Scotland fans vent as Liam Williams 'lucky' to escape on-field sanction after forearm incident
Welsh winger Liam Williams has been described as ‘lucky’ by Scottish fans after escaping any on-field review following an incident in the first half as referees crack down on high contact incidents.
For the second week in a row, an opposing player was red carded for a dangerous clean out with high contact that provided Wales a one-man advantage for large periods of the match. After Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony was sent from the field early last week, Scotland prop Zander Fagerson was sent from the field with 30 minutes to go at Murrayfield.
In light of the scrutiny being placed on dangerous contacts, Scotland fans feel aggrieved that Liam Williams’ actions weren’t looked at after the whistle had blown.
Wales were down 17-3 at the time and had just received a penalty with play blown dead, Williams had picked up a loose pass and ran into contact with a high elbow, shrugging to push the defender off.
Without a review of the incident, Wales were able to strike just before halftime, crucially closing the gap to 17-8 before the halftime break.
Liam Williams leading with the forearm to the head here. You guys cool with this @WorldRugby ?#SixNationsRugby #SCOvWAL pic.twitter.com/hpwkmdStBy
— Martin Dempsey (@martindempseyyy) February 13, 2021
Just seen the Liam Williams video, leading with elbow. Can only hope he gets cited and dealt with.
— Craig Dalrymple (@cragdoo) February 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/gordonp93/status/1360665050441261057
Liam Williams leads with an elbow no red Zander takes a man out when Hogg lifts him up and out Red card. Walkers.
— Richard Carmichael (@RichyCee93) February 13, 2021
I get that referees have been told to clamp down on contact with the head, but that Scotland red card is the only reason Wales won.
Referees are going to ruin games if this carries on.
Also, Liam Williams having two goes at elbowing a tackler in the face but gets nothing?
— Enough Of That Now (@AndyGilder) February 13, 2021
Does Liam Williams just lead with the forearm all the time?! #SCOvWAL
— Derek Paterson (@delpaterson) February 13, 2021
Just wish they’d be consistent and look at Liam Williams elbow to the head
— CK1 (@clarkeykatt) February 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/OneManChatting/status/1360660823140622340
Liam Williams lucky to not have had a yellow , still too close for comfort . Not over impressed but better than we have been , sometimes luck is what we need to kickstart .
— Gareth Jacob (@Garethwjacob18) February 13, 2021
Have a look at Liam Williams leading with the forearm to the head. Wasn’t even looked at by the ref.
— Cath ??????? (@rugbycath) February 13, 2021
and Liam Williams arm completely missed!!!! at 17-3 #bigdecisions
— Laurie MacKinnon (@Lozmeister15) February 13, 2021
Liam Williams should have had a red card today. TMO surprisingly didn’t call it back tho
— L (@LightYagamiLFC) February 13, 2021
Liam Williams may be in trouble.
— Tim O’Connor (@timoconnorbl) February 13, 2021
Seeing a lot of chat about Liam Williams getting away with an ‘elbow to the face’ and well… here’s a more definitive angle.
I can make the (arguable) case for a yellow here but this is not a red in a bajillion years, gang. #SCOvWAL pic.twitter.com/WNciy7T8Ks
— Josh Gardner (@joshgardner) February 13, 2021
Scotland fans were adamant that at least a yellow was in order, with a few going as far as saying a game-changing red card could have been issued.
Liam Williams has courted controversy recently with similar incidents. Against Italy in the Autumn Nations Cup a ‘missile clean out’ by Williams at a ruck connected with an Italian’s players head, forcing him from the field.
Williams had just returned from a three match ban after receiving a red card for Scarlets for another dangerous clean out, where he led with the crown of his head into another player’s head. The fullback came under fire for backchatting to the referee after receiving his marching orders, saying ‘we’ll start playing touch’.
Williams presence on the field later came back to haunt Scotland, as he delivered the final pass to set-up Louis Rees-Zammit’s first try before halftime and then scored one himself in the second half on route to a 25-24 victory.
Wales’ one-point win thrusts the side into contention for a Six Nations title and a Grand Slam, despite heading into the tournament on a year-long losing streak and new head coach Wayne Pivac under fire.
With two wins from two outings, Wales head into next week’s pivotal clash against England as one of two remaining undefeated sides along with France, who play Ireland on Sunday.
Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
44 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
123 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
123 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
44 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
123 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
44 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to comments