England full-back Mike Brown is making a name for himself as being the most unlikable member of an English rugby squad captained by Dylan Hartley and coached by Eddie Jones. Brown catapulted himself into contention for this Hall of Dubious Acclaim by recklessly thrusting his studs into Conor Murray's face at Twickenham at the weekend.
At the time, the incident was referred to the TMO who ruled that Brown's act was accidental and, as a result, Brown faced no penalty. Brown protested his innocence by claiming he was just going for the ball and has been backed by his coach Eddie Jones.
Many argued at the time that Brown's intention should not be taken into account and that such reckless play should be punished in a bid to stamp it out of the sport. Consistent with that argument, it was expected that Brown would be retrospectively punished by the citing commissioner this afternoon.
It has emerged this afternoon that Brown will not be cited, and Brown will be free to play for England against Wales at the weekend.
Mike Brown will NOT be cited for his boot to the head of Conor Murray in England's win over Ireland. #6Nations
— Alex Spink (@alexspinkmirror) February 29, 2016
England full-back Mike Brown has not been cited for kicking Conor Murray in Saturday's RBS 6 Nations victory over Ireland,
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 29, 2016
The reaction was largely bemused:
Very strange decision, citing commissioners having a poor tournament https://t.co/XD30TJI3nc
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) February 29, 2016
You can bet your life that a Tier 2 player at the World Cup wouldn't have escaped a citing for that.
— Neil Treacy (@neil_treacy) February 29, 2016
Citing comms failed when it was Paulie on Kearney, and they've failed again.
Duty of care owed apparently pitifully low.— The Champ Champs (@GifsRugbyNStuff) February 29, 2016
"everyone is freaking about concussions let's be uber safe"
*player recklessly kicks another in the head repeatedly*
"jolly good carry on"— The Champ Champs (@GifsRugbyNStuff) February 29, 2016
"everyone is freaking about concussions let's be uber safe"
*player recklessly kicks another in the head repeatedly*
"jolly good carry on"— The Champ Champs (@GifsRugbyNStuff) February 29, 2016
Although one response was more bemusing:
Quite right. So obvious that he was just trying to kick the ball, end of https://t.co/5qx33nGMCj
— Will Carling (@willcarling) February 29, 2016
To his credit, Carling has defended his argument. Where we find fault in how he has defended it, by saying that Murray was at fault for clutching the ball to his face:
maybe to advise the player not to keep holding onto the ball right next to his head??? https://t.co/iBF1VXfwhP
— Will Carling (@willcarling) February 29, 2016
@willcarling @SkySportsNewsHQ he was trying to kick the ball but that doesn't mean he wasn't being reckless with his feet.
— steven arthur (@stevenarthur81) February 29, 2016
'reckless with his feet' ?? what next?!! reckless with his shoulder? reckless with his arm?? https://t.co/sgw4tQhivh
— Will Carling (@willcarling) February 29, 2016
@ColmODonoghue why? The footage of Mike Brown clearly shows him kicking the ball, NOT stamping on a head
— Will Carling (@willcarling) February 29, 2016
@willcarling I don't for a second think he meant to kick him. But you can't just swing a boot and hope for the best.
— The Champ Champs (@GifsRugbyNStuff) February 29, 2016
of course, forwards have always been scrupulously careful with their feet......!!! https://t.co/aXTqXgcoIt
— Will Carling (@willcarling) February 29, 2016
Knowing Carling's persona, it was unlikely he was ever going to side with the Irish on this one and, to be fair, you'd hardly expect anything less. Ex-English rugby player Carling has found support, with ex-English rugby player Tom May:
Mad that anyone thought he should have been. Wasn't doing anything wrong and accidents happen in a contact game. https://t.co/XWmC6vWP1j
— Tom May (@TomMay1) February 29, 2016
Both men are defending Brown on the grounds he didn't mean to kick Murray in the head, which is the same questionable grounds as Paul O'Connell escaped sanction fort his incident with Dave Kearney.
