Just ten seconds had gone during today's Rugby Championship clash between South Africa and Argentina, when Juan Cruz Mallia attempted a charge down on Springboks scrum-half Grant Williams.
The Argentinian full back missed the ball and instead went careering into the head of Williams, who was in obvious and immediate trouble after the collision, as he lay head down and motionless in the Ellis Park turf.
A long delay ensued as the stretcher buggy was called on, and it would be fair to assume, particularly in the current rugby climate, that most viewers believed a red card was the likely outcome.
However, Mallia was not even sent to the sin bin by IRFU referee Andrew Brace, where a yellow card could have been upgraded to a red as the game carried on, with Brace labelling the contact as 'unavoidable'.
Andrew Brace Is Slammed Online For Decision Against South Africa
Andrew brace will regret his wording, saying it's completely unavoidable when it's the exact opposite, it's COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE #RSAvARG https://t.co/yZTM5nDlBC
— Aaron Talbot (@Aarontalbot4) July 29, 2023
If Andrew Brace honestly thinks that this is fine then I am at a loss for the future of rugby. He and it clearly has no concern for player welfare whatsoever. This is scandalous. Utterly and completely unacceptable. A total dereliction of duty!
— A-P (@rugby_ap) July 29, 2023
READ HERE: Ex-Springbok Explains Why He Thinks Ireland Will Slip Up At World Cup
It was a very questionable call as Mallia was the one running into a near stationary Williams, and very reminiscent of the infamous CJ Stander red against the Springboks in 2016.
There have been similar incidents last season involving Irish players - Craig Casey vs England, Jamie Osborne vs Munster - where red cards have not been awarded, but in these cases, the players kicking the ball were much more at fault for the collision than Grant Williams was.
Dog show from Andrew Brace. Handled that whole incident incorrectly. Let the game play on when a player was clearly out cold, rushed into a decision on the incident and got it wrong.
Can't be doing this at any level.— Dylan Jack (@dylmjack) July 29, 2023
That's appalling refereeing from Andrew Brace to not stop the game immediately after that collision on Grant Williams. Allowing play to continue right beside a player clearly knocked out should nearly be a sackable offence, and that's even before not having a look at the incident
— Colin McBride (@colin_a_mcbride) July 29, 2023
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