How did Nigel Owens let them get away with this? The PRO14 between Leinster and Glasgow began at an outrageous pace, with some big hits coming in from both sides. The conditions certainly played a part as well, with heavy rain ensuring plenty of mistakes from both sides.
While the game was an exciting one, it was a refereeing decision which grabbed our attention early on. Leinster scrum half Luke McGrath was hit with a sickening off the ball tackle by Fraser Brown, which was reviewed by referee Nigel Owens.
Despite the severity of the challenge, Owens did not deem it worthy of a yellow card, simply rewarding Leinster a penalty instead.
Ouch!! Buile crua do Luke McGrath
The scrumhalf certainly felt that!
@PRO14Official ar @TG4TV #GLAvLEI #PRO14Final@ballsdotie @threeredkings @OLSCRugby pic.twitter.com/de4BdmFCCZ— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 25, 2019
Considering some of the yellow cards we have seen handed out in rugby in recent times, how Fraser managed to avoid the bin here is somewhat bewildering. It was a massive hit on McGrath, and you can't argue that it was simply mistimed.
It was reckless, and it was certainly deserving a more a severe punishment. Glasgow definitely got away with one here, or at least that was the opinion of the watching public.
Considering the amount of pathetic cards you see given these days that is a scandalous decision by Nigel Owens!
— Eoin Cleary (@clearEO) May 25, 2019
Bullshit Nigel Owens. Dangerous tackle off the ball. Certain yellow. 😡😡 #GLAvLEI
— Anto Mc Guinness (@anthonymcg) May 25, 2019
Another very poor decision from Nigel Owens. I’ve said that more and more in recent games. He never used to get the big decisions wrong... now I don’t think he ever gets them right. That was a very dangerous tackle without the ball on McGrath
— Kildare Gunner (@KildareGunner) May 25, 2019
