Like much of the country, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt was less than happy with the performance of referee Jaco Peyper during their Six Nations loss to France today.
Throughout the eighty minutes there were a number of incidents that could easily be cited as foul play from French players, with Johnathan Sexton an obvious target.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is that French hit on Dave Kearney. Ouch!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FRAvIRE?src=hash">#FRAvIRE</a> <a href="https://t.co/fP15Jx9hpV">pic.twitter.com/fP15Jx9hpV</a></p>— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/NewstalkSport/status/698522185628020737">February 13, 2016</a></blockquote>
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However, player protection didn't seem to be on the referee's mind as he failed to take appropriate action for a string of incidents, both on and off the ball, that left Irish players battered and bruised.
"We're disappointed there wasn't action taken for a couple of things that happened off the ball," Schmidt said to RTE Sport after the game.
When asked if he felt some of the play warranted a yellow card, he said
"We thought a stronger performance from some referees might have determined that (Whether there should have been a yellow card), that's disappointing.
"You have to determine the outcome of the game and not rely on someone in the middle to do that.
"When there was a double up of foul play, it was disappointing it wasn't sanctioned."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Peyper warns Sexton about “rugby values” a few minutes after he was taken out with the cheapest of cheap shots.</p>— Cian Tracey (@CianTracey1) <a href="https://twitter.com/CianTracey1/status/698520243489079296">February 13, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Schmidt also felt aggrieved by the officials reluctance to use the TMO for game defining decsions.
"I think the first time Dave Kearney went over carrying the ball, the ball has ricocheted off Robbie Henshaw's chest or stomach, so there is no knock-on.
"A try scoring action, I felt it warranted another look.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another error from ref Peyper here - no knock on as Schmidt pointed out. Should've been try for D Kearney. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FRAvIRE?src=hash">#FRAvIRE</a> <a href="https://t.co/3Z7NyaziOH">pic.twitter.com/3Z7NyaziOH</a></p>— Trevor Hogan (@TrevHogan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrevHogan/status/698553880204988416">February 13, 2016</a></blockquote>
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