! all they do is buy expansive SH players and shout at the ref
Anonymous May 03, 2011 10:46 am

2. Medic action was deliberate. He should not be involved in that. No punishment needed but a warning will do. We can not get these guys involved as well.
3. Probably the worst thing imo. Just
and everything rugby does not stand for.
Tom May 03, 2011 10:51 am

Rugby is a beautiful sport where you can pound out your aggression and fully utilise your strength in a way different to almost all other games. That wasn't utilising a strength; that was being a coward and a c*nt (excuse my language).
I hope for everything rugby stands for that he is banned for a long long time.
On a side note, the medic is only just within his rights but nothing came of it so it doesn't really make any difference. As someone said above, he probably would have done the same to his own team mate (possibly with a little less force). #4 should definitely get a talking to, though it does sound like tempers were glaring throughout the game so maybe a bit of lee way can be given.
rene froger May 03, 2011 10:54 am

glad he was alright different team when he plays saints need another good scrum half for next season the other 2 not up to scratch
difficult decision now do i travel all the way from netherlands for the final
come on saints
Anonymous May 03, 2011 11:02 am

RememberTheMer May 03, 2011 11:21 am

What he gave was effectively a spear tackle - except from higher. More deserving of censure than many of the 'tip' tackles that result in players being suspended.
Online game May 03, 2011 11:22 am

Anonymous May 03, 2011 11:23 am

But I hope that the medic will be cited for waht he did.
cheyanqui May 03, 2011 11:37 am

2. Medic -- should have been excused from the match for the day. All he was doing was trying to exavt some rugby justice. The "need" to get to his player ASAP was a red herring -- the guy was only 10m away. This is not some ticking time bomb Jack Bauer "24" thing.
3. Rimas Alvarez Kairelis -- yellow or red for putting hands on the ref.
4. French, Argentinean (and Lithuanian for that matter) rugby players everywhere -- a straight 4-6 week ban from rugby -- thanks to the xenophobes marching on this webpage (see #3).
Chris May 03, 2011 11:46 am

It looks horrible because he catches his hip on a strange angle as he rises.
I don't believe the tackle was malicious, but definitely reckless and a yellow.
If you were in a court of law you could make a real argument in Candelons defence. In my opinion.
Anonymous May 03, 2011 11:58 am

cheyanqui May 03, 2011 11:58 am

I think Candelon was indeed reckless. Given how reckless he was, I think "pulling out" is insufficient protection (that's what SHE said) from a red.
At some point, Candelon bears responsibility.
It's more honest to catch the player and carry him than it is to submarine him and then putting your hands up saying "who, me?"
cheyanqui May 03, 2011 11:59 am

Anonymous May 03, 2011 12:04 pm

As for the medic, I think it was more of a case of if he doesnt get out the way i'll go through him...you can understand him being a little wound up as he was potentially going to be treating a serious neck injury!
Grabbing the TJ, no excuse, we dont need that kind of behaviour creeping into the game.
gf May 03, 2011 12:20 pm

Anonymous May 03, 2011 12:20 pm

I think this tackle is a yellow only, but with a severe talking to from the referee.
As for the medic - who cares, it was only a little shove and from his angle the landing probably looked horrific.
Touching the touchjudge is foolish, but was all in the heat of the moment. Ref should have words to say hands off and penalty against/10m march forwards.
Colombes May 03, 2011 12:21 pm

At the first sight, i thought it could have been worse because dickson fell very badly on his shoulder. Red could have been easily given without too much scandal.
But the replays showed that Candelon was also quite surprised by what he did, so not so intentional at the second look.
I think this incident was fully conditionned with the second saints try which was coming from a candelon knock-on. I think Candelon was very frustrated and "out of the match" after that. it could explains his silly run on dickson.
On a side note, the climax of this game was trully detestable between a very nervous perpignan side and a northampton team full of talents but also full of provocators.
Ashton, Hartley and Myler were constantly lookin for shit with perpignans lads. The back push of the saints medic was a perfect example.
Provocations are for soccer and the Real-Bara classicos. i really prefered the respect showed by toulouse and leinster
moddeur May 03, 2011 12:36 pm

Medic => 4 week ban
Perpignan lock holding touch judge => 2 week ban
Let's get some order in the court!
Anonymous May 03, 2011 12:39 pm

Anonymous May 03, 2011 12:49 pm

Agree with Moddeur
That winger is a stupid idiot and deserves a long ban
the medic's actions were uncalled for and he needs at least a talking to
The players should NEVER handle a referee, rugby is a gentlemen's sport and referee deserves respect
ORB May 03, 2011 12:56 pm

Jumping on the 'Northampton are just a bunch of thugs' bandwagon eh?
If anything Myler doesnt stand up to the opposition enough so just naming random players doesnt really fly. Hartley was the perfect balance of confrontation and discipline and didnt lose his rag once. Watch the clip of dickson. Most teams would have kicked off and rightly so. I dont see any of Sains 'thugs' going overboard dealing with the incident. The master 'thug' even protects dickson on the ground and pats a disgruntled perp second row on the back after its all finished. This view of Saints being a dirty team is getting rather boring.
Anonymous May 03, 2011 1:07 pm

ORB May 03, 2011 1:24 pm

Anonymous May 03, 2011 1:37 pm

Anonymous May 03, 2011 1:40 pm

Alistair May 03, 2011 1:43 pm

- Number 4. should be cited for bringing the game into disrepute, at least a one match ban to stop this silly lack of respect for Refs.
- Medic is doing his job, when a guy falls on his neck seconds matter, number seven stops Perpingnons players from walking all over him. Clancy is right to tell him to cop on but that should be it.
Dean Morbinson May 03, 2011 2:43 pm

Colombes May 03, 2011 2:46 pm

I've certainly hurt your fan soul.
have i said saints are all thugs? Nop.
Perpignan have some hot-blood thugs with le corvec, alvarez-kairelis or Villaseca and they don't think twice for knock u out
I just quote the provocative behaviour of certain players (Hartley and Ashton) who often put oil on the fire and taunt the opponents for any stupid reason.
More generally, this new generation of english players recall me the 1990 one with guys like Moore, Carling or Dooley who were specialists of the obscure work.
This 2010 generation seems to repeat the tradition. shame because they have some talents to show off ;)
Anonymous May 03, 2011 3:02 pm

WTF are French and Italian clubs allowed in Heinekken Cup? They're just bad tempered and know no rugby! all they do is buy expansive SH players and shout at the ref
Because the french created this competition with italian, romanian, wales and north irish. Irish and English are only invited
Anonymous May 03, 2011 4:08 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ByGMrrxYTs
Romain May 03, 2011 4:24 pm

But the medic's action was really stupid too.
In my opinion Red for Candelon and Red for the medic :D.
i love bacon May 03, 2011 4:49 pm

Bullshit about Candelon trying to pull out. A simple duck would've sufficed if that were the intention. Yellow card fine, wouldn't have complained about a red (any more than I don't really like seeing reds in any case, that is).
Medic was an idiot. Shouldn't have been involved in it...but what can the ref really do, card him? He's lucky he didn't cause a brawl.
I would've really liked to have seen Kairelis carded for yanking the TJ. Or at least reduced to a child through a good yelling at by the referee. You simply don't touch the officials, ya asshole. What a clown.
And Dean Morbinson, there's a "request" section, you know. If you don't have the ability to navigate there, I'm not sure how you'll be apt enough to make your own website. But hey, good luck to ya. More rugby sites is certainly not a bad thing.
D0m3 May 03, 2011 5:11 pm

ORB May 03, 2011 5:28 pm

To be fair mate I know you didnt call ever Saints player a thug. Its the fact you singled out Myler (who is probably the least confrontational player Saints have) made me think you were just lumping all the players together. Its a trend in Europe to call Northampton a dirty team this season, started after the Cardiff pool games earlier in the tournament when Cardiff felt hard done by.
If you want to see the hypocrisy im talking about look at the comments made on rugbydump's newest vid, O'brian puching Nyanga. O'brian is made out as some sort of hero and most said it would be a massive injustice if he were cited. If Hartley had done the same as O'brian how many would people would have calling Hartley a thug?
Its the double standards that iv got no time for.
Anonymous May 03, 2011 5:31 pm

King May 03, 2011 5:46 pm

Anonymous May 03, 2011 6:25 pm

Whats more - Number 4 should def have got a yellow for man handling the TJ. Like someone said earlier - leave that to the footballers.
(u-p)rick May 03, 2011 8:14 pm

Don't be a tit!
This is exactly the same sort of stuff as England supporters saying they hope Chris Ashton drops the ball when he swan dives one day...
Hartley is a fat tool... However I'd never wish any player to be cited for striking someone holding them back in a key area like that!!!
I'd make a comment like "hartley is such a fat tool, however Im sick of players holding back others at the breakdowns etc, id like them punished not the player who struck out!"
I think anybody calling hartley a thug if he had done what o'brian did would need to follow it up with 'but its fair enough here' or something like that, otherwise i'd ignore them and they would just be a troll...
ORB May 03, 2011 9:18 pm

I wish the scenario you describe would be the case but it simply wouldnt with many supporters.
(u-p)rick May 03, 2011 10:37 pm

Im well aware of losing my temper when being held back and im well aware of causing people to lose their tempers by doing so...
So the problem with your statement is no matter who it was, i'd always back the guy who gave a clout after being held.... simple as...
I think people just think Dylan hartley is a fat wanker... I dont think they're going to call him a thug and if they are then its just McCaw fan boys who believe he should not be touched... and sure, that forearm drop thing was pathetic and idiotic.. thuggery?!? idk, i guess perhaps...
Smacking someone holding you back is never thuggery..
Would you call POC a thug for hitting Thomas? would you call O'brien a thug for hitting Nyanga? would you call troncon a thug for hitting stringer? I personally wouldnt to all the above, therefore the fact I love rugby and my eyesight is good enough to look passed the nationality of a player i would not call hartley a thug if he behaved in the same way!
Guy May 03, 2011 10:45 pm

Candelon can have a heavy punishment imho. Very dangerous play, he took a big risk by doing this. And, considering the scoreline, probably out of frustration.
And please, please cite number 4. He makes such a bad example with this behaviour.
Jono May 04, 2011 7:02 am

All O'Gara got for doing the eact same thing on the Lions tour was a penalty.
Didn't hear anyone complaining then.
Anonymous May 04, 2011 10:39 am

ORB May 04, 2011 11:39 am

you obviously havent been to wales enough haha.
Your stance is a good one but unfortunaley not one that is shared by most supporters.
(u-p)rick May 04, 2011 12:35 pm

I guess thats kind of the problem. I wasnt trying to cause an argument with you I just simply feel anyone that doesnt have a neutral view towards all of these types of things merely focuses on their nationality and always holds them in favour.
Ofcourse I support my nationality, and the home clubs within that nationality.... And I guess in some ways I support my Hemisphere. So ofcourse in most matches there is always someone i WANT to win more than the other. In some ways thats what I like about Englands commentator Brian Moore, or at least in the clips i've seen him in because you can tell he is passionate about England but is the first to criticise poor play. The same with Jonathon Davies too.
I just cannot see why anyone could possibly support say for instance gouging if its their team, and hate it if its on their team...
urboottourownfaceouc May 04, 2011 2:46 pm

Marc B May 04, 2011 5:14 pm

Threma May 04, 2011 8:23 pm

Does it mean the ERC deliberately chose to let him play the last Top 14 game on Saturday (Perpignan not being qualified for the playoffs) before suspending him while he is on holidays?
One more proof for my fellow French citizens that they should stop whining about the IRB and ERC being harsh on us...
Aloof May 04, 2011 8:55 pm

Are you trying to say Brian Moore is biased for or against England? Because all he does all game every game is slag his own team off.
(u-p)rick May 04, 2011 10:39 pm

i.e as much as he was an english player he remains pretty damn neutral...
thats what i appreciate...
i try to remain neutral most of the time because it means i appreciate more of the game.. it means i can watch people like JW in an England jersey and go 'yeuup hes a good player' even if i dont support him, likewise with carter/mccaw/matfield/parisse etc etc etc...
Anonymous May 05, 2011 7:03 am

As for the medic, he may well have come in harder than he needed to but in the case of what looked like it was going to be a serious neck injury I think it was perfectly justified, and I think everyone would be looking at this very differently if it had resulted in the end of a very talented players career as it very well could have.
While we are on that point the behavior by the Perpignan team was inexcusable, firstly the #4 should absolutely not be handling any official in that we, heat of the moment or not, it is just not excusable. And lastly in a situation as serious as that all players should know to back away from the injured player and leave the medics to do there job. A fight there with a player who already has a spinal fracture, if someone fell or tripped on to the player could cause serious further injury or paralysis.
don'tcare May 06, 2011 10:20 pm

Rugby is getting more and more like football. It's a shame.
Flipje May 08, 2011 12:01 pm

The medic clearly new what he was doing, he could have been a bit more clever in his reaction (which was the case of most of the Saints players).
Candelon is not a nasty player (there is far worth in Perpignan squads as already mentioned by Colombes) and I believe there was no intention to hurt Dikson but still that should not be an excuse and he deserved to be cited and to spend few weeks on the sideline.
Candelon, like most of the Perpignan team, was out the game since the start. Looking at his face on the bench, said enough
Most important, it was nice to see Dickson back on his feet.
Anonymous May 08, 2011 8:59 pm

Eoghan May 08, 2011 11:43 pm

Bad call by the officials - TJ has to call that red if the ref has not picked up the true nature of the incident.
If NH wing had rotated a few more degrees before coming down he would have been in real trouble. As it was he just about took the brunt to shoulderish area.
Perpignan 4 needs a few weeks out of the game just to make the point that you don't put hands on an official, heat of the moment or otherwise.
NH Medic needs a few weeks touchline/match ban for the shove on the player on the pitch. Last thing you need is the medic exacerbating the aggro potential aggro, with the injured guy metres away. To say it was not intentional shove to the guilty party is just naive.
Jono May 09, 2011 1:24 am

Red would be overkill.
Again, I hate to bring it up, but if this is red, do you think O'Gara should have got red and banned for weeks when he did the exact same thing on the Lions tour?
I don't remember anyone crying about it then. No South Africans called for a ban.
Why this obsession with bans and cards in the north?
Tommo May 10, 2011 1:28 am

Im from the NH and I totally agreed a red for this would be ridiculous. It's not pretty and I dont want to see it, but to me it doesnt actually look 100% intentional, dickson jumps literally a fraction of a second before the hit...
But ofcourse you have to be a prize c*nt and act like every NH fan wants a red card...
you sad piece of shit!















Commenting as Guest | Register or Login