The controversial Watson tackle which escaped any card vs Springboks

Questions have been raised over the legality of Hamish Watson’s tip-tackle on Willie le Roux during Saturday’s opening Test match against the Springboks.

The British & Irish Lions flanker made the challenge on le Roux during the second half in Cape Town and the full back’s hips appeared to go above horizontal.

Referee Nic Berry awarded a penalty for the incident after consulting with the TMO however some fans suggested the tackle deserved a yellow or red card.

Penalty only. Your thoughts?#LionsSA2021 #RSAvBIL #LionsRugby pic.twitter.com/Lh0LTZfEuD

— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) July 24, 2021

REACTION:

Feel for Marius Jonker, he was put in an awful position by @WorldRugby and is now getting hammered by South Africans for the offside decision on Willie Le Roux’s try & not recommending a yellow card for Hamish Watson. He was dammed if he did and dammed if he didn’t!#LionsRugby

— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) July 24, 2021

Somebody explain how Hamish Watson escapes a yellow card for lifting a Springbok by the legs and dumping him.

— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) July 24, 2021

Here are my @lionsofficial thoughts.
1. Courtney Lawes = immense
2. Hamish Watson’s a lucky boy
3. Chuffed for Kyle Sinckler after that interview
4. Alun Wyn-Jones just simply cannot be human. It’s not possible.
5. Get the fuck in!

— Oli Bell (@olibellracing) July 24, 2021

How is Hamish Watson still on this field?

— Sportbilly (@sportbillysays) July 24, 2021

‘That is a yellow card all day!’ | 🟨

Alan Quinlan and Brian O’Driscoll discussed the lack of a yellow card for Hamish Watson, as well as the poor pitch after the Lions went 1-0 up in the series | ⬇️@VodafoneIreland | #UniteThePride

PODCAST ➡️ https://t.co/dqCedsWfen pic.twitter.com/pXanJB6WQv

— Off The Ball (@offtheball) July 25, 2021

WHAT IS HAMISH WATSON DOING THERE

— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) July 24, 2021

Hamish Watson is getting a red

— Thala Msutu (@ThalaMsutu77) July 24, 2021

The TMO and Nic Berry are running through a check on a tackle by Hamish Watson on Willie Le Roux. Was he taken over the horizontal?

No yellow card given and Nigel Owens on commentary says the Lions are lucky to get away with just a penalty.

— The Rugby Paper (@TheRugbyPaper) July 24, 2021

Hamish Watson escapes with just a penalty, for a tip tackle 🧐

Pollard misses the penalty at goal

— #RugbyBath (@RugbyBath) July 24, 2021