Cian Healy received a red card for a dangerous tackle in Leinster's clash with Ulster in the RDS.
As the top two of the URC faced each other for the second time this season, it was always going to be a highly physical encounter, particularly in the pack, with both sides containing huge power.
As the sides traded penalties early in the game with nothing to separate them, Leinster were dealt a huge blow when loose head prop Cian Healy was sent off for a high tackle on Tom Stewart.
Red card for Leinster's Cian Healy! 🟥
Following a TMO review, the referee shows a red card and Leinster will play the rest of this game with 14 men.
Do you agree with the call? 💬#LEIvULS pic.twitter.com/CawEktujM8— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) December 3, 2022
While the Ireland international was very unhappy with the decision, the replay showed Cian Healy can have little complaints about the decision, as he clashed heads with the Ulster hooker, which resulted in him going off.
For someone of Cian Healy's experience, it was strange to see him not continue to lower his stance when Steward was approaching him.
However, the online reaction seems to have been split on the red card, as there was a degree of sympathy for Cian Healy from some viewers.
Right decision as the laws and Head Contact Protocol currently are, but Cian Healy feel aggrieved given some far worse head to head contacts have gone punished with less than that.
— Colin McBride (@colin_a_mcbride) December 3, 2022
Cian Healy can't have any complaints there, definite red card ...huge boost for Ulster
.. tries to come now— Koci (@Koci71) December 3, 2022
Very harsh Red card for Cian Healy. #UlstervLeinster
— Noel O Keeffe (@keeffe_noel) December 3, 2022
Cian Healy can have no complaints.
Definite red card.#LEIvULS— Gregg 🏴 (@GreggC_CC) December 3, 2022
Cian Healy off for Leinster, going to be a big challenge for them to win from here against Ulster but if any team can do it they can. Deserved red. #Rugby
— From The Mark Rugby (@FTMRugby) December 3, 2022
Cian Healy's Red Card
The increased amount of red cards in the game may not go down well with fans, and it also causes teams to reshuffle their pack.
However, Cian Healy's tackle was a clear red card, as he made contact with the head when tackling, and also didn't seem to have both hands wrapped around Stewart when making the tackle.
The current increase of red cards have sometimes been viewed as controversial, but it is an attempt by world rugby to make the game safer in years to come.
Leinster are far from short on options in the front row, with Andrew Porter and Ed Byrne more than capable in guiding them over the following weeks, but the upcoming suspension for Cian Healy couldn't come at a worse time, as the European Champions Cup gets under way next weekend, along with a vital clash against Munster on St Stephens Day.
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