Former Lions captains Brian O’Driscoll and Sam Warburton took issue with a missed high shoulder charge from Julien Marchand in Champions Cup action on Saturday night.
Both agreed about the severity of the incident, even claiming it should have produced the “reddest of red cards” for Marchand.
The discussion came post-match after Toulouse had secured their spot in the European final following their 21-9 win over Bordeaux Begles.
Warburton said: “It’s Julien Marchand here, they show a replay and he is standing bolt upright and that is a right shoulder to the head…”
“You look at that from a refereeing perspective, I don’t expect Wayne Barnes to see everything, he needs help… That is a right shoulder to the head. Is there force? Yes. Is it to the head? Yes. Is there mitigation? No.”
Should have been a red for Marchand, TMO should have picked this up pic.twitter.com/NcGaFDzgSy
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) May 1, 2021
O’Driscoll then said: “That is the reddest of red cards. He almost has to spring to get the collision shoulder to the impact point.”
Warburton agreed, saying: “Another point worth mentioning is there was no wrap at all, it was pure tuck of the right arm. There is nothing going in his favour in that example. Like you say it is the reddest of reds.”
One of the key factors of Toulouse’s success continues to be the play of Cheslin Kolbe. Time and again, the electric winger makes defenders look silly by chasing him all over the park.
The Bordeaux defence was but the latest in a long line of victims for the Springbok star.
Quand @Cheslin_Kolbe11 mystifie la défense bordelaise en 2 appuis 🔥
(🎥 : Champions Cup / France 2)#STUBB pic.twitter.com/fgwdQxDw0p— Top Rugby (@TopRugby2) May 1, 2021
Match highlights below:
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