Home
/
Rugby
/
The Angry But Conciliatory English Twitter Reaction To The Ireland Defeat

The Angry But Conciliatory English Twitter Reaction To The Ireland Defeat

By Colman Stanley Mar 18, 2023 7:49 PM

Share this article

Ireland have clinched their fourth ever Grand Slam and a first won on home soil in Dublin, with a battling victory against England in what was perhaps their weakest performance in this year's Six Nations.

This is now the main and really the only talking point right now, and the memory of the first-half red card shown to Freddie Steward has faded.

The reaction after the incident, however, was swift and strong, with most fans showing their anger as England were reduced to 14 men after Hugo Keenan collided with the England fullback's elbow.

There was no malice in Steward's actions, and the it was something of a rugby incident. None the less, Jaco Peyper felt that Steward could have prevented the collision which also ended Keenan's game.

Read also: Johnny Sexton Gives Incredible Interview After Ending His Six Nations Career In Style

Read also: Brian O'Driscoll Wasn't Buying Clive Woodward's Nonsense Over Freddie Steward Red Card

Ireland vs England : A Controversial Red Card But A Better Performance From England

England will go further then Ireland in the World Cup. Heard it here first 🤝

— Poppy (@poppy_g_c) March 18, 2023

Many congratulations to Ireland and Jonny Sexton in particular.

— Stuart Barnes (@SBarnesRugby) March 18, 2023

Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. In fact it’s complete and utter bollocks.

— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) March 18, 2023

Ireland deserve the grand slam big improvement from England but a long way to go to get anywhere near this Class Irish outfit

— Austin Healey (@IamAustinHealey) March 18, 2023

"Unfortunately the officials are just showing a lack of understanding of the game"

Matt Dawson reacts after Freddie Steward is sent off due to a collision with Hugo Keenan...

What did you make of the decision?

☘️ Ireland 10-6 England 🌹#BBCRugby #IREvENG #SixNations

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) March 18, 2023

Recommended

Awful call from Jaco Peyper, that’s a rugby incident never a red card for Steward

— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) March 18, 2023

Absolutely the wrong call. So so wrong. That’s “a rugby incident “ #IREvENG

— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) March 18, 2023

Just saying .......#IREvENG pic.twitter.com/XEjkl6dhb2

— Colin Watson (@colwatson47) March 18, 2023

Red card???????????

Shambles shambles shambles, Rugby being ruined

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) March 18, 2023

Is Freddie Steward meant to just vaporise and disappear?

Bloke ran in to him head-first and he was just bracing for impact.

All for player safety, but what can he actually do there?

— mark smith (@markismith50) March 18, 2023

Let’s no take away from how good that maul was from England.

Certainly some seeds of something growing this week.

Result is irrelevant because of the ref.

Performance has been levels above what we’ve seen so far this Six Nations so far.

— Lineout Nause (@LineoutNause) March 18, 2023

READ HERE: England Captain Owen Farrell Was Surprised To Learn That His Son Had Attended Ireland Captain's Run

"The game (and 6 nations) has been influenced by poor decisions by the officials, shame it will have that doubt behind it", wrote one fan on the BBC Sport live feed, with another saying, "A great spectacle of a game ruined by a ridiculous decision and a referee who revels in decisions like this. Peyper really needs to hang his whistle up now!"

England captain Owen Farrell was asked about the card, but did not give too much away with his response:

"It's not for me to have an opinion on. It seemed harsh to me. They made the rules for a reason, that's all I can say on it."

England will argue that the decision cost them the chance at making the game more competitive, and maybe even spoiling Ireland's Grand Slam and Six Nations party.

Whether the decision was correct or not, there is no argument that 'rugby incidents' such as these need further inspection from World Rugby, with the game being so complex and nuanced at times.