Jake White addresses controversial red card for ‘eye gouge’ as Bulls boss urges players to ‘adapt’
Bulls head coach Jake White ahead of URC game.
Bulls director of rugby Jake White felt that the red card handed out to Mpilo Gumede in their United Rugby Championship clash with Connacht was “harsh”.
The number eight was sent off after 57 minutes for making contact with the eye area of David Hawkshaw after taking exception to the replacement back’s clearout.
Gumede pushed Hawkshaw in the face, leading to claims from Connacht that there had been an ‘eye gouge’.
Officials’ view
Following a video review, the officials stated that he had not ‘gouged’ his opponent but that his fingers were in the vicinity of the eyes and the action therefore still constituted a red card.
“I will say on record that I heard the TMO say there was no complete evidence that it’s in the eyes, that it’s just to the face,” White said.
“I think that will probably be what will come out because it’s irrelevant. He was held behind the ruck, and the TMO’s voice was that it should’ve been a penalty for lifting his leg and holding him behind the ruck.
“I must say I thought the red card was a bit harsh, to be fair, but we’ve got to adapt.
“If the communique comes out during the November Tests that this is what they’re looking for, we’ve got to be clever enough to understand that there will always be a focus on that kind of incident.
“And it will always be in favour of making sure the players’ welfare comes first.”
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Connacht also had a red card when Sean Jansen’s elbow connected with the head of Marcell Coetzee, who eventually had a HIA and did not return.
Dominant hour
White’s Bulls duly took advantage as they went 28-0 in front before the hosts responded following Gumede’s sending off.
The Irishmen crossed the whitewash twice but it was not enough to threaten the visitors, who secured their fifth URC victory of the season.
“We had a lot of opportunities in the first half, and that was into a wind that was very, very strong,” White said.
“We won the toss and wanted to play with the wind in the second half because I’ve been here before and I know how difficult it is.
“It’s a tough place to play. It’s a bit like a cricket Test match. You’ve got to set yourself up the way you want to play based on the elements that are there.
“So I am just really chuffed that we learned from all the times we’ve been here and they learned from the messages we gave them over the last weeks about what to expect.”
“To have all that territory, possession and opportunities that we had in the first half, and the way we managed the game, makes me very happy. It sets us up nicely for the next couple of weeks.”
