The referee microphone audio recorded Welsh rugby icon Neil Jenkins involved in a fiery verbal altercation with referee Mathieu Raynal during the Six Nations match between Wales and Italy in Cardiff.
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Transcript:
Jenkins: “High tackle blue nine?”
Raynal: “Your job is to bring the water on.”
Jenkins: “Your job is to ref the game.”
Raynal: “That’s the second time you have talked to me.”
Jenkins: “Blue nine high tackle, our staff are saying it, blue nine high tackle.”
Raynal: “Come here, that is the last time, next time you cannot enter the field. You understand?”
Jenkins: “Yeah, yeah.”
You can watch the exchange here:
Social reaction:
One fan said: “Jenkins should have been sent off, not his place to say anything. Embarrassing behaviour.”
Another commented: “The whole Welsh rugby set up falling apart, you absolutely love to see it.”
A third wrote: “The practice of coaches running on the water, and worse still (in League) running the defensive plays with a bottle of water in their hand is bollocks. And someone with Jenkins’ experience should know better than to set such a bad example.“
“Not a great look this is it?? And why isn’t our captain doing the talking??” said a fourth.
A fifth added: “Very poor and unprofessional from Jenkins, this should be dealt with after the game. Referee was correct to warn him“
Six Nations Sack Race Odds:
Previously sharing the spotlight with France’s Fabien Galthie, Gatland now stands alone at the helm of this precarious ranking.
Betting sites have adjusted their odds accordingly, with Gatland’s likelihood of departure shortening from 3/1 just a week ago. Presently, he surpasses Galthie and Scotland’s Gregor Townsend, positioning himself as the prime candidate for an exit from the Six Nations stage.
#6. Andy Farrell (Ireland) – 15/1
