Comparing the Jared Payne and Michael Rhodes cards for similar incidents

Two very similar incidents occurred during the Europeans Champions Cup over the last two seasons between Saracens and Ulster, but both had different outcomes. After a number of requests to look at both, here's a quick comparison. Ulster's Jared Payne received a red card for a nasty collision with Alex Goode when the Sarries fullback was collecting a high ball in last season's encounter. Both Payne and captain Johann Muller argued that the New Zealand-born back's eyes were on the ball the whole time, but referee Jerome Garces was unmoved. Payne received a further two week ban, and was just th…