Former All Blacks wing Jeff Wilson has ignited debate, claiming rugby is entering "dangerous territory" following Franco Mostert's red card in the Springboks' match against Italy in Turin. Speaking on SkySport NZ’s The Breakdown, Wilson argued that referees are too quick to issue red cards for marginal collisions, effectively punishing physical teams like the Springboks for minor errors.
Wilson believes the precedent set by Lood de Jager's red card the previous week heavily influenced referee James Doleman's decision in Turin. He suggested Doleman felt pressured to align with World Rugby's perceived stance on high tackles. "South Africa are physical players and at the moment they’re getting punished for that when they get it slightly wrong. We’re getting into dangerous territory now," Wilson said.
He further elaborated, "We’ve seen across the entire weekend – and not just this weekend but last weekend as well – they [referees] are very quick to jump on these. The precedent was set with the first on-field full red, and I think James Doleman almost felt a responsibility because he had seen all the footage from last weekend. It’s virtually the same contact and he would’ve been thinking ‘World Rugby is watching, I can’t afford to let this one go’. That’s just ridiculous.”
Springboks' Resilience Shines Through
Despite the controversial red card, Wilson lauded the Springboks' ability to overcome adversity and secure a victory. "How good are South Africa? Two weeks in a row, they’re down to 14 men and they just go about their business and find a way," he exclaimed.
He acknowledged Italy's strong performance for significant portions of the match but highlighted the Springboks' ability to elevate their game when necessary. "Italy were in this for long periods of time and I think they maybe would’ve told themselves they can taste a little bit of history. But then the Springboks just went up a gear. They scored a couple of tries when they were down to 13 men. They are some sort of rugby team at the moment which everyone is chasing.”
The Future of Physicality in Rugby
Wilson's comments raise crucial questions about the future of physicality in rugby. Are referees over-penalizing legitimate tackles? Is the game becoming too sanitized? These are questions that need to be addressed to ensure the sport retains its essence while prioritizing player safety.