We were treated to a rare sight in today's Rugby World Cup quarter-final between Wales and Argentina, when referee Jaco Peyper was forced to retire from the game after 17 minutes due to an achilles injury.
Assistant Karl Dickson took over from the South African and was soon forced into a making a decision on whether or not to award Wales winger Josh Adams with a yellow card.
Adams appeared to drop a shoulder into Argentina's scrum-half Tomas Cubelli just after play had stopped, but Dickson deemed that there was a wrap from Adams, and only awarded a penalty.
Speaking on Virgin Media at half-time, Shane Horgan felt that was no wrap and that a yellow should have been given, with many online in agreement.
"He's totally wrong, there's no wrap," Horgan said.
If that's the standard, there's going to be a lot of players around the world that recognise that that's only going to be a penalty. It's a yellow card all day!
Josh Adams Gets Lucky In Wales - Argentina Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final
"He's totally wrong, there's no wrap. If that's the standard, there's going to be a lot of players around the world that recognise that that's only going to be a penalty. It's a yellow card all day!"
Shane Horgan on that late hit from Josh Adams.#WALvARG | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/PZ1TIVPkzd
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 14, 2023
For the benefit of Karl Dickson, this is a wrap. That from Josh Adams wasn't. pic.twitter.com/SKdZ4cV6Z8
— David (@ShrekWasp) October 14, 2023
We’ve seen yellow cards given for Josh Adams off the ball shoulder, lucky boy to not get a card
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) October 14, 2023
The second questionable call came in the 64th minute, when Argentina's Guido Petti came into a ruck and made contact with his shoulder to the head of Nick Tomkins.
The footage did not make pleasant viewing, and it looked like Petti would be sent to the bunker, before finding out whether the challenge would be deemed a sending off offence.
Amazingly, however, Dickson argued that there was mitigation, with the dip of Tomkins, and did not even give a penalty against Argentina.
Argentina went onto score soon after and take the lead.
"Every head contact isn't foul play, that's how I see it."
Another big call made from referee Karl Dickson.#WALvARG | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/bhjeh5CeiT
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 14, 2023
Correct call from Karl Dickson fair play to him that’s just a rugby incident where Tomkins gets hit
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) October 14, 2023
Okay starting to think Jaco Peyper never passed over his cards to Karl Dickson#WALvARG
— Graham Love (@glove931) October 14, 2023
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