France star avoids red card for FLYING HEADBUTT in win over Scotland as Les Bleus deny England in their bid for Six Nations glory
Peato Mauvaka was lucky to avoid a red card in France’s 35-16 win over Scotland in their Six Nations finale, after the hooker lunged head first into Ben White’s face.
The 112kg forward lashed out at Scotland’s 88kg scrum-half in the 20th minute, as he laid on the ground after France were awarded a penalty.
Mauvaka was shown a yellow card by referee Matthew Carley, who assessed replays of the incident, then referred it to the bunker to see if the card would be upgraded.
However, the bunker backed the referee’s original call and deemed that the decision should remain as a yellow card, arguing that there was not a high enough degree of danger to rule otherwise.
Pundits were quick to issue their verdict on the incident, with some offering a lenient view, while others were appalled at the bunker’s decision.
ITV commentator Scott Hastings agreed with the controversial call at the time. He said: ‘That is the right decision. Mauvaka had an opportunity to stop, but he has thrown himself into Ben White. It’s a yellow card. On a rugby field, you can’t do that.’
Peato Mauvaka was lucky to avoid a red card in France’s 35-16 win over Scotland on Saturday
The hooker launched head first into Scotland’s scrum-half Ben White, as he lay on the ground
After reviewing the incident, the bunker agreed with the referee’s call to give a yellow card
Meanwhile, the half-time show panel condemned the action, arguing that it should have been a red card – no questions asked.
Former Scotland No 8 Johnnie Beattie said: ‘You can’t be flying across the ground and headbutting people in rugby.
‘We don’t have a place for that in our sport. I think he’s very fortunate that that hasn’t been upgraded to a red.’
Ex-England fly-half Andy Goode blasted the bunker’s decision, arguing that they had a ‘shocker’.
He stated: ‘So a flying head into the face of a player lying prone on the floor is just a yellow card?! Mauvaka should have seen a full red card for that, not even a 20 minute one. The bunker system has had a shocker.’
Meanwhile, former Scotland prop Peter Wright shared the same sentiment and argued that Mauvaka should have been off for the rest of the game.
‘That’s a headbutt,’ he said. ‘That’s foul play, he’s lunged at him. That for me, is foul play – red card.
‘It’s not in a tackle. The whistle has been blown. He should be off for the rest of the game. It’s out and out foul play.’
