Sir John Kirwan has received criticism for comments he made earlier this week about Argentina and red cards in professional rugby.
Firstly the former winger expressed his irritation on Sky Sport NZ show The Breakdown over World Rugby’s stance on red cards after two players were sent off in Bledisloe IV last weekend.
“Our game does not need red cards,” said Kirwan. “I don’t believe anyone in our game intentionally goes out to hurt someone.”
The 55-year-old went on to say that if a red card is shown, a replacement should be allowed to come on because “people have paid good money to watch a game of rugby with 15-a-side”.
Unhelpful and irresponsible comments https://t.co/E9gscj7UzF
— ugo monye (@ugomonye) November 11, 2020
Kirwan then made jokes about the “mitigating circumstances” of Los Pumas’ issues with Covid-19 and lack of game time, suggesting New Zealand would easily win, before Argentina went on to beat the All Blacks 25-15 in Sydney on Saturday.
REACTION
Too cocky mate 🤣🤣🤣. https://t.co/qTzXXxo5RQ
— Tendai Mtawarira (@Beast_TM) November 14, 2020
How about the cocky comments from @JohnKirwan_14 “the Pumas are not at test level. they will go & slow the ball” 🥴🏉🐆 #noidea
— David Stevens-Castro a.k.a DSC (@DavidatPAIRED) November 14, 2020
This is incredibly saddening. Really fights back at John Kirwan’s crazy outburst last weekend. You cannot hit someone in the head. End of.
The other saddening part of this is how long its taken for concussion to be taken seriously. For Michael Lipman to have had 30 having… https://t.co/cbk5fULy8Q
— Tom O’Donoghue (@TNODonoghue) November 13, 2020
Can someone please remove John Kirwan from the sky sports team. I like him, and he comes across as a great bloke, and was a great player, but clearly he has no understanding of the tactics of the game. He was a terrible coach, and is a terrible rugby pundit.
— David Cook (@DavidCook88) November 14, 2020
All Blacks greats Sir John Kirwan and Christian Cullen slammed in UK for ‘disgraceful’ attitude to red cards https://t.co/08F3Ua7W7U pic.twitter.com/S0m4bwBTMH
— Betty Agnelli (@BettyAgnelli) November 9, 2020
Makes John Kirwan’s comments on World Rugby’s efforts to improve player safety seem even more irresponsible. https://t.co/JJmcH2HggY
— Nick Wood (@n1ckwood) November 12, 2020
‘Did that really just happen?’
John Kirwan.#NZLvARG
ADVERTISEMENT— Tanya (@GongGasGirl) November 14, 2020
Sir John Kirwan said earlier in the week on the Breakdown that Argentina pose no threat to the All Blacks, Lol
— Tony Soprano (@___Heisenberg1) November 14, 2020
A week after John Kirwan embarrassed himself by claiming red cards for high tackles are ruining rugby because “people’s lives are at stake”, the stark reality of why those red cards are being instituted hits home with crushing force.
— Sam Peters (@PlantedSam) November 13, 2020
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