All Blacks legends Sir John Kirwan and Christian Cullen have been slammed up north for their softening views on red cards in test rugby.
Wallabies greats Phil Kearns and Tim Horan have also been criticised in some strong views by former Ireland loose forward Alan Quinlan, who insists player safety must be paramount rather than concerns around test rugby as a viewing spectacle.
The furore follows the Wallabies win over the All Blacks in Brisbane where Australian rookie Lachie Swinton and New Zealand prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi were both sent off for high tackles during the first half.
Kirwan used his platform on Sky Sports to push a plea for red cards to be replaced by yellow cards with the offender being placed on report, a system that is used in rugby league in Australia.
Cullen, appearing on the same show, agreed and similar sentiments were expressed across the Tasman by Kearns and Horan.
But all four copped severe criticism from Quinlan who is also a rugby pundit in the northern media.
“What really bemuses me and frustrates me is the reaction of some of the legends of the game,” Qunilan told Off The Ball.
“You have John Kirwan, Christian Cullen, two former All Black greats, two great fellas as well, it has to be said. And then you have Tim Horan and Phil Kearns – two Australian legends.
“You have four stalwarts of the game who have achieved so much in the game, and the four of them were saying neither was a red card. And I’m just bemused looking at this. It’s getting to the point where people are looking for mitigating factors, saying it’s going to ruin the game …
“What’s going to ruin the game for me is one of these injuries is going to really seriously hurt somebody, the force that they’re putting into it.
“Every time I watch a rugby game I think there’s possibly going to be a red card for someone going high. Of course there’s going to be accidental stuff. But I judge this stuff by the force the player puts into the tackle. You’ve got to reduce the level of force, to not put yourself in a position to potentially get a card and hurt your team.”
“When John Kirwan, Christian Cullen, Phil Kearns, Tim Horan are talking about this stuff, it’s not just in their own countries where people are looking at this. It’s kids all over the world. This is on Sky Sports on Saturday morning. People can go onto YouTube and see it.
“I just think it’s a disgrace, and I’m really sick of these type of tackles and people making excuses, saying it’s going to ruin the game. What’s going to ruin the game is someone getting seriously injures.
“I would say to any professional players throughout the world, take the force out of the tackle. Shoulders can slip up a chest, players can dip, all that stuff, but if the force is taken out of it, that will be looked at as a mitigating factor.
