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Rugby

26th Nov 2016

Here’s what Nigel Owens said to prevent Australia’s Dean Mumm getting sent off

This was a nasty dump on Tadhg Furlong

Conan Doherty

The Irish crowd were not going to stand for this.

Not after the All Blacks defeat. Not after the Robbie Henshaw injury. Not after the tackle on Simon Zebo. Or the bang to CJ Stander’s head.

World Rugby want dangerous tackles clamped down on and they want heads and necks protected. That’s not asking a lot, is it? But it isn’t a cause that’s helped when tackles like Deam Mumm’s take place.

During the first half of Ireland and Australia’s Autumn International clash, Tadhg Furlong was dumped recklessly amidst a maul.

Rob Simmons lifts the Leinster man’s body, Mumm slams him to the ground.

The replays were played around the Aviva to winces and boos.

It went to the TMO as Jerome Garces and Nigel Owens talked it over but it was the Welshman that appeared to have the biggest say in the eventually yellow card that was brandished at Mumm.

“For me, because the player’s head was already down very low, it’s a yellow, not a red card,” Owens spoke with the referee.

Garces then explained to the Australian and Irish captains that the play was static, not dynamic and that also came into his thinking with the colour of the card.

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