On the cusp of half-time, during today's Rugby Championship clash between South Africa and Australia, Wallaby scrumhalf Nic White fell to floor, clutching his face, in a seemingly considerable amount of pain.
However, on second viewing it clear that White had somewhat exaggerated the incident, as there was minimal force behind Faf de Klerk's accidental swipe to his face.
Nonetheless, de Klerk was sin binned for 10 minutes, and Australia would go onto cruise to a 25-17 victory at the Adelaide Oval.
The comparisons to play acting in football were quick to come in on social media, as rugby fans from all over tore into White's performance.
Australia vs South Africa Twitter Reaction
Rugby is a man’s ga…#AUSvsRSA #nicwhite #oscar pic.twitter.com/ZG3LVMCBhC
— Rowestar (@RoweyM10) August 27, 2022
And the Oscar goes to Nic White!!! pic.twitter.com/nsxp1XVk2q
— Imtiaz (@ImtiWP) August 27, 2022
Boks pathetic.
Ref pathetic.
Nic White, I will stop watching rugby for shit like that.— Bamzball (@BoknRoll) August 27, 2022
As Nigel would have said to Nic White "Oh get up man, this is rugby not soccer" #AUSvRSA https://t.co/ihRk95IdCY
— Aidan 'Bono' McCarthy 🇮🇪🇭🇲 (@AidanJMcCarthy) August 27, 2022
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Referee Paul Williams explained his reasoning for the yellow as thus: "I know what you were trying to do. You are trying to go for the ball, but you've clearly got it wrong and struck someone directly in the face. So we can't have that. I know you have got it wrong, but it is a yellow card."
"I'm going to try stay clear of that. It is what it is," said South Africa head coach Jaques Nienaber when asked about the yellow. "The referee has made a decision and we've got to live by it.
"I thought they capitalised nicely on it, and it's a tough one when you lose a No 9, especially on defence. Defensively, looking back, I think we could have controlled it better. If it's a yellow card, it's a yellow card. I thought we could have handled it better.
"We can only look at ourselves. We can't control anything other than what we can control."
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