England number 8 Zach Mercer, the Top 14 player of last season, was dismissed for a shoulder-to-head tackle on Christ Tshiunza during Montpellier’s Champions Cup clash with Exeter Chiefs.
Andrew Brace and TMO Joy Neville, the refereeing team from IRFU, faced severe online criticism for the desicision.
Numerous social media users expressed their dissatisfaction with the red card decision and the frequent TMO interventions during the game.
One fan wrote: “Not even slightly a red – Tshiunza head dips on first contact and Mercer went in with low level of danger.”
A second commented: “TMO is developing a name for herself as someone who intervenes at everything and seems very forceful with her opinions. This is a “head to shoulder”, Mercer’s shoulder doesn’t move as he doesn’t either. Exeter player almost headbutts the shoulder.”
Another said: “Never a red…”
A fourth added: “Watching as a Chiefs fan in a pub, no commentary. Turned to my son and said yellow because of the following mitigation. Second tackler, attacker dropped height after initial tackle, Mercer bent knees, low degree of danger, soft hit to head so not aggressive. Yellow all day”
Zach Mercer Red Card:
How England should line-up for World Cup:
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
14. Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens) for Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby) for Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
11. Christian Wade (Racing 92) for Henry Arundell (London Irish)
He’s since impressed in the Top 14 so much that former teammate Danny Cipriani believes he’s the best English winger in the world.
The fly-half wrote on Twitter: “This fella has left the country, had 4 years in a serious professional sport, come back and is still the best winger in England.