"It Looked Like a Headbutt" – Scotland's Gregor Townsend & Rory Darge react to controversial decision in Paris

Yesterday at 12:22 PM

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend & co-captain Rory Darge blasted the decision not to send off Peato Mauvaka for an alleged off-the-ball headbutt.

Midway through the first half with the score poised at 10-0, French hooker Mauvaka lunged at Scotland scrum-half Ben White long after the whistle had been blown. English referee Matthew Carley judged the incident to be worthy of a yellow card and a ‘bunker’ review, with the potential to be upgraded to a 20-minute red card.

The foul play review official (FPRO), Ian Tempest, ultimately decided not to upgrade the card and Mauvaka returned ten minutes later, to Scottish fans’ bemusement. Speaking after the 35-16 defeat which crowned France as champions, Townsend and Darge agreed with the ludicrous nature of the decision.

“The decision not to raise it to a red card was because there was not excessive force”, said Townsend, after the conclusion of his eighth Six Nations as head coach, “but I’m not really sure that’s the criteria for a non-tackle incident.

“It was clearly not a tackle, it was after the whistle. So if there was head contact and that was intentional, it shouldn’t be anything to do with the force that was involved.”

“It looked to me like an intentional headbutt”, said Glasgow’s Darge, “but I’ve not watched it back. We’ve been on the right side of some decisions this campaign, and been on the wrong side of some.”

Darge will no doubt be referring to Tommy Freeman’s questionably grounded try for England at Allianz Stadium in Round Three, which ultimately decided the match.

Townsend questions ‘bunker’ effectiveness

Townsend also spoke critically of the FPRO ‘bunker’ system, which was first implemented at senior level during the 2023 Summer Nations Series.

“I think we’ve taken decision-making away from referees. That’s the process we have now to speed up the game, but you don’t want to miss incidents that clearly should be red cards.”

Scotland scored 10 of their 16 points while Mauvaka was sidelined, with Darcy Graham crossing for his side’s only try on 29 minutes. Townsend, a vocal advocate for player safety and correct concussion protocol, was clearly furious with Carley and Tempest’s decision.

“It was after the play! I feel sorry for Ben White because he did nothing. He was pushed to the ground… and then he got collided in the head, so I don’t know how it wasn’t raised to a red card.”

With the Lions tour in the summer, Scotland’s next scheduled match is a meeting with the Maori All Blacks in Whangarei on July 5th.

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