Wales international Taine Basham earned rightful criticism for a nasty shot on Leinster's Ross Byrne on Sunday, which earned the Dragons player a straight red card.
Leinster cruised to victory in Newport, notching up their first away win of the URC season.
Tries from the returning Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson, Ciaran Frawley, Charlie Ngatai and Scott Penny helped Leinster to a 33-10 victory, but they were also helped by Dragons' indiscipline during the encounter on the Welsh south coast.
The biggest flash point saw Basham sent off with 15 minutes to play, and the vicious nature of his hit on Ross Byrne has seen the Welshman earn criticism from fans and pundits alike, including Ireland legend Donal Lenihan.
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Taine Basham sent off for elbow to face of Ross Byrne in URC clash
Taine Basham was sent off in the 65th minute for a late hit to the face of Leinster fly-half Ross Byrne.
With Byrne attempting to clear the ball from inside the Leinster half, Basham came sliding in after the Irishman had kicked the ball with an elbow to the face, making no clear attempt to wrap or, in truth, tackle at all.
That should be red pic.twitter.com/7OGxiE2BUm
— John Morgan™ (he/him) Cis-Het💙 (@PartycowVelo) November 12, 2023
It was an extremely poor moment for the Welsh flanker, and he would rightly be sent off after a TMO review.
On commentary for RTÉ, Irish legend Donal Lenihan slated Basham for the hit and said,
You see the elbow coming up there, that's a cheap shot I think.
Watch his elbow, that should be a card for me. It's a cheap shot - there's no question for me Basham knew exactly what he's doing.
Leads with the elbow, definitely caught Ross Byrne on the head. It's clear movement upwards and forwards with the elbow. He knew exactly what he was doing.
It was hard to find any manner of defence for Basham's wild hit on Byrne, and fans were quick to join Lenihan in slamming the Welshman on social media after Sunday's game.
Brainless, dangerous and cynical https://t.co/ameW2VWDRe
— Ruck ’n’ Roll (@RnRRugby) November 12, 2023
How thick is this 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/2baJdJ3KCh
— Ricky Harries (@RickyHarries) November 12, 2023
Leads with the arm, straight into head. There is no other intention but to injure. Red card all day https://t.co/C5ZfNnjWb9
— Brenden Nel (@Brendennel) November 13, 2023
Not sure what’s gone through Bashams head here… He’s very lucky that wasn’t a good connection because he’s flat out tried doing the back of Byrnes nut with an elbow smash. https://t.co/PrNq8Fc6e2
— Ron Swanson (@RonSwanson145) November 12, 2023
Taine Basham lined out for Wales in this year's Rugby World Cup, earning a sin-bin off the bench in their pool stage game against Georgia.
In the lead-up to that tournament, he found himself inadvertently at the centre of a controversy surrounding Owen Farrell, when the England captain saw out a prolonged suspension saga after a dangerous hit on the Welsh flanker in a warm-up game earned him a red card.
Now, Basham himself could be looking at a similar ban after his own recklessness against Ross Byrne of Leinster on Sunday.
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