"Blatant cheating" - Viral clip proves Johnny Sexton 'feigned injury' to get Wales star sin-binned

Sunday, 05 February 2023 at 06:59

byRugby Rucker

The yellow card given to Liam Williams for making contact with the head of Ireland's playmaker Johnny Sexton has sparked controversy on the internet.

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Williams, who had been accused of diving himself moments earlier, was given a yellow card only due the passive nature of the tackle.

Instead, Sexton was the player under fire as the veteran number 10 milked the tackle.

Reacting to the incident, one fan wrote: "Sexton play acted a head injury. Blatant cheating."

A second wrote: "That Liam Williams yellow card shows why rugby will be dead in a few years - nothing wrong with Liams body shape and Sexton play acting sums up how rugby has drastically changed for the worse. It's a mockery to the real injuries."

Another commented: "Sexton winks after getting another fellow professional a card by his simulation of injury and as always gets up to take the resulting penalty. This will destroy the spectacle that is International rugby."

A fourth said: "Another football injury/tactic from Johnny Sexton. He does it too many times."

Another wrote: "This is some pretty poor rugby from Wales. But Sexton selling the head injury is low."

Williams tackle on Sexton:

BBC ScrumV

@BBCScrumV

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SIN BIN! Liam Williams has been shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Johnny Sexton 🟨 Wales 10-27 Ireland 📺 Watch live on @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer and @BBCSport online 🎧 Listen on @BBCRadioWales and @BBCSounds #BBCRugby #BBCSixNations

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3:52 PM · Feb 4, 2023

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Wink from Sexton:

Jobe Bruzas

@JobeBruzas

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Not an inspiring game as a Welsh fan, but there’s a decent #Wales team there somewhere. Midtable is an okay result for the #6Nations2023 in my view. Eyes on the #WorldCup. Pity Sexton felt the need to push for the yellow, especially given the score line. #WALvIRE #SextonWink

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4:31 PM · Feb 4, 2023

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COMPETITION

4 players who flopped in the opening round: 2023 Six Nations

We take a look at five players who failed to perform in today’s 2023 Six Nations action.

#1. Owen Farrell (England)

RUCK 4/10: Aside from being poor from the tee, his defensive positioning at centre cost his side more than once.

Planet Rugby 6/10: "Kicked poorly off the tee."

Telegraph 5/10: "Not his finest performance in an England shirt. Clattered into Russell slightly late in the first half which was met with approval from the Twickenham crowd - tackle school has been treating him well. Patchy from the tee."

adam

@CLARGES01

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Replying to @RugbyInsideLine

Drop either smith or Farrell or both and Mitchell in for Youngs . Still too many players picked on reputation not form. I used to love Curry and Itoje but I wonder if they are slightly burnt out and do give away a few penalties.

6:54 PM · Feb 4, 2023

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#2. Dan Biggar (Wales)

Planet Rugby 4/10: "A poor day at the office for the fly-half. Outplayed by Johnny Sexton, whose decision-making was far sharper. Improved in the second period, but he won’t be happy with his efforts on Saturday."

RUCK 4/10: Lack discipline or any structure to his game. He was a big reason why the Wales attack misfired."

#3. Maro Itoje (England)

Maro Itoje of England during the England Captains Run ahead of the Guinness Six Nations at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Friday 3rd February 2023 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.

Planet Rugby 5/10: "Once again not his usual presence on the field. Scotland marshalled him pretty comfortably. Under threat of getting dropped?"

Mail Online 6/10: " Better than the autumn but still not back to the old Maro"

Telegraph 5/10: "Had a quiet first half by his standards. Produced a number of crunching carries and was a key player in helping patiently build the phases that led to England’s opener. Showed flashes of the disruptive force he is capable of being at the lineout."