England prop Ellis Genge has escaped a citing for his altercation with Johnny Sexton in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations rout by Ireland.
Genge wrestled with Sexton under the posts as Eddie Jones’ team launched a late assault at the Aviva Stadium with footage appearing to show him run his elbow across the Ireland captain’s head.
For a disciplinary hearing to be triggered the offence has to be worthy of a red card but the deadline for a citing has passed, meaning Genge has no case to answer.
Genge with repeated elbows to the head and neck of the Irish player on the floor. Pretty awful behaviour. #IREvENG pic.twitter.com/fTzmHppOAc
— AP Cronje (@rugby_ap) March 20, 2021
The combative Leicester prop came on at half-time of England’s Six Nations finale in Dublin after Mako Vunipola was replaced for giving away successive scrum penalties.
Although producing a number of strong carries, the fracas with Sexton – who was lying beneath him – has been criticised on social media.
Footage showed the players talking to referee Mathieu Reynal, who ignored Sexton’s pleas, with Genge then admitting to the elbows.
Sexton: “Sir, he elbowed me in the face.”
Genge: “Yeah I did. I did.”#IREvENG #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/kyjxkeWv7k
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 20, 2021
The incident has also caught the attention of World Cup winning prop Tendai Mtawarira, who called out Genge’s behaviour on twitter.
Someone get their agents on a call 🥊💰😬 pic.twitter.com/JTmZ553Q8U
— Rugbydump.com (@Rugbydump) March 22, 2021
In a time where players are being red carded and suspended for absolutely any accidental or deliberate contact with the opposition’s head, it’s surprising that Genge escaped punishment.
In the same match, Ireland centre Bundee Aki was sent off for a high tackle that made contact with Billy Vunipola’s chin, which a lot of fans disagreed with.
WATCH: The Aki red card for high hit on England’s Vunipola
What do you think of Genge avoiding a citing?
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