Nigel Owens: Ireland duo ‘very, very lucky’ to avoid more cards for Malcolm Marx clear-out

Former international referee Nigel Owens has weighed in on Caelan Doris and James Ryan’s clear-out on Malcolm Marx during the second Test between the Springboks and Ireland.

The incident has been a hot talking point days after the conclusion of the series, particularly after Rassie Erasmus confirmed that Marx sustained an injury from what occurred.

This after the Bok hooker had just recovered from a long lay-off due to a knee injury he sustained during a training session at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Last week’s incident was picked up in-game with TMO Ian Tempest alerting referee Karl Dickson of the foul play that had occurred.

Doris was subsequently yellow-carded for his croc-roll on the Springbok front-rower, with his actions sent to be reviewed by the Foul Play Review Bunker, aka TMO Bunker, who deemed that the ‘dynamics of the second player’, ie Ryan, meant that the Irish number eight’s yellow card was not upgraded to a red.

Nigel Owens on the croc

However, many felt that both players should have been issued yellow cards, had their actions reviewed by the bunker, and that a red card was warranted.

Speaking on World Rugby’s Whistle Watch, Owens agreed that a red card was possibly warranted and that the Ireland players were ‘very, very lucky’.

“The croc-roll has now been outlawed and referees were always going to really, really be aware of this dangerous action,” Owens explained.

“So the croc-roll is when you grab a player around the fringes of the ruck, and then you croc-roll him to the ground. So what you’re doing, you’re preventing him from trying to compete or get at the ball as a jackler or trying to counter ruck.

“So by doing that, they grab them, and they croc roll them to the ground. Now that can cause some serious injuries, particularly to the lower limbs.”

Zoning in on the incident, he added: “Now, in this instance, here we have two players involved in it and going to the TMO is a good process [from the referee].

“They feel that Doris is the one that starts it, and for that reason, he is the one that they decide to send to the bunker as a yellow card.”

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Nigel Owens: Ireland were ‘very, very lucky’

The ex-referee feels that Ireland were lucky not to go down to 13 men as he believes that Ryan’s actions were also dangerous.

“James Ryan can count himself fortunate as well because another day, another official, another team may well have viewed that he played a huge part as well and could well have sent him to the bunker too,” he added.

“The other question you’re asking [the viewers] is whether Caelan Doris’ yellow card should be upgraded to red.

“To be honest with you, it’s a very, very tough decision, and I don’t think there could have been any arguments if it would have been upgraded to a red card because the action is dangerous. That’s why the croc-roll has been outlawed.

“So Doris, on this occasion, can count himself very, very lucky because it could well have been a red card.”

Tends to happen if you batista bomb on someone’s outstretched leg. https://t.co/6lNxOLWCBP pic.twitter.com/z8btSc3SgG

— Angus (@AnalystGus) July 16, 2024

At the time of Doris’ sin-binning, Ireland led 16-9 over the Springboks and by the time he returned, the Boks had just edged in front 18-16.

While the Springboks would go into a 24-19 lead through the boot of fly-half Handre Pollard, Ciaran Frawley proved to be the match-winner for the visitors, nailing two drop goals in the last 10 minutes to seal an epic 25-24 series-levelling victory.

Marx has not been selected to feature for the Springboks in their upcoming Test match against Portugal and while many initially feared that he might be sidelined for an extended period of time, it looks as if the hooker will be fit for the upcoming Rugby Championship.

READ MORE: Springboks: Malcolm Marx receives surprise prognosis after leg break from ugly incident