Ban reinforces need for reffing consistency

Monday 2 November 2009
Published By: Ben Welch
super_rugby > brumbies

This weekend's Guinness Premiership and international action highlighted the need for greater consistency in the laws of the game.

On Friday, Sale Sharks overcame Gloucester in a domestic encounter that saw England's injury worries pile on, with Mike Tindall lasting less than a quarter of the match.

And Gloucester's problems intensified when Tindall's replacement, Charlie Sharples, was sent off for taking Marika Vakacegu's legs out in the air as he leaped to gather a high ball.

Referee Wayne Barnes had no choice but to dismiss him - yet in Australia's match with New Zealand, Mark Lawrence issued only a yellow card to Sitiveni Sivivatu for a similar offence.

The All Black wing has since been handed a one-match ban over the incident - an inexcusable mistake for an international player that surely should not have seen him return to the field.

Meanwhile, the list of players Martin Johnson is unable to select for the upcoming visit of Australia is starting to look like what would be a formidable starting side in itself.