'Accidental collision' - Pierre Brousset's decision not to punish Tom Wood leaves fans puzzled

December 19, 2020
2700
Ultimate Rugby

Leinster marched to a 35-19 victory over Northampton Saints in their second Champions Cup game of the 2020/21 season.

Leo Cullen's men were made to work hard for their win by a largely changed Northampton side and their task wasn't made easier with Harry Byrne missing out on his first Champions Cup start as he pulled up in the warm up.

Shortly into the first half, Leinster also lost Jimmy O'Brien to an HIA.

Despite their setbacks and the efforts from Northampton, Leinster powered to victory thanks to tries Josh Murphy, Cian Healy and Dave Kearney with Ross Byrne adding 15 points to the tally from the tee.

Byrne's lost three points came after the most controversial bit of the game.

The controversy did come from the lack of a decision from referee Pierre Brousset. The French referee described a clear-out on Josh van der Flier as an "accidental collision".

Referee Pierre Brousset described this as an "accidental collision", thoughts? #LEIvNOR #HeinekenChampionsCup

pic.twitter.com/LjFAHqtcy6

— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) December 19, 2020

The referee was called on by his TMO to check the clear out by the Saints' back-rower who charged into the breakdown and made direct contact to the head of Josh van der Flier.

Brousset explained that for him there was 'no foul play as #7 black [Wood] attempted to ruck the player and make a good clear out'.

However, most of the reactions from Twitter seemed to disagree with the referee and some of the pundits who thought the decision he made was the right one. While there were also references to the case Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson and seven other former players have made against World Rugby and the Welsh Rugby Union and the RFU where they claimed the sport has left them with permanent brain damage. Every member of the group has recently been diagnosed with the early signs of dementia, and they say repeated blows to the head are to blame.

'Accidental collision'#LEIvNOR pic.twitter.com/ILENoTbSD0
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) December 19, 2020

The lawyers are crying at this becuase it speaks to a culture fostered by World Rugby through their referees that this is acceptable
— Ciaran darcy (@Cvd2k11) December 19, 2020

My thoughts? Probably the worst decision I have ever seen made by a referee. Absolutely mind blowing that this wasn’t even a penalty! The TMO was speechless.
I hope Pierre isn’t on twitter, because there are idiots out there, but EPCR need to have a look at that. https://t.co/9mrgDfeFd4
— Oisín Cleary (@oisoftheclears) December 19, 2020

Nothing accidental about it
— Ed Daly (@ed_eddaly) December 19, 2020

Rugby Union is reaching the point where it needs fundamental changes to avoid being bankrupted by a plethora of multi million euro concussion related legal cases. They can start by removing any element of the cancerous Rugby League influences out of the game.
— Ronan Quinn (@RonanJQuinn) December 19, 2020

pic.twitter.com/BnDhsYqaWm Agree with @MolloyJoe here. Sorry @AlanQuinlan1 its dangerous play for me.
— Brett Igoe (@brettruganalyst) December 19, 2020

hefty ban incoming. mental decision.
— dog botherer (@feckinwater) December 19, 2020

Seriously, how can he possibly say that’s not foul play

#LEIvNOR
— Miriam Collins (@MiriamCol) December 19, 2020

Pierre Brousset enters the matrix: "For me there is no foul play. Seven black attempt to ruck the player and make a good clean out."

Garry Ringrose: "Illegal?"

PB: "Accidental collision."
— Gavin Cummiskey (@Cumoski) December 19, 2020

Wow.

That looked like a clear shoulder to the head at the breakdown. #LEIvNOR
— Three Red Kings (@threeredkings) December 19, 2020

"How's he meant to get lower?"

Here's an idea: win the shoulder battle.

That's a shocking poor call.
— The Loose Head (@TheLooseH) December 19, 2020

Commentary team absolutely bottling it.

Call it what it was.

A clearout straight to the head.

End of.

Why is that so difficult to do?
— The Loose Head (@TheLooseH) December 19, 2020