Italy entered this afternoon's Six Nations fixture against Ireland knowing that they would have to keep things tight in the opening stages. Too often in the recent past have they been out of games before they have even really got going, attempting to claw back sizeable deficits.
They started poorly at the Aviva Stadium, with Joey Carbery crossing for a try after only four minutes. However, the visitors grew into the game after a penalty from Edoardo Padovani.
Any optimism they had didn't last long.
Replacement hooker Hame Faiva (who came on after their starter in that position was forced off due to injury) would be sent off for a high tackle on Dan Sheehan, with Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli giving him his marching orders after a TMO review.
RED CARD 🟥
Hame Faiva sent off for Italy for shoulder-to-head contact on Dan Sheehan. #IREvITA #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/nDu52MccFX— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 27, 2022
Bizarrely, Italy's punishment would not end there.
Having lost both of their hookers already in the game and with nobody available to replace them, the referee indicated that uncontested scrums would be needed. However, the Italians would have to be reduced to 13 men in order for the rule to be implemented.
The result was Italy essentially had two players dismissed because of this incident.
The rule in question states teams must be reduced to 13 players if uncontested scrums are used as a result of a sending off. It essentially acts as a deterrent to teams who would request uncontested scrums for questionable reasons, although it's application here is certainly very harsh on a team who find themselves in such a situation due to injury.
It certainly made the remainder of the game a rather pointless exercise, with the many viewers calling on the authorities to review the law.
Pointless to watch any more of Ireland v Italy - the laws that require Italy to now play with only 13 men despite only having one red card have turned the game into a farce! Waste of time. #SixNations #Rugbyunion
— Simon Jarrett 🇿🇦🇱🇺🇺🇦 (@SimonJarrett72) February 27, 2022
Italy playing with 13 for 60 minutes is bad for “the game”. Would prefer a “sub-bench” for this, with a third front row where you sacrifice someone else on the bench to bring in the new front rower, so that we avoid exactly this awful circumstance #IREvITA #shouldertoshoulder
— Neil Pferd (@DasNeilpferd) February 27, 2022
Italy are actually down to 13… how is this fair #IREvITA #ITVRugby
— L U C A (@luca_slade) February 27, 2022
Without doubt Italy having to go down to 13 players is the stupidest rule in any sport ever #IREvITA
— Aidan Finnan (@aidanfinnan) February 27, 2022
Such a silly rule forcing Italy to play with 13 men for 60 mins. Game killed so early.
— Tim a Tea GitzFibbon (@TimFitzgibbon1) February 27, 2022
This rule absolutely ruins rugby, Italy down to 13 because of this is insane. It needs changing. #6nations #IREvITA
— Chris (@csimpson1993) February 27, 2022
The referee had no choice but to implement the rule on this occasion, although the effect it had on the game means that there should be a serious discussion had about amending it moving forward.
It was massively unfair on Italy on this occasion. While Ireland were highly likely to win this game regardless, you could only imagine the uproar if it had played a decisive part in a big World Cup or championship deciding Six Nations fixture.
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